Q. “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.”-Dalai Lama. (150 words, 10 Marks)

July 3, 2023 16

GS Paper IV Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Answer:

Approach:

Introduction: Begin by interpreting the quote from the Dalai Lama and set the context about the essence of ethical success and its importance over mere material achievements.
Body:
- Define and explain various aspects influenced by the quote such as personal sacrifices and efforts, ethical considerations, personal growth, and community success.
- Provide relevant examples for each of these aspects.
Conclusion: Summarize by emphasizing the holistic understanding of success as depicted by the quote.

Introduction:

This quote by the Dalai Lama underscores the essence of ethical success, which is not merely about the achievements we acquire but rather about the sacrifices we make and the values we uphold in the process of attaining that success. This perspective calls for introspection into our individual definition of success and encourages us to value ethical considerations and personal growth over material gains.

Body:

The Dalai Lama’s quote insists that success shouldn’t be measured merely by the end result, but also by the journey and what it entailed.

Personal Sacrifices and Efforts:
- True success often requires individuals to make personal sacrifices, whether it’s investing time and effort, letting go of immediate gratifications, or overcoming personal limitations.
- For instance, an IAS aspirant may have to give up leisure time and sometimes even stable employment to prepare rigorously for the examination.
Ethical Considerations:
- Upholding ethics often involves resisting the temptation of shortcuts or corrupt practices that may lead to immediate gain but compromise one’s integrity.
- For instance, an entrepreneur sticking to fair trade practices, despite knowing that unethical practices might bring faster growth, is a success in itself.
Personal Growth:
- Sometimes, achieving success requires personal transformation – giving up old, limiting beliefs or habits to develop into a better individual.
- For instance, a person battling addiction may have to give up old habits and even friendships to recover, and their success is measured by this transformation.
Community Success:
- Sometimes, the success of a community or nation requires individuals to give up personal interests.
- For example, freedom fighters of India sacrificed their lives, families, and personal comfort for the success of the nation – the attainment of freedom.

Conclusion:

Success is subjective and its measure varies from individual to individual. While material accomplishments are often the most visible indicators of success, the Dalai Lama’s quote pushes us to view success through a more ethical and holistic lens. It is through this perspective that we can aspire to attain a success that is not only personally fulfilling but also beneficial to our society and the world at large.