No Revenge

Someone has said, “Before taking revenge, think that revenge will also be taken against revenge.”

This is a deep truth of life. Only after understanding this truth can a person build a successful life in this world.

If someone causes you harm, a feeling of revenge may rise in your heart. You start thinking of taking revenge to cool the fire burning inside you. But think about it—if someone’s action caused you to feel revenge, then won’t your revenge make that person feel the same way again? Surely, it will. And thus, a cycle of wrongdoing begins. After one trouble, you’ll face another. That’s why wisdom is to ignore the matter and end it right from the beginning.

Once, I met a man from UP. He had bought a bus in partnership with a political leader. The man invested the money, and the leader got the license. Legally, the license was in the leader’s name, but both were equal partners in the profit.

After some time, the leader’s intentions changed. He thought, “Legally, the bus is mine because the license is in my name. Then why should I share the profit with someone else?” So, he took over the bus entirely.

Naturally, the man became very angry. The fire of revenge flared inside him. He even planned to kill the leader. But during this time, he met an old and experienced man. After hearing the situation, the old man said, “If you kill the leader, do you think his people will let you live?”

This made the man think. He gave up the idea of revenge. Instead, with whatever money he had left, he started a small-scale business. A few years later, when I met him again, he said, “I’m very happy now. I’m earning more than I would have from that bus partnership. And my business keeps growing.”

Whenever a burning desire for revenge arises within you, take a moment to calm your mind and ask yourself: Is it truly in my best interest to retaliate—or would rising above it be wiser?

Clearly, harming someone else is not a goal in itself. The real goal every person should have is to benefit themselves. If harming others leads to greater harm for yourself, then what’s the wise choice?

If you think calmly, you’ll realise that such an act, which ultimately turns against you, is not wisdom—it’s foolishness.

The fights in our society and the flood of court cases are all results of this spirit of revenge. When someone suffers a complaint or harm, they cannot forget it. They immediately react and retaliate. This leads to more fighting, more lawsuits. And in the end, both sides suffer. The one taking revenge also harms themselves.

Every person wants a peaceful life. Every society longs for harmony. This can only be achieved when people develop a non-revengeful mindset. That is the only way to personal peace and social harmony.

Whenever you take revenge, you spend your energy. Time, money, and peace are all used up—only for some momentary psychological relief. Nothing more.

But if the same energy is invested in something constructive, the return is real—just like in the story above. Spending energy on revenge is a loss. Using that energy in something positive is a gain.

In such a case, it’s not hard to decide what a wise person should choose.

Realism

Someone has said, “Wanting more than your right is to deprive yourself of even your real right.”

When a person desires only what he truly deserves, everything supports his demand. But when he starts desiring more than what he rightfully deserves, everything begins to oppose him. That’s why the first kind of person is successful, and the second is not.

There was a large institution. It needed a manager. One man had the right skills, and so he was appointed. The director of the institution treated him with great respect. He received a good salary, a house, a jeep, and many other benefits.

But soon, greed entered the man’s heart. The position of “manager” started to feel small. He wanted to replace the director. He began secretly working against him. But before his plan could succeed, the director came to know. He immediately removed the man from the post. The house and jeep were also taken back. He was dismissed in disgrace.

In moral terms, this is the difference between contentment and greed. Being satisfied with your rightful position is contentment. Wanting more than your rightful place is greed.

Had the man remained content, he would not only have kept his position but would likely have grown further. But by choosing the path of greed, he lost what he had—and what he could have gained.

When you want only what is yours, you are asking for something that naturally belongs to you. But when you want more than what is yours, you are demanding something that belongs to someone else. Why would anyone give up what’s rightfully theirs?

This is where conflict begins. The moment someone overreaches, others resist. Struggle and rivalry begin. And often, in trying to get more, a person ends up losing even what they already had.

Wanting more than your due also leads to contradictions. You use one argument to claim your own share, and another argument to take what belongs to someone else. In doing so, you weaken your own case. You refute yourself. You confuse your own position.

Such a person fits the saying: “The one who chases two rabbits catches none.”

Likewise, the one who wants more than what is rightfully theirs ends up losing both.

Every person is born with unique potential. Everyone has the opportunity to live a successful life—within their own limits. When you stay within those limits, the world supports you. But when you go beyond, everything turns against you.

For such a person, nothing but failure is written in destiny.

All India Radio, New Delhi,
19 April and 26 April 1990.