Two questions (in order): one, what actually happens when
an untransformed life succeeds? Two, what do we really mean by "when an
untransformed life succeeds"? Becomes popular? Becomes
wealthy?
Becomes influential? Achieves its coveted
(intended
/ stated) results? As far as the second question goes, whenever there's
a measure of success in life, it's likely some or all of the above
qualities will be present. But when all is said and done, much to the
shock and chagrin of success-seekers, they may not be enough to make
living worthwhile,
especially given everything we invest in (the cost of) being
successful.
As far as the first question goes, it's not success in life that makes
living worthwhile.
It's having the verve, the brass, the guts to
discover for oneself
what it is to be transformed. There's likely to be some push-back on
this point. Could it be possible (maybe it's some kind of
cosmic jokethe universe
plays on us) that success and everything that goes with it, is not
enough? Could it be that our only chance for
living a worthwhile life
is to peel away the veil and allure of success, and to realize that
without transformation, nothing is ever enough, nothing will be
worthwhile?
(success is temporary at best, illusory at worst).
Be careful: success doesn't equate to transformation. Being transformed
doesn't equate to being successful. But once in a while they do
overlap. And when they do, that's when
the game
starts getting intriguing. Success isn't reserved just for the
marketplace, and transformation isn't reserved just for the cave and
the monastery.
The miracle
of transformation is that it goeswith both. More that that, success (by
itself ie in and of itself) is a faux grail. Intrigued
yet?
There's
a contextual
shift
when an untransformed life succeeds, a shift that may not look like you
think
it would. The goal (if you will) of an untransformed life is indeed to
succeed, to survive, to be popular, to be
wealthy.
The first noticeable difference when an untransformed life succeeds (by
this definition) is we find none of what we once touted as success,
makes much difference at all to the quality of life we experience, as
it's lived. Once transformation is at play, it's seen as an
already success. Attaining success is a
futile
notion when success is a given (look: it always was a
given) in the bedrock of
Life itself.
That's an intriguing
game
to play. It's both intriguing playing it, as well as watching it as
it's being played by
masters.
And isn't
a master
nothing more and nothing less than someone who has attained success
and also transformation? What do you say to someone who
has popularity as well as transformation? What do you say to someone
who has
wealth
as well as transformation? What do you say to someone who has influence
as well as transformation? What do you say to someone who is effective
as well as is transformed? (transformation gives dignity to success,
popularity,
wealth,
influence, and effectiveness).
Well ... maybe you don't say much at all to them about their abilities.
Maybe you just watch, intrigued, as they play life, bringing with them
those qualities which everybody's convinced are only available by
earning the approval and admiration of others, by playing
the same oldgame
the old way. To bring those qualities with you tothe game
rather than playing
the game
in order to achieve them, is to play the intriguing
game.
You say it can't be done? That's your healthy skepticism at play
(that's your successful skepticism at play). And life is
calling you, loudly, clearly, lovingly, to play the intriguing
game,
without it.