Concentration - The secret behind success

Swami Vivekananda had asserted that secret behind all successes in work is concentration. It is a common knowledge that when we are free of all distractions and of calmer disposition we are able to focus better and the outcome of the endeavour is also the best with a focussed approach. When we have distractions galore we perform very badly. Sometimes the task is hand is never accomplished when we have too many distractions in the form of thoughts or work. That is why modern theories acknowledge that multi tasking is a key source of waste. Only when we are able to concentrate, we do the work better. The magnitude or the scale of success depends on the amount of concentration. if we are able to concentrate fully into a task we do it in the best possible way. That is why Sister Nivedita said that the greatest contribution of her guru was that he was able to remove all distinctions between sacred and secular. From a non dual plane there is indeed no difference as both are rooted in Maya, the relativity. A free soul, the atman has no action, and atman has no need to worship or pray or meditate because it is already free. However even in the relative plane of existence where we need to struggle every day for survival and progress the difference between work & meditation lies in our own nature, propensities. A person who is more inward looking need to focus on meditation while another who is more activity oriented need to work. But how can the two converge? The answer is also given by Vivekananda. Every action undertaken with intense concentration becomes worship. That is why work is worship when done with the utmost of dedication - sraddha, in such a way that we do not even bother about the results. This is because we are so engrossed with the performance of the work we are not even having the time to think about the results and thus we are mentally renouncing the fruits of the action through intense concentration on the performance. This is Yoga or efficiency in action as  illustrated in Gita - Yoga Karmasu Kaushalam. This is also the secret behind working without any motive. When we work with the utmost concentration we are not bothered about the outcome. So concentration brings us closest to conscious renunciation of fruits of action. Even in the midst of intense activity we can achieve a state of intense calmness through concentrated mind. An agitated mind brings the whole universe or samsara to us while a calm mind is meditative and cut off or detached from the world. It is the calm mind that can fully concentrate and thus work becomes meditation. It helps in detaching us from the world around us. As Gita says - Karmani AkarmaYah pashyed Akarmanisca Karma yah, Sah Buddhiman Manusyesu, Sah Yuktah Krtsnakarmakrt. One who in the midst of intense action (like battlefield) is able to remain calm and equipoised and fully concentrated just like meditation and therefore remains as if in a state of inaction and one who in the midst of inaction perceive the action (both being the same - product of intense concentration), he alone is the wise, and fit for Yoga and the knower of the secret behind all actions.

There is a form of Buddhist meditation where every task has to be undertaken being fully aware of the task and surroundings. This is no easy feat. But certainly practice helps in improving our ability to focus, to concentrate better and better.

Concentration is the secret of success behind every scientific achievement, every creative and literary master piece, every sports achievement, academic achievement. In all fields concentration brings out the best. However such intense concentration comes through sadhana, intense practice through one or many life times. A lot of sacrifice is needed before we develop such intense concentration - the most important being the sacrifice of sense pleasures. Conquering of senses, conquering of mind are essential to be able to fully concentrate. So renunciation is at the core of success in action. 

Swami Vivekananda once played golf with Frank Legett. Frank had put a wager that Swami would not be able to hit a hole that was impossible for everybody to make in one stroke. The Swami did it in a single stroke. Frank was amazed and wanted to know if the Swami had used his Yogic powers. The Swami said that the secret was intense concentration and a trained mind. His intelligence told his mind that if he hit it he would be richer by 10 dollars. The mind conveyed the information to the hands and senses and they did the rest - a perfect mind body coordination.  That is the outcome of intense almost superhuman concentration.