nn 1,2

1.4.6 karma yoga, 1,4,8 spir. in practice

Q: In this world we must perform actions and it is best to do these actions well. To do these actions well takes practice and the desire to better ones' skills. To seek the infinite, to avoid desires for this world, does this mean one should not improve their skills in this finite world?

My boy, such a question, you know the answer, you know the answer to this question.

To seek the infinite and to do your very best at everything you do goes hand in hand. You cannot be a sluggish person who does not do anything well, who does not care, who says "Oh let it go, let it go, I do not care if I do well, it does not matter." No, no, no, this is a misunderstanding of the philosophy. It is true that this world of temporal existence is the cause of our pleasure and our pain. It is true, it is true. So, if we become attached to our actions they become the very seeds of reactions which will cause us suffering. If we are very good at something and we take pride in our action and our ability, then one day Lord may take that ability from us. Suppose Lord has given us some skill in using our hands, in being a carpenter but we grow old and perhaps Lord may take that skill away and the hand will not function properly. The skill will be lost. What is our pride but mere vanity? All along, the skill belonged to Parama Purus'a. He gave us that skill and then we used that skill for a short time. Then He grew tired of this play and withdrew that skill. We should not develop pride for that skill for it was never ours.

Now, should one say "What is the use then, forget it, I will not do anything"? No, no, this is silliness. It should be thought like this, "Oh, Lord has given me this gift. I will develop this gift with my very best effort. I will do the very best for Him. I will give Him the very best vehicle for His expression. My hand will dance in its every movement for Him.I will build houses to perfection and when he decides "I am tired of this lila", he will take it and I will give it to Him for all along it has been His to mold and His to have. It is not mine. I am only the vessel through which He is enjoying the ups and downs of this material world". Like this, a wise person will think. They will be stunning in what they do, but they will not think that they are the doer.

So, do the very best you can at whatever you do. Whether it is a small, small act, a small gift that you are giving the great Purus'a, or a great gift affecting millions, Parama Purus'a will see them each, not for their size, but He will look to who gives it and for what motivation they have given. And the one who gives with the purest heart, with the most sweetness, the one who gives with the whole heart, to that one He will be drawn and He will give His gift.

So, it is always wise to do ones very best, but not to worry, "Oh, it is not good enough, Lord will not be pleased with my work". Simply do ones' best and know that the results are His, not yours. If the results are great and everyone applauds and say "Oh, how great these houses are that this person has built" and you think "Oh, I have built wonderful houses, I must be a great carpenter", this is not the correct thought. The correct way is to say "These houses are great through the grace of the Lord. It is the Lord who has given me the skill to do this and it is the Lord who has accomplished this".

If, on the other hand, the result is very humble, though you have made your best effort and you should say "It is the wish of the Lord for me to be modest. He has chosen to express through me in this way. He has made modest results so, I have accepted. I have done it just as He would like, but I will always do my very best for Him and the results will be whatever pleases Him". So, like this the devotee gives the results of his actions or her actions to the Parama Parusha, to the Supreme Cognitive Faculty which underlies all expressed action with pure conscious awareness.

Like this, it is best to do actions with pure thoughts and pure intentions of service to the Lord, leaving all results to Him. So, you may better your skill, you may work very hard, but while you work, the passion you give is not for the results "I will be a great carpenter, everyone will know I have built this", this is not the point. The point is while you are doing, you must do the action for the proper reason. You become very skilled, you become a great carpenter. But all the time you should be thinking "I am thinking I am going to do for my Lord. I must touch Him in these tools with utmost respect, for it is Lord who is working through this tool, and the tool itself is His expression in this world. I must give utmost respect to Him. So though you are focusing to increase your skill, really speaking your focus is ever on the consciousness within this universe which moves the very physical world and dances within it.

So, yes, you do your best but you do it for the right reason, you do it with pure intent. you ride the waves of this world, high and low. You take care of your family, you do what you must to lead a proper life, but you do it with love and do it with pure intention, with the desire to love and to serve the infinite which is in every object in this universe. Every manifestation is the manifestation of the supreme cognitive faculty of the Divine Parusha. So, when the family is cared for, who is cared for? Is it not your Lord you have cared for? When the hard work is given, is it not the Lord for whom it is given? Remembrance is the very key to this mystery.