Hari
Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by
which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality
and become more congruent within our personality.
The next text which will guide the
Choose-day posts is "Tips for Happy Living - jIvnsUÇai[
/jiivanasuutraani", by Swami Tejomayananda (Guru-ji). Choose-days writings
are here to prompt deeper thinking on the choices made on a daily basis and
seek to provide prompts for raising the standard of one's thinking and living.
This text composed in format of Sanskrit traditional teachings, speaks directly
to this purpose. As ever, the full text may be obtained from CM Publications - or your local centre
(see sidebar).
Chapter
3 - EMPOWERMENT.
A
question is now asked… are we finite or infinite?
Maanvpué;awR>
sIimt>.1.
Maanava-purushaarthaH
siimitaH ||1||
Human effort is limited.
Living
with Finitude.
Human
potentials are infinite, but human efforts, however great, are finite. Even the
most prolific writers minaifest little of the treasure of knowledge within
them. Every machine, instrument or vehicle has its own limitations of form,
function and materials. It undergoes wear and tear, breaks down, needs
overhauling or repairing. The human body, mind, intellect and the external
resources available to mankind - time, place and circumstances - all condition
human efforts. The elderly will be heard saying 'my mind is young but my body
fails me'; the young get swayed by the moods of their minds and the temptations
of the body. Financial constraints, political environment, climatic conditions
or social norms, all influence human efforts and achievements. Even our maximum
efforts are, at times, not enough to bring results.
External
Empowerment.
We
may be finite, but we can always enhance our capabilities with external help.
The computer may be slow and have limited capacity, but it can always be
upgraded to boost performance. Ideas can be backed up by investors, programmes
managed by event managers, energy boosted by vitamins and diet; our spirit kept
high by motivational teachers… and so on.
Then
there are organisations who provide the help; Chinmaya Mission has the Youth Empowerment Program, to encourage the youngsters to be active in
their communities; and there is the Chinmaya Organisation for Rural
Development, (CORD)
which empowers women of rural communities to start up small business and
increase their wealth capacity.
Such
groups exist in many forms around the globe. Their aim is to augment,
supplement, support, increase, enrich and enhance our capacities and efforts.
We do become more effective and successful if we follow such programmes. Yet
all of these also have limitations. How much and for how long can one or
another help? Energy drinks can only give a temporary boost, banks can (and do)
go bankrupt, and charities sources of funding may disappear. The external
factors themselves are subject to finitude.
Where
does this leave us?
