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
Efficiency in Action (Gurudev), cont'd
Dissipation of Energy
We
may build a dam and thereby create a reservoir, but if the water is not made
use of and carried by channels to the land, then the land cannot benefit from
it. Similarly, by surrendering ourselves to a great goal, we may find a new
enthusiasm and energy but if they are not properly channelled, like the water
left in the tank, it either stagnates or dissipates into unproductive activity.
According to the Rsis, there are three ways this can occur. Three 'leakages',
which will be used by our energy to dissipate if it has not found a true outlet
for its release. In order to preserve
our energy, we must block these leakages. What are these leakages?
Second;
anxiety for the future. For example; a boy who has always been a first calss
student hope to get a high rank in his M.A. the boy enters the exam hall rather
pale and the examiner thinks it is from overstudy. When the question paper
reaches the boy, he read is and faints. When he rouses, the thinks
"Everything is lost, how can answer these fourteen questions in the time
allotted?" The boy has forgotten to read the instructions - answer any
three questions! Due to his anxiety to get a top mark, his efficiency became
blurred. Many students fail exams not because the lack intellect and knowledge
but because of leakages of their dynamism to such anxieties. One's success
depends upon one's mental equanimity.
Third;
excitement in the present. Even if we have the first two under control, there
is this possible third leakage of our focus and energies. There are folk who
work sincerely long hours, yet seem not to get the work done. They appear
inefficient. Such folk work hard, no doubt, but they cannot come to any
judgement. In the morning the desk is assessed; the files have piled up and the
amount of work causes worry. Then more files arrive. Among them is an
'immediate' postnote. Then another file is remembered from yesterday which had
same. Prioritising has gone astray and it becomes a matter of 'where to begin'.
This level of current worry and lack of discrimination in sorting is what is
being referred to as 'excitement'. Another worker, with more composure and
self-confidence, would know which work to concentrate upon in order to process
the files more efficiently.
There
are thus three outlets through which our energy is lost; regrets of the past,
anxieties for the future and excitements of the present. The Rsis found that once we discover a goal
and surrender ourselves to it, we will find a tremendous source of energy and
inspiration arising - but we must then not allow this energy to dissipate in
regrets for things we cannot change, nor in imagining futures as yet unreached,
neither in lack of focus in the present. This is the highest creative action in
the world - to focus our entire attention upon the activity before us. Thereby
an individual can rise from current inefficiencies to better productivity,
achievement and success.
