Hari
OM
Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!
VEDANTA IN ACTION.
This is the title of a publication from CM which,
whilst it of course has items by Gurudev, also includes selections of writing
from other well-esteemed Gurus from the Vedantic tradition as well as leading
businessmen. Its focus is the working life. We shall be exploring these essays
for the next few weeks on Workings-day as, clearly, they pertain directly to
the premise of this section of AVBlog! As ever, you are encouraged to read back over previous
posts, to ensure full benefit.
Part 2:Fulfillment Through work
Right Attitudes for Success (by Gurudev)
Working for an ideal.
In
contrast to the labourer, the second variety of work attitude is called,
simply, worker. What is the difference here? If one asks a worker why he is
working, he will say that he wants to bring about a change in society. His eyes
are not on personal profit, but on a wider success. In what? Every worker has a
picture of an ideal 'heaven', a perfect society. He will struggle hard in the
world because he is inspired by a great enthusiasm and vision of life and
wishes to contribute to achieving that ideal.
He is ready to starve or suffer to see something of this succeed. The
political workers or the spiritual missionaries, the great cultural thinkers -
all of them are thus struggling to bring the ideals they have into the
world. To the extent the ideal is
achieved, to that extent they are happy and feel that they have succeeded.
Working for joy.
The
third variety is rare. Labourers are many in the world and workers are somewhat
less; but the third, called men of achievement, are few indeed. It is these
people who give a fillip to the general cultural beauty of society and uplift
the entire generation to a higher standard of life, a higher dignity of
morality, a greater virtue in living.
Such mighty men are called saints and sages, seers or prophets;
incarnations of great virtues and values. They live an ideal life, inspiring
others even after their death. Christ died two thousand years ago and yet we
find that his glory becomes more and more compelling as time passes.
One
may ask the man of achievement, 'what is it that you want in the world - why
are you working?' Christ, Buddha, Muhammed - all worked. Such men do so not for
profit, nor success, but from a feeling that they are doing the right thing,
irrespective of whether or not they will be recognized in their lifetime.
All that such men want is the secret joy
of himself, the sense of fulfillment the he did the best he could.
The
men of fulfillment do not work for a more comfortable life, nor do they work in
the world outside for bringing a heaven upon earth, but by practice and precept
they try to lead mankind to live an ideal life.
More often than not, such men have been persecuted by the society, for
they are too idealistic for their age. Against all such obstacles, a man of
fulfillment lives on, inspiring others by his joyous way of life and thus
bringing about a new movement of moral change in the country. In time, the
morality, the culture, the civilization of the society always rises up because
of their work. Such men live the life they advocate; they are their own best
examples. Thus men of achievement are not mere labourers or workers, but are
seekers of Self-fulfillment. By living the idealistic life in society, in spite
of the fact that others are not willing to live it with them, they thrilled and
inspired their generations, instilling a sense of awe and reverence for the
perfect life. Such ideal individuals alone have uplifted the world.
