Achieve Greatness in Life

Anil Kumar: Swami! Kindly tell us how to achieve greatness in life?

Bhagavan: Never allow this sort of idea to get into your head. You are mistaken if you think that you have achieved something very special and unique by becoming great. It is not true at all. Becoming great in life should not be your aim.

There are several great people in society. I don’t think this is important or matters the most. Goodness is superior to greatness. Instead of aiming to be great, try to be good. It is far more important to be a good man than a great man.

What is the difference between the two? A great man sees man in God, while a good man sees God in man. Ravana, as portrayed in the Ramayana, was undoubtedly a great man. He considered Rama, the Lord, a mere man.

But, Rama was an ideal good man. He saw divinity in a bird like Jatayu, in squirrels, and even in demons like Vibhishana. Even women like Sabari, illiterate people like Guha as well as saints appeared to Rama like His own reflections. So, Rama was good. You should try to get the reputation that you are a good man and not a great man.