The Real Work
The real work before man is to set his own house in order. He has been living in fear for too long. That has caused much artificiality in him. He has been afraid of being rejected by the society and he has all along put up a façade to please others. “Will they deny love to me? Will they stop respecting me? Will they talk lightly about me?” Afraid of losing the privileges that he has enjoyed, he dances to their tunes. He does not really know though what they want from him.
He does a lot of things with friends and relatives just to be in their good books. He would not do them if he were really free. What is worse is that many of such things are what he imagines to be their needs. Even his religion has become a whole lot of unnecessary rituals which ‘have to be done’ for otherwise even the dead ones would be displeased with him. His business practices also involve doing things that would please many powers that could jeopardize his status, if not livelihood.
When will he live an original, simple life? When will he sing his own heart’s song? Does not a life of calculation, conformity or imitation necessarily bring much stress to him? It takes its toll on even his near and dear ones as they never find him at peace. Sometimes he forces them also to play his game.
Amassing wealth has no meaning when his inner life has no sunshine. His achievements are all empty for his soul is not at rest. The contradiction between his true longings and his external priorities affect his health also and a number of psychosomatic ailments soon catch him.
Sometimes he feels he has worked for some ideals in his life. Upon closer examination it becomes clear such dedicated work was also another subtle escape of the clever self. Working for a cause, for some great symbol and for a noble man is also very often the denial of truth. Whether we go about it fanatically or with care, these missions are divisive in their own ways and become another vested interest in no time.
Man can never conceptualize right living. When he sees through falsities and lets them go, there is a silent victory. Others may or may not hear the faint melody of the original song.
Swami Chidananda
Tuesday, April 05, 2005