From elections to India-Pakistan cricket match, there are new possibilities in victory and defeat

by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Swami Vivekananda famously said, “You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita.” That line is a wonderful reminder to the self when we start taking life too seriously.

AI photo generated via MidJourney

When you pray or read scripture, you can think of many other things, but when you play a sport, you must be single-minded. There is no room for half-heartedness. You have to play as if your life depended on it. About 400 million people watched the India-Pakistan match in 2023. We were collectively glued to our TV screens not just because of the skill involved but because someone was playing as if his life depended on it. We will be glued to our TV screens this year too as many will watch the India-Pakistan match in New York. That intensity of involvement, which pushes human beings beyond their limits, makes the whole world sit up and watch.

However, the fundamental premise of any sport is this: you must have the fire of wanting to win but also the balance to see that if you lose, it’s okay. You never play a game to lose. But if you do lose, it is still alright with you. If you maintain this balance within you, you are a sportsman.

This is a perfect metaphor for life. As a high-voltage election reached its culmination and the results were announced, it was time for us to take our inspiration from the cricket field. Many have forgotten what it means to live in a modern-day democracy. In this system, we have collectively decided to choose our leaders through the power of the ballot box. Maybe somebody I don’t like has just been elected, but I still have to bow down and accept the verdict because the wonderful gift of democracy is that we have found a way of transferring power non-violently.

In the past, much blood was spilled when one regime gave way to another. Do we want to return to a monarchic or theocratic or feudal setup? If we choose democracy, it is time to abandon our tribal mindset. Above all, the vile speech and gang warfare on social media where people endlessly spew toxicity at each other should come to a halt. It is time to stop being sore losers or boastful winners.

Trying to paint the other as evil just because the verdict is not to our liking is juvenile. A mature democracy has to outgrow such pettiness. Does this mean that we have lost our right to speak or protest? No. A democracy means we retain our right to disagree, dialogue and debate, but it is important not to succumb to hatred.

For the victor, the sweetness of triumph should not turn into the lethargy of complacency. For the loser, the bitterness of defeat should not turn into despair. Victory should be the stepping stone for heightened levels of performance. Defeat should lead to an honest evaluation of what was done and what could be improved.

Ultimately, there is no such thing as triumph or loss. As humans, we come into life with nothing and go with nothing. In a limited context, some win and some lose. But to rise beyond limited notions of victory and defeat is the whole point of the game of life. It is also the essence of every spiritual process.

Every event in life is the birth of a new experience and a new possibility. Once we truly see and accept that, our life finds its fullest blossoming.

END OF ARTICLE