Ramaswami was a prosperous merchant who had a remarkable skill for doing business and making money. But he was also attached to it; his emotions were tied to his business ventures. If he made money, he would rejoice and be happy. If he lost money, he would get angry and frustrated.

One day, a young man came asking for a job. Ramaswami hired him. He began helping the merchant with tasks such as writing letters, drafting contracts, and providing regular reports on the business. The boy was good. So good that Ramaswami said to a friend:

“This kid is not a real merchant and will never become one, his soul is never passionate about business. But he has the secret of those people to whom success comes on its own, whether because of a lucky star or because of magic, or because of something he learned from the monks. He always seems to be only playing at business, it never fully becomes part of him, it never dominates him, he never fears failures, he is never bothered by a loss.”

This mysterious young man was Siddhartha, who had come from the forest and was on a quest to discover the truths about life and about himself after meeting with the Buddha.

Be like Siddhartha. When working, when doing business, when dealing with other people. Approach your duty with that attitude – fully engaged but never attached.

Let go of all expectations of specific outcomes. Find happiness right now, instead of always chasing after something else. Be okay with life's ups and downs. Find peace within yourself, regardless of what's going on around you.