II — Service

Work and service

Why do we work? We work to support ourselves, to support our dear ones. We may also work to keep our bodies in perfect condition. But a true aspirant looks upon work differently. He sees work as a veritable blessing. To him, each difficult and apparently painful job is a blessing in disguise. To him, work is nothing short of a dedicated service. He has discovered the truth that by offering the results of what he says, does and thinks, he will be able to realise God. He works for the sake of God. He lives for the sake of God. He realises Divinity for the sake of God.

Fate is our building. We had the power to build it; we have the power to demolish it. Whether to demolish the building, or build a new one or transform the present one is a question of paramount importance. But to do any of the three, we shall have to work physically, vitally, mentally, psychically and spiritually. Not without purpose has God so graciously granted us the body, vital, mind, heart and soul.

Each human being must find his own work, the work that helps him grow in his soul. Nothing can be more encouraging, inspiring and fulfilling than to discover one’s true inner work, which is the work of Self-realisation. Carlyle touched a deep truth when he said, “Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.”

Each soul is a chosen instrument of God. Each soul has a particular mission here on earth. Each person has to realise and fulfil himself, not in his own way, but in God’s Way. God, out of His infinite Love, and by virtue of His self-imposed divine Duty, gives to each aspirant what he needs. At the same time, God does not expect an iota more than the aspirant can offer. It was a great human voice that said, “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.”

There is a common complaint which is voiced by all human beings irrespective of age, caste or creed. What is it? “I have no time.” With a poetic sigh, they tell the world, “So much to do, so little is done.” Here, time is acting as our worst foe. Time is able to cause worry, fear and frustration in us because we are working through our ego and for the ego. There is always a constant battle between our ego’s injudicious intensity and time’s inscrutable and merciless flow.

But if we work with our soul and for the soul, then time not only helps us, but at each moment it appears before us a golden opportunity: for our soul knows unmistakably how to throw itself into the cosmic rhythm of the infinite Time.

True, each human being is an instrument of God chosen to do a particular work, to fulfil a divine mission here on earth. But nobody should imagine, even in his wildest dream, that he is indispensable. God gives us an unparalleled opportunity in each distinct job to enter into His Heart’s absolute Infinitude. If we do not avail ourselves of this constant opportunity, God, the compassionate Father, cannot help saying, “Sleep, my child, sleep. You are the child of my eternal Patience. I wanted you to be in my all-transforming Light. Since you do not want that, I shall have to be in your eyeless night.”