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).
The
text now moves into chapter 4; 'Workable Tips'. Having talked about the need
for 'success' in a societal sense, as well as at the individual level, there
are those who are going to cry, 'is not hard work the most important factor in
gaining success?" The reply is;
ivïam<
ivna pirïmae n kr[IyStwEv c kayR< ivna ivïam>.1.
Vishraamam
vinaa parishramo na karaniiyas-tathaiva cha kaaryam vinaa vishraamaH ||1||
Do not work without taking rest, and do not rest
without doing any work.
All
living beings have an inbuilt 'programming' to balance work and rest. The most
industrious insects such as bees and ants will still take time to recuperate
energy; dogs and cats know how to rest alertly. In the human species, as with
majority species, this exists too and like most, the activity tends to take
place in the daylight hours and the rest in the dark hours. There are many
studies which have proven that darkness offers the living beings the optimum
respite.
However,
the arrival of electricity and, therefore, the extension of 'light hours', has
altered greatly the diurnal rhythm of nature. We indulge in all manner of
activity after the sun has dropped below the horizon. The artificial lifestyle
takes its toll on our body and our mental state. More and more individuals find
that their coping mechanisms have been compromised, energy levels are less,
moods are often less than bouyant and thus work efficiency is low… all due to
lack of adequate and appropriate rest. Despite this, people push themselves,
they use stimulants such as caffeine, alchohol, sugary foods - some will resort
to drugs. Many end up with ulcers, various forms of '-aholism', stress and
burnout. We hear of younger and younger people developing disorders of the body
normally considered 'age disease'; diabetes, blood pressure, heart failure.
Yet
how many will truly say they are happy on a daily basis? Proper happiness, not
the temporary sort which is obtained from pursuits or behaviours which are
disappointing or damaging in the long-term.
Some
people just don't know how to rest or relax in a manner with true health and
well-being benefit. They are by nature restless and agitated. They are not
happy unless doing something. These are the people who are so tied in to the
goings-on of the world that they sleep with the mobile phone by their bed and,
even if they don't pick it up, will be disturbed by the arrival of messages or
calls during the night - mostly of no importance at all. There are others who
have some sense of guilt at being caught resting; still others are of the
opinion that they can only be called 'productive' if they never rest.
Work
never gets 'finished'. The very nature of work is to be always there to pick
up. If we keep trudging on thinking we can only rest when the work is done, we
will never recoup. We pay a physical, a mental, and ultimately a cost to our
very 'beingness' for not taking adequate rest.
That
said, there are those who are all 'rest, no work'. Inertia reigns. Pure laziness and lack of interest in being
part of the general productiveness which provides for them as well as other
members of society. Gurudev had a favourite saying; "if you rest, you
rust!" He was not referring to appropriate recuperative rest, but to the
sitting back and not taking action where action is needed. Not to use one's
body, mind and intellect is likely to result in their deteriorating in ability
and thus not being able to produce high levels of return when we do try to use
them.
Therefore,
work as you should and to the best of ability and expertise, but not at the
cost of appropriate rest in order to maintain the machinery that is this
amazing vehicle for our spirits.
