Passion

I recently met people who use their goals in life as motivation to do things. And they do greatly in those things. They become presidents, leaders, speakers, achievers for the sake of a transcript - to have each and every of their success bulleted onto the sparkling white piece of paper that entitles you to places in universities, jobs and interviews. Admittedly, I do not deny such achievement and involvement do get you all those things. And admittedly, I don't see the desire to do things for the sake of a wonderful resume a wrong or bad thing.

However, I am inclined to take the more passive, subtle and less demanding path. I have always done things because I am passionate about it. Or because I am curious about it or willing to learn and fall from it. I may seem rather not excited when it comes to winning or getting involved in activities and competitions, but only because I know I will put my best in anything I choose to do. So I know if I don't turn out the best, I have done my best.

This detached non-committal stance of mine towards life is something I have learnt from watching, listening to and reading about Buddhist scholars. But it is something that compromises sheer dynamism for a successful future?

The balance between passion and need is a delicate one for me. I know I need to succeed because I need to secure a good job in the future. I love what I do because I know I need to love it in order for me to get some place beyond.

But where does pure passion begins and passion for survival ends? Where does passion stops because needs has to be prioritized?