Perspire to Inspire

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Perspire to Inspire

(Part I/2)

-by H.H. Swami Ishwarananda

 

The other day, a spiritual aspirant approached me: " Is it not

essential for me to stop what I am doing to exclusively practise

spirituality? How is it possible for me to discover divinity while I

engage in the daily duties of family life? " It is a common

misunderstanding that one has to physically withdraw from the world to

practice spirituality. Just as one excels in a specific skill or

profession when one spends sufficient time and energy in that field,

one can experience divinity - at - play in every passing experience if

one willfully aspires to spend one's available time for it. Escaping

from the realities of life only creates weakness and restlessness.

 

Escapism and Freedom

Freedom is not escaping from an unwanted condition in life.

Spirituality does not support escapism from life's duties, and true

freedom is not the outcome of such a weakness. Freedom is rising above

all weaknesses. The Mundaka Upanishad says, " The Self is not obtained

by he who is weak, nâyam - âtmâ bala - hînena labhyaha " (3.2.4). On

the battlefield, Shri Krishna discouraged Arjuna from escaping from

the ensuing war and advised him to shun all weaknesses. Absence of

maturity or inner strength is the cause for all weaknesses.

 

Spiritual practice essentially starts from one's own inner maturity.

External situations and past experiences only set the atmosphere

within. But this inner atmosphere is best utilized to develop the

required maturity under the guidance of a fit teacher (which requires

faith, which leads one to inner tranquility, Gita 4.39) and by one's

own discipline (which requires the cultivation of values, Gita

13.7-11). In the beginning, the teacher draws our attention to where

we are, to focus on our own personality limitations and

contradictions. Unless we overcome these, further steps on the

spiritual ladder will not be even visible to us!

 

The Personality at Work

The first step is to become conscious of our multitude of activities

in everyday life, to recognize the actor's motives, values, etc. When

we pay attention to the " personality at work " we become less erroneous

in performing our duties. At this stage of spiritual practice, the

attitude should be: " The action is more important than my personal

opinion about the action ! "

 

When one gives more importance to one's own personal opinions, two

different temperaments emerge and both lead to dangerous results. One

is a passive temperament based on apathy and the other is an

aggressive temperament based on selfishness. Passivity makes one want

to escape from one's duties and become unproductive. Shri Krishna

ridicules such an individual as a hypocrite (mithyâ - âchâraha, one

living in illusion) because his passivity is not born of wisdom and

absence of desire, but because of ignorance and the fear of failure.

This only leads one to live as a burden to society. Others have to

work for one !

 

Aggressiveness based on selfishness may make one successful, but not

without the manifestation of arrogance and pride. Shri Krishna refers

to such a personality as ego - deluded. Because of this delusion, he

does not see beyond his own nose !

 

Service (sevâ) is the antidote to be free of both these temperaments,

meaning, to continue to perform one's duties as an offering to the

Lord. " Remembering Me at all times, " says Shri Krishna, " engage in the

war. " Meaning, live life valiantly and do your required duties --

sarveshu kâleshu mâm anu - smara yudhya ca, Gita 8.7. Such a man, who

is sincere in his work and purpose, though active in life, does not

build an insurmountable and dangerous ego - fort, alienating himself.

Instead, he nourishes and strengthens his equilibrium through selfless

service.

 

What is selfless service?

Disciple: I have come to offer you my service.

 

Master: If you dropped the " I, " service would certainly follow !

 

Thus, we arrive at four basic principles of work:

 

The work is more important than your opinion about it.

Attempt to make your work useful to everyone (that may include yourself).

Maintain your objectivity in all your work and their results.

Do not hesitate to perform your duty and complete whatever you undertake.

 

To be continued.....