“Work is Worship, Duty is God.”
Let’s take some time to discuss and calculate the marks needed for As in our spiritual report card. There is no refuting that religion and spirituality take up a smaller percentage of our time than our work, education and family obligations. However, the quality of life that we experience is of a lower grade because of this imbalance. Society is unfortunately filled to the brim with workaholics and shopaholics with a select few that maintain an active spiritual connection. The tendency to run after the world begets the loss of a spiritual connection with God and initializes mental and physical decay. This does not have to be the case; Hinduism and its teachings allow every man, woman and child to maximize their other talents and intellectual gifts while harbouring an unbreakable spiritual connection to the Divine.
The Bhagavad Gita, as well as many other Hindu texts, is our answer to society’s worsening state of decadence. The statistics support the unfortunate mental and physical downturns inflicting our society at present. Over fifty percent are obese in Trinidad and Tobago and one in every five persons will experience depression. Aren’t these figures startling? The philosophy and teachings of Hinduism is being grasped globally by members of different faiths and ethnicities for its soothing and refreshing effects on the mind, body and soul. A balance needs to be established if we are to achieve liberation; for when we die, our education and all that we worked for is not carried forth, only the good deeds, sacrifices and unfaltering faith in the divine will help us. The tenets “Artha, Dharma, Kaama and Moksha” need not be belaboured. They are our guide to healthy living and spiritual development.
Some may view as a nuisance the many festivals and spiritual occasions in Hinduism, but these establish the need for humans to be attuned consistently to their divine reality and be aware of the illusions of their existence. Once, Narad Muni was put to the test by Vishnu Bhagawan. When Narad Muni asked Lord Vishnu who was His greatest devotee, Narad was shocked to learn that it was not himself. Lord Vishnu then asked Narad to walk around a mountain with a jar of oil filled to the brim while ensuring that not a drop was spilled. After successfully completing the task, Lord Vishnu then inquired of Narad, how many times did he think of Him? Narad was embarrassed to answer that he didn’t and was too focused on the task at hand. He then understood that even though we as human beings are burdened at times with life’s worries and obligations, we should not forget to think of and worship God.
In chapter two of the Gita, an interpretation is offered, “As far as prescribed duties are concerned, they can be fitted into three subdivisions, namely routine work, emergency work and desired activities. Routine work performed as an obligation in terms of the scriptural injunctions, without desire for results, is action in the mode of goodness. Work with results becomes the cause of bondage; therefore such work is not auspicious. Everyone has his proprietary right with regard to prescribed duties, but should act without attachment to the result; such disinterested obligatory duties doubtlessly lead one to the path of liberation.”
How many of us are proud to identify with Hinduism and its teachings? How much do we understand? Our lives should be ever devoted to the grace of God for without it there is no life. The cry is simple; we must cultivate and strengthen our spiritual lives so that we can find joy and happiness in a world plagued by dualities. When we run after the world, we lose the world and we lose God. When we run after God, we get the world and God’s blessings.
