By Swami Vivekananda,
Work for work’s sake. There are some who are really the salt of the earth in every country and who work for work’s sake, who do not care for name, or fame, or even to go to heaven.
They work just because good will come of it. There are others who do good to the poor and help mankind from still higher motives, because they believe in doing good and love good. The motive for name and fame seldom brings immediate results, as a rule; they come to us when we are old and have almost done with life.
If a man works without any selfish motive in view, does he not gain anything? Yes, he gains the highest. Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not the patience to practice it. It is more paying from the point of view of health also. Love, truth, and unselfishness are not merely moral figures of speech, but they form our highest ideal, because in them lies such a manifestation of power.
In the first place, a man who can work for five days, or even for five minutes, without any selfish motive whatever, without thinking of future, of heaven, of punishment, or anything of the kind, has in him the capacity to become a powerful moral giant. It is hard to do it, but in the heart of our hearts we know its value, and the good it brings. It is the greatest manifestation of power — this tremendous restraint; self-restraint is a manifestation of greater power than all outgoing action. A carriage with four horses may rush down a hill unrestrained, or the coachman may curb the horses.
Which is the greater manifestation of power, to let them go or to hold them? A cannonball flying through the air goes a long distance and falls. Another is cut short in its flight by striking against a wall, and the impact generates intense heat. All outgoing energy following a selfish motive is frittered away; it will not cause power to return to you; but if restrained, it will result in development of power.
This self-control will tend to produce a mighty will, a character which makes a Christ or a Buddha. Foolish men do not know this secret; they nevertheless want to rule mankind. Even a fool may rule the whole world if he works and waits. Let him wait a few years, restrain that foolish idea of governing; and when that idea is wholly gone, he will be a power in the world. The majority of us cannot see beyond a few years, just as some animals cannot see beyond a few steps. Just a little narrow circle — that is our world. We have not the patience to look beyond, and thus become immoral and wicked. This is our weakness, our powerlessness.
Even the lowest forms of work are not to be despised. Let the man, who knows no better, work for selfish ends, for name and fame; but everyone should always try to get towards higher and higher motives and to understand them. “To work we have the right, but not to the fruits thereof:” Leave the fruits alone. Why care for results? If you wish to help a man, never think what that man’s attitude should be towards you. If you want to do a great or a good work, do not trouble to think what the result will be.
Enjoyed the article:-D
Swami Vivekananda taught us how to do our work – any sort of work. He taught it not only in the little book, Karma Yoga, but in many other places also.
Our Attitude Toward the Work – Swami Vivekananda
“Ordinary mankind, driven everywhere by false desires, what do they know of work? He works who is not propelled by his own desires, by any selfishness
whatsoever… He works who has nothing to gain from work. Who enjoys the picture, the seller or the seer?
If you want to help a person, never think what that person’s attitude toward you should be.
Those who want to help mankind must take their own pleasure and pain, name and fame, and all sort of interests, and make a bundle of them and throw them into the sea, and then come to the
Lord.
One must learn, sooner or later, that one cannot get salvation if one does not try to seek the salvation of one’s fellow beings. You work best when you work for others. There is no engine which can pull against the human
heart. Feel, my children, feel; feel for the poor, the ignorant, the downtrodden; feel, till the heart stops and the brain reels and you think you will go mad. Constant defeat – let that not unnerve thee. He who is the servant of all is their true master.”
Hi Sanjib,A very good morning to you and all..!!!!
It is wonderfu to see that exactly same time daily you are sending us great thought either yours..or Guruji’s or the Great Masters like Vivekananda…Just Seeing the Picture of Swami Vivekananda one can guess the What kind of personality he must be…the face itself shows the great thoughts of mind and yet so calm and peaceful look..
it is a an amzing article itself one of my favourite aspect of life..it is something like the teaching of BHAGVADGEETA..which says KARMANAY VADHIKAR ASTEY NA PHALESHU KADACHANA
…i think everyone knows the meaning that we have just right on our karma or work or duties what we have to do ..not on the fruits of that work…or results related to that work..but i always believe that if we sincerely do our work and then also we fail then we should not repent it
..as we have put 100% in it and still that work or thing did not happen so we should still feel happy that we have done our best..but it may be someother wish of God that we did not get what we wished for..
so if we keep this principle in mind we would be doing our work without worries
…and Swamiji has said so beautifuly that whatever we do with some selfish motives we can get the results fast but that would not give us that immense pleasure or satisfaction…as if work hard in our office job and then get more money or aprreciation of our work…that feels very nice but the motive was still there that is either financial or fame…and there are many more such things in life which we do for ourselve most of time of life or for family…even we go to temple or church most of us ask for our wishes
..so selfishly we ask god to fulfill our dreams remove our pain..give success to our kids…why …why cant think broad why can we ask GOD to think of good for all …and i dont know someone realises or not but i think wheneve we ask God also with selfish motives..it is not necessary that our wishes are fulfilled becuase what we wish for ourself may be not doing good to others…if we ask for a person who is already commited to something else god wud think of our wish or that persnon’s welfare.
..but i think but when we ask god also with unselfish motive to fill the lives of others with love remove their pains…bring them out of the ocean of deep miseries and provide them calm and peace ..defiinitelly then our prayers are also answered…as we have not asked now for ourself…and if we see that becuase of us even a single person gets back his or her smile back…if because of some work done by us without selfish motive of fame or other expectations
…someone gets out of some problems..we automatically feel happy …we dont have to ask for the smile we dont have to think what we will get out of it…becase the blessings the love we will get in long term is more PRECIOUS…than anyother TREASURE of the world..and every one needs Such precious treasure of love and life… for that we need to work work and work but not expecting the results
…work in the welfare of mankind…work for anything anyfield you like but just a little effort on part of evey individual will become a great effort combined..and that can bring the MOST DESIRED CHANGES IN THE WORLD..
which everyone dreams of but dont know how to bring those changes…
i think enough for now..
THANK YOU SO MUCH SANJIB..BECAUSE OF YOU IGNORANT PEOPLE LIKE US GAINING SO MUCH GOOD POINTS READING THE THOUGHTS OF GREAT MASTERS..even if we dont know understand the full article and each and every word stil i believe if we are able to understand or follow just one good think which we liked out of whole that can also make a positive differences in our lives….
REGARDS AND CARE AND LOVE
work is worship!….by Swami Vivekananda.
Thanks Sanjib great thoughts
thanks sanjib …i am starting my day with such a great thought ..god bless …
very well said sanjib
“If you wish to help a man, never think what that man’s attitude should be towards you.”
.. exactly what I was looking for. Thank you, Sanjib!
Hi,
I like the message and thoughts expressed in this article.
However, I would have loved to see some other names mentioned than Christ and Buddha. There are other examples such as Aadi Shankaraachaary or Mahaatmaa Gaandhi…
Why do we always talk about Christ, whereas lot of bad has come in his name, and he did not really wield such power to ‘exercise control over it’… He was not powerful either by his following (his followers were very limited in numbers when he lived and died), nor he was powerful in terms of military (unlike Buddhaa who was Royal Prince)..
So, quoting Christ in reference to ” Which is the greater manifestation of power, to let them go or to hold them? ” or “Self-control” is not prudent.
Thanks,
Sam