Conquered Your Self

“The biggest goal of life is to conquered yourself” Aashish gautam

Mahavir once said, “It is better to conquer yourself than to defeat millions of enemies,” a thought echoed by Plato, who emphasized, “First conquer yourself.”

When we set goals, we usually aim to achieve external things. We say, “I want to become the richest person in the world,” or “I want to be the biggest star,” or “I want to hold the most powerful position.” But we never make it our goal to conquer ourselves. We don’t say, “I want to conquer my anger,” “I want to conquer my lust,” or “I want to conquer my greed.”

A big reason for this is our societal structure, which encourages children from an early age to achieve name and success in the outside world. They are never taught to look within themselves.

Just think, if the outer world were as real and fulfilling as it seems, why would Alexander the Great, on his deathbed, request, “Leave my hands open so that the world may see that Alexander, who conquered the world, left it empty-handed”?

Why did Napoleon Bonaparte, who almost conquered all of Europe, confess on Saint Helena, “I have not spent even six days truly happy”?

Why are many billionaires today struggling with depression, unhappiness, and irritability despite their immense wealth and influence?

These examples clearly show that external success is hollow if we are not at peace within. True happiness depends on our inner selves—on how much we have conquered our lust, greed and angered.

True Emperors: Buddha and Mahavir

In my view, Buddha and Mahavir were true emperors. Instead of seeking to conquer the world, they conquered themselves and lived peaceful, fulfilled lives. Diogenes once remarked, “I have conquered the desire to conquer the world.”

The Islamic concept of Jihad also underscores this idea: the greatest battle is the one fought against the evils within.

If someone asked whether I would prefer to conquer the world like Alexander or conquer oneself like Buddha, I would choose the latter. When Alexander gained nothing lasting, what could I hope to achieve? But in conquering myself, I could attain the same peace and joy as Buddha.

How to Win Yourself

Let me clarify—I am far from perfect. I still grapple with anger and greed. I am on a journey to conquer myself. What I share here is based on my personal experiences, not authority.

1. Observe Death

Every day, on average, one lakh people die, and death can come at any time and any age. Recently, 53 people died in Tibet due to an earthquake. Everyone knows this, but we live as if there’s plenty of time left. We often see people younger than us passing away, yet we don’t wake up to this reality. We continue to harm others and commit wrongful acts.

To me, death is the most beautiful teacher. It teaches us not to harm others, because when it comes, we must answer for our deeds. It reminds us that greed and deceit are futile since all wealth and positions will remain here. Only our good deeds will accompany us.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar once said, “A person who remembers death is always engaged in good deeds.”

The thread of life is as delicate as a leaf, capable of breaking at any moment. By keeping the inevitability of death in mind, especially when tempted by negative thoughts, words, or actions, we are more likely to channel our energy into cultivating goodness through noble deeds, uplifting thoughts, and kind words.

2. Meditation

I am deeply influenced by Gautama Buddha’s practice of Vipassana meditation, which involves observing one’s thoughts and emotions without judgment.

Through meditation, I’ve realized that our character is a mirror of our thoughts. When we observe our minds, we understand our triggers—why and when we get angry, for example. We see that greed never ends—when one desire is fulfilled, another arises, yet true happiness remains distant from us.

The purpose of meditation is to make us aware of ourselves, to calm the mind, and to clear it of unnecessary thoughts. My experience has shown that meditating fills the mind with pure thoughts and shifts focus from the external world to the inner self, where true peace and happiness reside.

Here, I confess that the peace and happiness I’ve found through meditation far exceed anything I’ve gained from external successes.

3. Books

In my experience, the books we read and the philosophers we study shape our character and help us conquer our inner world.

The first book I read, As a Man Thinketh, had a profound impact on me. It taught me the power of my thoughts—a truth we should learn in childhood but aren’t taught in schools. It revealed how our thoughts shape who we are.

I also read Buddha and His Dhamma, which helped me become a better person. I’ve been influenced by the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, Jesus, Lao Tzu, and Confucius. These works have played a significant role in shaping my character.

Final Thoughts

My goal is not to encourage anyone to renounce the material world. I believe worldly pleasures are meant for us.

My purpose is to inspire people to master these pleasures rather than become their slaves.You may own fine clothes, but they should not define you. You should define them. You are their master—they are not yours.

Conquering oneself is the greatest victory. Inner peace and true happiness lie not in external achievements but in mastering the self