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Stay Hungry Stay Foolish


Mention of Hare Krishna Temple impelled me to see the video in which Steve Jobs’, Founder of Apple Corp., gives convocation address to young graduates from Stanford University. In brief, he speaks about three stories from his life
1. “Connecting the dots” - Unwanted birth and initial confused life and finally dropping out of University all happening for good.
2. “Story of Love and Loss” - Formation of Apple Computers. His expulsion from Apple and his comeback with Pixar Animation Studios and again heading Apple Computers. – Never Say Die attitude.
3. “Death” – Nobody can avoid death. Thinking that “I am going to die” is an important tool in making important decisions in life.

Since the speech is delivered in a very motivating fashion which was well received by a standing ovation from the audience, I would like to highlight few points from the speech and we will look into it through a Krishna Conscious perspective.
1. Do not follow the dogma – displayed by dropping out from University
As Hare Krishna devotees we see that very few people in general are inclined to devotional service. Lord Krishna says in BG
“Bahu naam janma naam ante, jnanavan mam prapadyate”
After many many lives does a person approach Krishna in knowledge. So performing devotional service itself makes a person “unconventional”. Sometimes “unconventional” is sometimes taken in on a negative note. Because “conventionally” people are engrossed in satisfying there 5 gross senses and subtle senses of mind, intelligence and ego. Their acts of sense gratification only make them eligible for lower species of life and hell. But a devotee can understand the presence of soul in every living entity and sees the temporary nature of this world which is termed as “dukhalay ashashwatam”. His only interest is in serving Krishna, which is like watering the root of the tree so that the whole tree is nourished. Since Krishna Consciousness is beyond the perception of these senses, This choice of the devotee is indeed daring the conventional thought of the materialists, atheists and impersonalists. So a devotee is “Unconventionally” Daring from day one he begins chanting the hare Krishna Mahamantra.

2. Always consider each day as if your last day and some day that will become true.

Steve accepts that every one has to die and no one can escape it. Yet how many people believe that they are going to die. They may speak so but their making of extensive plans for future clearly indicates their belief that they are not going to die.

In general the above statement is meant for us to understand the temporary nature of this world and align ourselves to the goal of life. But for a materialist the statement may mean.
Enjoy each day to the fullest as if it were your last day so at the last day you do not have any remorse. Anyways who has seen tomorrow?

But unfortunately this does not work in this way. To gratify senses person needs money and For money person needs to work hard, hard and so hard (parishram) that he foams at mouth (fen) and thus he works for the result of activities which finally becomes a bondage(bandhan). The person thus is always fearful(bhay) whether his ends will meet or not. And ultimately he meets his death(mrityu). Krishna comes as death for a Non Devotee and Death comes as Krishna for devotee.

For a devotee, this statement means that the day should be spent in such a way that I can come closer to Krishna by purification of heart, by overcoming anarthas. Each day is opportunity to satisfy Krishna and His devotees carefully by not offending them in any way. Who has seen the next day to rectify or even beg forgiveness for our offences.

3. You've got to find what you love else stay hungry and stay foolish.

Doing what we love drives us in long run. Since work forms major portion of our life so we must choose work that we love so we should keep looking out what we love. Till we find out what we love we remain hungry. So he concluded by saying – Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.

In current scenario rarely do people actually introspect about what they “love to do”. People in general run after money. College Courses that get higher salary are first to get over. Painters, Artists create what sells most. Politicians, Managers, entrepreneurs, corporate professionals all are running after the carrot of power, higher paid jobs, promotions and what not. But sooner or later the work becomes hackneyed, boring and a routine in life takes over. Who cares about what they to “love” to do? Yes they may worry about where they will “love” to spend the earned money. So practically everybody dies “hungry”, hence “foolish”.

Every one is looking for happiness. The living entity tries to get the happiness by superficially trying to enjoy the sense objects but the soul remains hungry. A proof of this can be experienced that senses want newer and newer sense objects because they cannot be satisfied by any amount of gratification.
Soul is compared with a bird entrapped in the cage (body). So if only cage (body) is served then the bird (soul) remains hungry. Soul can only be satisfied in association of Supreme soul or Krishna. Srila Prabhupad gives the example of a child who is lost from his father cries incessantly even after giving all the bodily comforts. In the similar way all the living entities have forgotten their supreme father, Sri Krishna and only way they can remain happy is by reuniting with Him by reviving the lost relationship.

Lord Krishna appearing as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught that only hope of reviving that lost relationship with Krishna in this age of kaliyuga is by chanting the Holy Name of the Lord
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare

“Stay Hungry Stay Foolish” Or “Chant and Be Happy”. Choice is yours.