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.
We are reading "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).
That
spiritual vision alone would be the solution to our problems was put forward to
us last week. Vision is all good well, but can it truly be the answer?
@v<
kmRinrtae=vZymev s)lta< àaßaeit.8.
Evam
karma-nirato-vashyameva saphalataam praapnoti ||8||
Thus, steadfast in action, one certainly achieves
success.
Vision
ought not to mean 'in the abstract'; it is to be the prompt for action. Knowing
plus Doing is the key! The vision gives us clarity and what the
situation is and thus the ability to see what can be done to clear it away… but
this must be followed up with the action seen. This is continually stated and
is true of any teaching. You can be given all the knowledge of the universe,
but it amounts to nothing unless you DO something!
Okay.
Here is says 'achieves success'. What is this?
Vyi:qsm:qêpe[
s)ltaip iÖivxa.9.
vyashti-samashti-ruupena
saphalataapi dvividhaa ||9||
Success is also of two kinds - individual and total.
We
as individuals wish to prosper. The community in which we live, as a
collective, also desire this. So does the greater society and the nation.
Individuals are required to make up a total. Does the totality prosper when the
individual does? Not often. That is why we frequently see poor nations which
have within them rich individuals.
However,
can it be said that individuals prosper if the nation is prosperous? Again, not
often. There are many examples of suppression of individuality and the
exploitation by other individuals upon their fellow citizens in the name of
national 'prosperity', be it in communistic or extreme 'right-wing' regimes.
What
are the consequences of imbalance? Can there be hope of a balance?
