If you've got deep yearning, you may make a firm resolve. When you have a Strong decision, you may put in tremendous effort. That is how you'll become. If we tap into internal motivation, we become insulated from the environment. Nothing can put us down. What then is the Key to internal motivation? There are two varieties of Motivation. The primary is external motivation and therefore the second is internal motivation. External Motivation is where the key to our inspiration is on the surface. The boss says," look! If you're employed hard and perform well, I will be able to offer you commendation to the board. "This is often the carrot. And internal motivation doesn't rely upon exterior factors. It is inspired by our thoughts, our values, and our beliefs. So to be externally motivated is fine. But the problem with it is, You got inspired. Because the boss praised you. Tomorrow the boss scolds you. Now, what do you do? That motivation had claimed the Himalayas and it will go to the Pacific Ocean. And if you are internally inspired, it is irrespective of the externals. This was the lesson taught with this beautiful story of king Janak. King Janak was the father of Mother Seetha (The mother of the Universe-Indian Puranas). A soul got the opportunity to be her father. How elevated was King Janak! He is called Videha-raj. That king had no perception of his body. His sadhana was at that stage. If he puts his hand in the fire, He won't come to Know it is burning. That is why he is called Videha-raj. The story goes to two pundits in his kingdom. They started discussing. One said, "People call our king Videha-raj. How can he be Videha-raj in the midst of so much opulence? Look at the palace! Where he lives, and the beautiful queen and children. Ah, people create such titles for nothing."
The second pundit said, "let's go and ask him how he is Videha- raj."
The first one said, "It's Very Dangerous! These kings are whimsical. They can give any instruction at any time."
"No, no, he is a learned scholar. He will do us no harm."
The second one convinced the first pundit and they went and approached The King. They said, "Maharaj, we are scholars in your kingdom, But we have a doubt that has arisen. You are famous as the king who is beyond the body. Who has no attachment to even an atom of this material creation and whose mind is in the supreme? Can you please tell us that in the midst of all this opulence, how do you remain Videha-raj?" Janak heard then he lifted his eyebrows, frowned, and said," Your impudence to ask a king how he is Videha-raj. You have transgressed your rights as citizens. You will need to pay for this ." The two pundits started trembling. Kings of yore their power were endless. "What will the punishment he meets out for us be?"
The king said, "I'm gonna get you both hanged tomorrow. But today you can enjoy ''. He instructed his servants, "Take them away. Give them an oil massage, dress them up in regal attire, Let them put on the most attractive ornaments, Let them have a sumptuous feast, Chappen bhog and put them to sleep in the softest of beds." Those two pundits got the treatment of their life. But they were in no mood to relish it. At night when they were in this double bed, The first one started telling the second one, "I told you so. How foolish of me to listen to you. We are both as good as dead now." The next morning, They were brought to court. Janak said, "I have decided to give you one chance for respite. Will you take it? Yes, your honor!. What is it? You will both be handed cups of oil-filled till the brim. You will have to walk with them around my kingdom, My capital Janakpur. If you can make it back without a single drop falling from the cup, I will then forgive you."
The two pundits went out with the cups of oil. They passed by the drama halls. But there was no attraction in the drama halls because the oil should not fall. They were different kinds of shops. Their favorite sweet shop, their favorite cloth shop, Etc. But nothing was pulling their minds. Finally, they made it back with all the oil intact in the two cups. King Janak said, "You have done it. All right, then you are forgiven. You will not be hanged ." The pundit said," Thank You! Maharaj. We are so indebted for your kindness." Well, Janak said, "Let me now ask you a question. Last night you received such wonderful luxury and opulence to enjoy. Did you mind getting tempted by them?" They said, "No! Maharaj, absolutely not. Death was meandering on our heads. We knew. In the morning we will be hanged . All right, and today you were made to walk around Janakpur. Did your mind go to the various gratifications of the senses available in my market?" "Oh! Maharaj, Where was the question? We had to retain the oil in the cups."
So Janak said," Look, it was the same world, and yet you were detached from all these objects of enjoyment and luxury because Your intellect realized that at this moment something else is more important. If we are not careful, we can die. "Janak said in the same way," You asked me that in the midst of opulence How do I remain Videha? The answer is simple. I just remember my death. Any day can be last. This precious human life can just be wasted away. Every moment of it is invaluable. I must put it to good use and the best use is Hari Chintan's remembrance of God. By keeping the proper Knowledge in my intellect, I sustain my state of Detachment from the world." That is the key to inspiration. You don't depend on externals. You tap into the inner fuel of Motivation, and to do that depends on you. Keep the good knowledge that you have received from God, Guru, and scriptures in your intellect. Revise it over and over again, become convinced about it, and then let the mind align its sentiments with your knowledge. You will find you have an inexhaustible supply of enthusiasm -utsaha.
