I have always wondered the reason or purpose behind my existence on earth. Why have I come to this world? As human beings, with the most complicated machine (body) and soul (I believe it exists and is different from the brain/mind ), I thought or still think, that we did not just "happen to be alive" or "get evolved from micro-organisms" according to the Big Bang. I will not debate on Darwin's theory, atleast for now. When I was a kid, I used to think that life is all about being successful. What according to me was success was simple....I had to be famous and loved by all. The way I loved to see Dennis Lillee, Pascoe, Bob Willis and Imran khan bowling in their prime. I was fired by Kapil as India's first genuine all rounder. I was taken in by Sunil Gavaskar's batting and thought he was the greatest cricketer. I thought the Big B was such a superb actor and loved to watch each one of his movies. I thought Pele was the greatest footballer on the surface of the earth. I thought Indira Gandhi was the most powerful person in the country. I thought Kishore Kumar was such a fabulous entertainer. I thought Mr Bhattacharjee, our physics teacher was the most knowledgeable person. Everytime I saw each one of them, I wanted to be as famous as they were. What I wanted to do in life, however changed everytime I found a new idol, whether a cricketer, a footballer, an actor/singer or a politician. Things changed as I grew up and started working. I worked hard in all my jobs and thought some of my bosses were perfect and knowledgeable. I wanted to know everything which they knew and more. I thought success was being knowledgeable or all knowing and being a leader. So I tried to be involved in everything. I became a leader and a boss. But strangely I did not feel successful. I had a wonderful team everytime and they helped me do better. But I realised over a period, that I was not exactly a great leader. I continously endeavour to improve but have a long way to go to be perfect and strong as leaders as supposed to be. At the right side of forty, I am still not sure if I am successful as my definition of success changed. I have realised that you dont run after success, you do your job well and leave it at that. Then, Maybe you will be successful, maybe you will not (does that remind you of the lyrics of Sunscreen by Baz Luhrmann?). Maybe what Lord Krishna in Mahabharata said is after all true. You have the right to work and not to its fruits. Which brings me back to the original question. Why are we here on the earth? To Work? For what? To survive? I read numerous Books...each has its theory. I liked for instance Neale Donald Walsch's "Conversations with God", which conveys that you need to enjoy each day as it brings with it an experience. That is the purpose... to Experience. Because you dont need anything. You are here to experience. Is it true? So is successful living all about experiencing the best of everything that you do and that comes to you? I am still mulling over it.