In a society like ours where we can see faults and cracks with our own eyes and with the somewhat distorted and amplified eyes of the media,
you cannot stick you head in the sand and pretend that nobody is getting hurt, cheated or exploited.
For your own advancement, you must give up aversion.
So now, your only option is Action. You must do something to help society.
Social ills and natural disasters abound. Duties call you from every side and at all times.
So you have to select your goals and battles and duties.
Who do you care about most? How would you like to contribute to society?
A girl I met works to rehabilitate prostitutes. Another lady works for the differently abled and less priviliged. One young man works tirelessly to correct the wrongs done to Indian History. One lady works for tribal women. One man worked for wealth creation in society. One man works for education reform at school level and another at university level.
One lady looks after her family and helps her neighbours.
kundA dEvI helps those who are confused and seeking find truth and knowledge.
Everybody finds contribution they can make and does it as well as they can.
So if you care about dharma and society, don’t be averse to the wrong doers. Instead treat it as an opportunity to stop them and do good.
If you are poor, you cannot write large cheques to contribute to foundations. If you are unpopular, you cannot influence people to change their ways.
But even if you are a child, you can find something to do. Something to contribute, easily.
Now, do that one thing without attachment or aversion. Know that there are others building bridges and saving whales and so on. Know that your body cannot be everywhere doing everything. Your cit is already everywhere doing everything.
Neeharika says that you should look at the world, see what you would like to see in it and then work to put that in the world. She is working on such a project.
Choose your goal, cause. Choose your scale of social impact. And then work away, without aversion.
Love,
satyA
My goal seems to be knowledge of a particular kind, the kind that gives stability and illumination. I think it is called brahmavidyA.
My activity seems to be reading, writing, talking, listening, thinking, not thinking, contemplating, travelling and taking care of my health.
My contribution seems to be sharing what I learn, for those who want to know. This makes some people happy and some people think.
My scale seems to be such people as can be reached through a blog and such people as come all the way to meet me. Also a few people whom I go all the way to meet.
Those who contribute in major ways to society and become tired and worn out find some strength and solace and illumination in my words, my company or in my cup of tea and dal rice, or so it seems.
It appears that some people enjoy the timelessness of my presence and the chance to express their ideas and feelings and be understood and loved. Of course this is exactly what I love about them and thats why they are called friends and family!
This is what I am able to do today. Upto a certain age you can do more every day. After that point you can do less everyday, physically and financially for the world.
photo by son.
