We are all programmed

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It has always been a mystery to me why someone makes it in life and someone doesn’t. It is not as simple as possessing in-born talent or luck. I am certain that it has actually a lot to do with subconscious programming, not necessarily designed or intended.

Over the years I have seen umpteen examples of actors and technicians whom I thought very highly of. They didn’t make it. Conversely, the ones I had thought of as mediocre made it to the top. Not that I am an authority on the subject but at some point everyone else shared my opinion on these actors and technicians.
The most simplistic explanation for this is the S-word ‘success’. But what does it really mean? Success is primarily an endorsement of a large number of people that so and so is very, very good. But how does one know what so many people are actually thinking? To go back in time, the classic case is that of Gadar and Lagaan. Both of them released on the same day on June 15, 2001 and Gadar was a far superior hit to Lagaan. Today years after their release, I can say that I have not met one single person who calls Gadar his favourite but you will find plenty of die-hard fans of Lagaan. So, who were the people who loved Gadar? Did they fly in quietly from Mars, see the film and return in a space machine?
Jokes apart, most probably the people who liked Gadar comprise the so-called masses whose opinions don’t matter to the nose-in-the-air critics and the media. So the moment they don’t endorse or keep praising a film, the people who liked Gadar start being apologetic. They become programmed into believing that there is something wrong with them for liking Gadar.
On another note altogether, there was an aunt of mine who had merely accompanied someone visiting Satya Sai Baba. When she returned, she placed a huge portrait of his prominently in the house. She claimed that the very fact that so many thousands believe in him was proof enough for her that he is divine.
I countered her by applying some logic. I said that she doesn’t actually believe in him, but was doing so merely because thousands were doing so, what if they were thinking on the same line as hers? In effect, this means nothing but a huge collective belief. Nothing more, nothing else.
Is there a conviction or rationale reasoning behind it? I don’t think so. And here I am not talking about Satya Sai Baba. I am questioning the basis of my aunt’s belief in him.
Obviously, she was not interested in or influenced by my arguments or logic. The portrait continued to preside over her house. So if she finds some solace with that, that’s fine. To each his or her own.