IN THE business world, there are two key things to keep in mind: success and failure. Students, too, must put importance on both winning and losing as they strive forward. In reality, no matter where you are in the world, success and failure always exist.

When everyone is successful, they may feel happy, and when we face loss or failure, we may feel distressed or discouraged. Whether it is joy or suffering, our minds become tired because they are constantly shaken. If anyone truly wishes to experience genuine happiness, they must train themselves to be steady like a strong tree that does not sway. Only when we understand, accept, and practice according to the eight worldly conditions can we keep our minds calm, whether we succeed or fail, and overcome mental exhaustion and suffering.

For example, a sturdy tree stands firm in an open field, a large. The wind cannot move it, and even strong winds cannot destroy it because it is resilient and steady. Both success and loss are only temporary. So how should we conduct ourselves? We must keep these unstable truths close to our hearts and strive to be like that great tree — steady, resilient, and unwavering.

One must be successful because of wealth, or one must be a loser because of physical and mental suffering. Whether one is wealthy or poor, what truly matters is having a noble state of mind. Not every wealthy person is happy. Only the prosperity gained through right livelihood can bring genuine happiness. No matter how rich a person becomes through unjust means, that person cannot be considered successful. Such a person will experience many forms of inner misery every day and will, in truth, be someone who is losing.

Success and failure revolve in cycles. Sometimes, having nothing can itself be a form of success. If a person thinks what they have done is already successful, careless activity can cause them to start experiencing failure. When someone believes they are failing, renewed effort and determination may help them achieve success again. In truth, life is a continual cycle moving between success and failure.

Therefore, when a person thinks they have succeeded, they should also consider that they may soon face loss. If they reflect that everything they possess is impermanent, then even if they lose something, they will not be distressed. Loss is never permanent. Just as one can lose at any time, one can also regain success at any time. This is something one should always keep in mind.