Isn’t it fascinating how the world is graced with minds that seem to touch the extraordinary? Across centuries, in every field—from science and technology to music, art, and poetry—we celebrate creations that transcend time and transform lives. But have you ever paused to wonder: What sets these brilliant individuals apart? Why do some people rise above the rest in creativity, intellect, or innovation?

The material mind attributes it to talent, genetics, or hard work. This belief leads souls to the hubris of ownership, where we misconstrue our achievements as our own doing. Equipped with extraordinary erudition and ability, we begin to contemplate ourselves as all-knowing, all-powerful, and invincible. Comparing our potencies with others, we begin to harbor negative emotions of superiority or envy.  Revising these thought patterns repeatedly leads us to the pitfalls of pride and ignorance, veiling us from the ultimate truth.

Instead, a true seeker asks:  Who is the real doer of my works? From where do I obtain the brilliance that makes me shine over others? The scriptures reveal the profound truth. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declares:

buddhir buddhimatām asmi tejas tejasvinām aham (BG 7.10)

Translation: I am the intellect of the intelligent, and the splendor of the glorious.

That brilliance, that spark of genius, is none other than the manifestation of God's divine energy operating through a soul. This one line shatters the illusion of ownership. Whatever glory we see in the world—whether in a scientist, scholar, artist, saint, or leader—is but a reflection of God’s divine potency.

God Is the Seed of All Beings

In the same verse of the Gita, Shree Krishna states:

bījaṁ māṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ viddhi pārtha sanātanam (BG 7.10)

Translation: Arjun, know that I am the eternal seed of all beings.

This line implies that, just as the seed holds the potential of the entire tree, God is the origin and essence of all existence. Every ability, every talent, every creative expression ultimately springs from Him. Whether it is brilliance or a lack of it, it is sourced from God’s energy. Hence, what we perceive as "our own brilliance" is simply God's grace flowing through us.

Shree Krishna also clarifies a few verses before this: bhūmir-āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva cha ahankāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛitir aṣhṭadhā (BG 7.4)

Translation: Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego—these are the eight components of My material energy.

Since all of creation is a manifestation of God’s energy, the remarkable qualities we see in extraordinary individuals are also reflections of His divine grace at work. Shree Krishna is not only the cause of all causes, He is that energy which empowers our intellect and action. Let us understand how divine brilliance shines through the world from a few examples.

How English Became a Global Language: Personal Success or Divine Orchestration?

Legends like William Shakespeare displayed extraordinary literary brilliance.  His timeless works not only transformed English literature but also played a pivotal role in making English one of the most widely spoken languages on the global platform. Was it merely the literary genius of Shakespeare to effect such a sea change in world history? Possibly, it is divine design. Let us look at a different event with a similar outcome.

During the height of the British Empire, its reach extended across continents. Subsequently, English was established as a global language. While history rightly critiques the unethical practices of colonization, Swami Vivekananda offered a higher perspective. He suggested that perhaps God used the British Empire to fulfill a divine objective: to create a common language—English—that would one day unite people worldwide. Could it be that even colonial expansion was used as a tool in God’s larger plan to foster global dialogue?

Bill Gates: Unifying the World With a Single Operating System

Swami Mukundananda narrates how his Spiritual Master, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, entrusted him with a significant task. Maharajji’s lectures were to be broadcast on television across India.  Swamiji was tasked with converting Maharajji's divine discourses, stored on VHS tapes, into various video formats. He relates his experience humorously:

There were three different video formats in use—NTSC in America, PAL in India and Europe, and SECAM across East Asia. Now imagine trying to edit one lecture recorded in NTSC and preparing it for Indian television, which required PAL! It was like piecing together a puzzle from three entirely different sets. The editing room became a battleground of cables, converters, and compatibility chaos.

Drawing this analogy, he urges us to stop and ponder:

Now imagine if computers had been built with the same kind of incompatibility? Imagine five different operating systems on every machine, each speaking its own language. The world would have descended into technological madness.

Swamiji draws our attention to the miracle that prevented such confusion. He says: That did not happen because God had already solved that problem. He chose someone—whether the world considers him deserving or not—to become the face of a unified system. Yes, I’m talking about Bill Gates. Through him, the Lord gifted the world with a standard operating system—Microsoft Windows—that would run across continents and connect millions.

Inspiration

This wasn’t mere business success or technical convenience. It was divine orchestration, quietly ensuring harmony amidst complexity. God used one person as an instrument to smooth out what could have been an endless maze of confusion.

Young Michael Jordan and the Spark of Divine Wit

Now, let us look at an inspiring story from the life of Michael Jordan, long before he became a basketball legend.

At the age of 12, Michael’s father handed him a plain $1 T-shirt and challenged him, “Can you sell this for $2?” Michael accepted and, after much effort, managed to sell it for $2.

Next, his father gave him another T-shirt and said, “Now sell this one for $20.”

This time, Michael printed a Mickey Mouse design on it, stood in a crowded market, and enthusiastically promoted it as a “Mickey Mouse T-shirt!” A few hours later, it was sold.

Then came the final challenge: “Sell this T-shirt for $200.” Michael thought long and hard. As fate would have it, a famous actress, Farrah Fawcett, was in town for a movie shoot. Michael approached her and politely requested an autograph. She smiled, signed the shirt, and the young boy went on to auction it as a celebrity-signed T-shirt. Bidding soared, and it finally sold for $2,000.

Where did that ingenuity, courage, and resourcefulness come from? It is not just personal cleverness, but divine brilliance expressing itself through a willing and determined vessel. Shree Krishna beautifully reveals this truth in the Bhagavad Gita,

yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ śhrīmad ūrjitam eva vā tat tad evāvagachchha tvaṁ mama tejo ’nśha-sambhavam ( BG 10.41)

Translation: Whatever you see as beautiful, glorious, or powerful, know it to spring from but a spark of My splendor.

The Wit and Wisdom of Sam Manekshaw

Let us turn now to one of India’s most celebrated military minds—Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. During World War II, he was severely wounded in battle. The doctor, overwhelmed by the number of injured soldiers, looked at Sam’s condition and muttered, “Not worth the effort.”

But just then, Sam quipped, “I got kicked by a mule.” His unexpected humor made the doctor laugh, and he chose to treat him first. That single spark of wit—perhaps inspired by divine playfulness—saved his life.

Later, as a high-ranking officer, Sam once visited a military base and noticed a young soldier saluting an officer repeatedly. Curious, he asked why. The officer replied, “Sir, he missed saluting me once. As punishment, I’ve asked him to salute me a thousand times.”

Sam smiled and said, “Very well. But army protocol says that every salute must be returned by the officer. So now, you must salute him back each time.”

For hours, the soldier and the officer were locked in a loop of salutes, teaching both humility and respect. Was this merely cleverness? Or was it God’s brilliance manifesting as justice through wit?

Inspiration

The Bhagavatam states that God is the Soul of our souls. If God were to withdraw His presence even for a moment, the soul would lose all sentience.

Hence, God is not only the splendor but the very sentience of souls.

Whether we are poets,  scientists, artists, or athletes, all our talents are gifts from God. And the highest use of those gifts is to offer them back to Him in service. When we adopt the mindset of being instruments, we open the floodgates for more divine energy to flow through us.

From Ego to Devotion: Reversing the Practice

Most people live in an ego-centered identity: my talent, my success, my brilliance. This repeated thought pattern becomes so deep that it blocks divine grace.

To become true devotees, we must reverse this mental practice. Instead of “I am the doer,” we affirm, “God is the doer. I am merely the instrument.” Swami Mukundananda beautifully summarises this wisdom in 7 Mindsets to Success, Happiness and Fulfillment:

Such a sense of identity does not arise from the ego; instead, it is based upon thinking of ourselves as the tiny soul that is the eternal servitor of God. In this manner, we maintain humility without being self-demeaning. Additionally, we realise that His grace makes all things possible, and we are freed from the ‘pride of doership’.

Saints Become Instruments in the Hands of God

Saints across religions have continued to inspire and guide humankind with spiritual knowledge. They are embodiments of divine love, knowledge, and bliss, which they disseminate to the world to dispel ignorance. Their surrender to the Divine is so deep that they become non-different from God. The sage Narad propounds in his Bhakti Darshan:

tasmin taj-jane bhedābhāvat (Sutra 41)

Translation: There is no distinction between God and His Saints.

Swami Mukundandanda presents an insightful commentary on this sutra. He says, A true Saint or Guru is empowered by divine bliss. He has surrendered and dedicated his life to God’s service. He is like a child, resting in God’s lap, and God takes over. That soul becomes the instrument, and God becomes the driver and doer. The saints thus become channels in His divine project of jeev-kalyan, or welfare of souls.

Let us take the example of Tulsidas, the revered poet-saint who composed the Ramcharitmanas. His poetic brilliance continues to inspire millions, and scholars still write PhDs on his verses. But do you know what Tulsidas himself said about his authorship? In deep humility, he declared:

na maiñ kiyā na kari sakauñ, sahiba kartā mor karata karāvata āap haiñ, tulasī tulasī śhor

“Neither did I write the Ramayan, nor do I have the ability to write it.  The Lord is my Doer.  He directs my actions and acts through me. I am just His instrument, but the world thinks that Tulsidas is doing them.”

What a powerful statement! Tulsidas, whose words move hearts even centuries later, claimed no credit for his extraordinary accomplishment. He simply bowed to the divine doer behind the work—Shree Ram Himself.

Saint Kabir expresses a similar sentiment: Jo kare so Harī kare, hotā Kabīr Kabīr.

Translation: Whatever happens, happens by God's will; Kabir is only an instrument.

Inspiration

Let us understand the profound truth of surrender and non-doership — that the Divine ultimately does all actions. Even when the world attributes them to individuals, the real doer is God.

Conclusion: Recognize the Divine Spark in All

So, the next time you admire a great leader, a gifted child, a beautiful poem, or a scientific breakthrough, pause and offer a smile to God. It’s His spark shining through.

Let us not be arrogant about our gifts, nor envious of others’. Instead, let us become grateful channels of His divine power, endeavoring to bring positive change in the world through our works. And with every breath, may we say: “O Lord, let me use all I have, all I am, in Your loving service. Let Your light shine through me—for Your glory alone.”

This popular Christian hymn, known as “Prayer of Saint Francis,” reflects this divine sentiment. The poet-saint pleads with God to allow him to be His instrument in the divine project of the welfare of souls in the world:

Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord And where there's doubt, true faith in you. Make me a channel of your peace Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope Where there is darkness, only light And where there's sadness, ever joy.

Call to Action:

1. Solidify the sentiment that everything in Creation is a manifestation of God’s energy through this Guided Meditation from Bhagavad Gita - 21 Day Challenge on Radha Krishna Bhakti App https://www.jkyog.org/applinks/challenge?id=15

2. Subscribe and share the Swami Mukundananda YouTube channel: What is the Source of EVERYTHING? Stories of Sam Manekshaw | Swami Mukundananda | Bhagavad Gita

3. Deepen your devotion with timeless spiritual secrets with Swami Mukundananda’s commentary Bhagavad Gita. The Song of God. Order now https://www.jkyog.org/giftshop/product-details/7602381717549  and embark on your journey of spiritual enlightenment.

Resources

●     Mukundananda, S. (2021).Bhagavad Gita. The Song of God. Rupa Publications Pvt Ltd: New Delhi, India.

●     What is the Source of EVERYTHING? Stories of Sam Manekshaw | Swami Mukundananda | Bhagavad Gita

●     Narad Bhakti Darshan by Swami Mukundananda- Part 22