Virtue of Equipoise

In one of the 'conditions', which are necessary for making an evolved being, Rudyard Kipling conceives of the situation, "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster/And treat those two imposters just the same…"

In a remarkably similar vein, Bhagawad Gita too lauds this virtue of equanimity in various stanzas - II, 38; VI, 7 to 9; XII, 17 to 19; XIV, 24, etc.

One who feels that 'killer instinct' is necessary for accomplishment, could well ask, "For motivation, is it not necessary to work for success, scorning failure?"

In the above regard, neither Kipling nor Gita prohibit working for success. What is necessary is to be constantly occupied in effective and skilful action ( karmasu koushalam). Providing also for the results not meeting expectations, if one can learn, in case of any eventuality, to still retain his presence of mind, he would be able to regroup and reorient strategies, as demonstrated by King Bruce, who took inspiration from the 'never-say-die' approach of a spider.

In this manner, one also divines the truth that failures, when he learns from them, can often be sign posts and stepping stones to ultimate and true success, just as apparent triumphs or euphoria could lead to complacency and arrogance, which are forerunners to doom. Triumph and disaster could, thus, often be 'imposters', as observed by Kipling!

The virtue of equanimity or equipoise is, therefore, a practical modern management recipe, which can, indeed, act as a true 'killer instinct', which, while not ever damaging, could, in fact, prove to be rewarding in every way!