Mastery is seldom born from a sudden epiphany. More often, it is patiently cultivated—one repetition at a time. This truth is deeply empowering. It reveals that genius is not the privilege of a gifted few but a potential within anyone willing to realize it through persistent practice.

Genius, Born or Built? 

When we think of genius, the name of Mozart often comes to mind. The German prodigy seemed destined for greatness. By the age of four, he was already composing music. By seven, he was touring Europe, enthralling audiences who could barely see him above the harpsichord and yet heard him play with unmatched brilliance.

One ability set Mozart apart: the absolute pitch. This rare ability allows a person to hear a musical note and immediately identify it—say, as A sharp or C minor—all without any reference scale. To most, it appeared to be one of those rare, God-given abilities; you either have it at birth, or you never will. Indeed, only about one in 5,000 people naturally possess absolute pitch. Even Beethoven, another towering figure in music, lacked it.

But is genius truly only born, never built?

In 2012, a Japanese music teacher set out to challenge this assumption. She gathered 24 children, aged two to six, and designed a simple musical routine. For five short sessions a day, the children practiced recognizing notes against a reference scale. The results were staggering. After 55 weeks, 22 of the 24 children had successfully developed absolute pitch. The remaining two had simply dropped out, which means the success rate for those who stayed was effectively one hundred percent. Where only one in 5,000 might have been expected to demonstrate this ability, nearly every child in this small group acquired it through practice.

What does this reveal?

The human brain is far more adaptable than we imagine. Each time we repeat an activity (whether physical or mental), we strengthen the neural pathways. With sustained practice, the brain gets configured in way that performance gradually shifts from effort to effortless. Psychologists describe this progression in three stages:

1. Conscious Incompetence: You are aware of the new skill or habit but struggle to perform it. You must consciously focus to make progress.
2. Conscious Competence: You can do the task well, but it still requires your full attention.
3. Unconscious Competence: The skill becomes automatic; you perform it naturally without conscious effort. At this stage, the subconscious takes over, and the task flows effortlessly.

This principle applies across all domains such as typing, driving, playing music, solving math, speaking languages, and more. With its hundred billion neurons capable of forming trillions of circuits, the brain can cultivate every kind of intelligence whether musical, mathematical, visual, linguistic.

Though children have fewer neurons, their abundance of axons in the brain lets them form circuits quickly—enough to learn a skill within a short span. For instance, absorbing a new language in a year, something adults struggle to match. And yet, adults are not excluded from this promise. Inspired by the study, many grown-ups later attempted to train themselves in absolute pitch. True, they did not achieve results in 55 weeks as the children did. It took years of steady effort but many eventually succeeded. This goes to show that mastery is not confined to the fortunate few endowed at birth. It is a potential embedded in every human mind. 

The Making of a Master

Athletes know that mastery comes only through relentless practice.

India, for instance, has produced many world-class spin bowlers, among them the legendary Bishen Singh Bedi. As a left-arm spinner, he claimed 1,560 first-class wickets—the highest by any Indian bowler. Renowned for his precision, he could land the ball exactly where he intended. Opponents often said he could deliver six balls of an over in six entirely different ways. Was he born with such mastery? Not really. It was the fruit of thousands of hours of practice. As Bruce Lee put it so powerfully: “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once. I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

Another striking example is Mahakavi Kalidas, among the greatest poets of Sanskrit literature and revered like Valmiki, the Adikavi. But how did Kalidas, once considered a fool, ascend to such mastery? Legend has it that Kalidas was known for his thoughtless actions. Meanwhile, a scholarly princess in the same kingdom vowed to marry only a man who could defeat her in scriptural debate. Many learned scholars attempted to best her, but none succeeded. Their wounded pride led them to devise a plan to outsmart her.

One day, they came across Kalidas on the tree cutting the very branch he was sitting on. They considered him perfect for their scheme. They told him, “We will get you married into a royal house. Just do not speak.” Presenting him as a great scholar observing a vow of silence, they brought him to the princess. She agreed to debate through gestures. During the debate, when the princess raised five fingers, asking how the five senses could be subdued. Kalidas, thinking she threatened to slap him, raised his fist as if to box her. The pandits interpreted his gesture: “By controlling the senses with the mind.” In this way, through a series of misunderstood gestures cleverly interpreted by pandits, Kalidas appeared victorious, and the princess had to marry him.

But soon she discovered the truth. When she heard him cry out crudely upon seeing a camel, she realized he was unlettered. Angered, she pushed him down the stairs. Bruised and humiliated, Kalidas resolved to transform himself. He set off for Kashi, where through relentless practice he immersed himself in study until he became a scholar of the highest order. When he finally returned, he knocked on the palace door with newfound confidence, proclaiming in chaste Sanskrit: “Kapatan Dwaram Dehi, Shrimati Ji!” The princess recognized his voice and astonished by his eloquence, remarked, “Asti kaschit vag vishesha” There seems to be a special power in your speech now.

Kalidas took those three words: Asti, Kaschit, and Vag Vishesha, and began each of his three great mahakavyas with them. From a man once mocked as a fool, he rose to become one of the greatest poets of Sanskrit literature—all through the transformative power of practice.

Sweat, Sincerity, Success

Initially, everything feels difficult, but with repetition, even the most challenging tasks become second nature. When we were little children, even the simplest actions like turning over required practice. Sitting upright needed support, and standing meant countless falls. Yet our parents never despaired; they knew this was the way of learning. With each tumble, we grew stronger until we stood, walked, and eventually ran. Some ran so well they won medals or even reached the Olympics. Had we given up on the first day, humanity would still be sitting.

This illustrates a fundamental truth: practice leads to proficiency.

Just as physical skills require regular training, mastery over the mind and thoughts demands continuous, deliberate practice. There is simply no shortcut. Each time the mind wanders into unwholesome thoughts, we must patiently bring it back—again and again. Even Arjun confessed this challenge to Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita:

chañchalam hi manah kṛiṣhṇa pramāthi balavad dṛiḍham

tasyāhaṁ nigraham manye vāyor iva su-duṣhkaram ~ Verse 6.34

“The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate, O Krishna. It appears to me that it is more difficult to control than the wind.”

To this, Krishna gave a clear and empowering reply:

śhrī bhagavān uvācha

asanśhayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigraham chalam

abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyena cha gṛihyate ~ Verse 6.35

“O mighty-armed son of Kunti, what you say is correct; the mind is indeed very difficult to restrain. But by practice and detachment, it can be controlled.”

The message is unmistakable: Whether the goal is to harness mental focus, cultivate devotion, or excel in any field, all mastery rests on the same foundation—steady, persistent practice. Maharshi Patanjali further says in this regard:

sa tu dīrgha-kāla nairantarya-satkārāsevito dridhabhūmih ~ Yoga Sutras 1.14
“When practice is pursued for a long duration, with dedication and without interruption, it becomes firmly rooted in the mind, forming an unshakable habit.”

This reveals that the thoughts we repeat and the choices we make steadily shape who we become. As the saying goes, “First we make our habits, then our habits make us.” When negative patterns are indulged in, they gather momentum and pull us astray. But when we nurture uplifting thoughts and constructive actions, repetition builds positive momentum that carries us towards success and well-being. In the end, it is persistent practice that disciplines the mind, engraves habits, and transforms potential into greatness.

The Relentless Path

If practice is the key to mastery, why do so many shy away from it?

The answer is simple: it requires effort. The beginning is always the hardest. Every new habit demands breaking old neural pathways and building new ones. This is why the initial push feels so heavy. But once momentum builds, effort transforms into ease. Like a rocket needing maximum thrust to break free of Earth’s gravity, once it escapes the pull, it glides forward with far less fuel. Similarly, once habits take root, progress accelerates almost effortlessly.

The intensity of practice also matters.

A story tells of a sadhu traveling to Badrik Ashram. A man walking with him asked how long the journey would take. The sadhu initially said nothing, but after observing the man’s pace for an hour, he estimated seven hours. He explained that the time depends on the speed of walking. Likewise, your progress depends on the intensity of your practice. If you hunger deeply for growth, your efforts will reflect that sincerity.

Further, Shree Kripalu ji Maharaj often advised a simple yet powerful tool: keep a diary, just as Benjamin Franklin did. Record your shortcomings and set daily resolutions—for example, “I will not hurt anyone with my words.” Each night, reflect honestly on where you slipped and how you can improve. This conscious self-examination, repeated daily, creates steady transformation.

The Hitopadesh echoes this truth:

“Anabhyāsena viṣam vidyā, hyajīrne bhojanam viṣam”

“Without revision, knowledge turns toxic, just as undigested food turns to poison.”

Regular review and practice strengthen neural connections, keeping skills alive. Even if forgotten, relearning is faster the second time, because the mind retains traces of earlier effort. In the end, repeated thoughts shape our inner world. Indulge negativity, and it entrenches itself. Nurture positivity, and it becomes your natural state. The conquest of the mind, like every other mastery, is won through slow, steady, and sincere practice.

Conclusion

Genius, it is often said, is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Just as a simple rope gradually engraves stone through persistence, our repeated efforts shape who we become. The path to mastery is not paved with miracles; it is built step by step. Deliberate practice itself becomes the bridge that takes us from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The real question, then, is not can you be great? But simply, are you willing to practice until you are?

Call to Action

If practice is the key to mastery in every field, it is even more so in spirituality.

Enrol in My Daily Sadhana—An online platform by Swami Mukundananda, featuring video lectures replete with timeless wisdom, guided meditations, and review exercises. Accessible anytime, anywhere, the structured nature of the courses help you practice and progress on the spiritual path every single day!

Resources

●       1 KEY to Become a GENIUS | Life Changing Advice for Students & Young Peoples - Swami Mukundananda

●       Geniuses are not Born but Made - Life Transformation Story of Mahakavi Kalidas | Swami Mukundananda

●       WHY Repeated Practice Leads to Perfection? | Swami Mukundananda

●       Shri Krishna's Ultimate Advice for Students & Young People - HOW TO SUCCEED IN LIFE