Value of Action
Action is the insignia of life. The law of life proclaims that none can remain without performing activity. Everyone is made to act helplessly according to one's own inner temperament. Yet, if you choose to remain idle you lead yourself to destruction. Nature draws your attention to this law. Observe the stagnant pool and the running brook. Where water stagnates it turns filthy, dirty. Whereas running water is clear, pure. Learn the lesson from nature. If you are to succeed in life, be prosperous and peaceful, you must adopt the principle of running waters. Follow their line of action. The river keeps moving. Overcoming all obstacles. Ever progressing. It never stops until it reaches the ocean. So must you pursue the path of action until you reach the abode of Truth.
The Bhagavad Gita highlights the gospel of karma action. Emphasises the importance of fulfilling your obligatory functions in life.
The scripture warns that even to maintain your body you must be active. If any part of your body remains inactive for a period of time it loses its strength and vitality. Your body needs to be kept in constant repair. You must exercise daily. But people detest the idea of physical exercise. Instead, they choose to indulge in sensual pleasure. They do not seem to realise that even enjoyment of sensual pleasures needs proper maintenance of the physical body. The neglect of physical exercise would prove detrimental to your material and spiritual wellbeing.
Vedanta insists on work, work and work. Equally so, it glorifies renunciation. There is an apparent contradiction. How can action and renunciation go together? This doubt goes when one understands the deeper import of the gospel of work. In fact, real work is founded on renunciation. Renunciation of the ego. Which is work performed without the egoistic feeling, 'I-am-the-doer. I am the sole architect of all that I do.' Real work is turned out when the body plunges into action while the mind is attuned to an ideal set for it. A true worker is one who pours out his efforts for a higher cause beyond his selfish interest. And does it without an egoistic arrogation of doership. That is the spirit of renunciation to be practised. Such work commands success and prosperity concurrently with peace and bliss. You can practise it in your home, in business, in society, everywhere. There is no need to retire to the forests for living a life of renunciation.
The idea of working in a spirit of renunciation has confused people. Even today this concept is not understood. Much less appreciated as a way of life. People either become attached, entangled in their work or cowardly escape from it. You must realise that action is inevitable. You cannot avoid your obligatory functions.
Human's Purpose
Your motto in life should be to strive, to struggle, not to succeed. Work well accomplished is the joy of life. Success or failure is immaterial. What really matters in life is your ability to adopt action to obligation. Your business lies in action alone, not in the reward accruing from it. Let not the anxiety for enjoying the fruit disturb the course of your action.
Just be in the struggle. That becomes your bounden duty. Work on for work's sake. Learn to be indifferent towards pleasure or pain, joy or sorrow, honour or dishonour that may accrue out of your action. Your life is enriched by accomplishment of right action rather than outward success or failure. Take up your work with no axe to grind. Do what you ought to do in life. Go about it in an independent spirit. Work then becomes a pleasure. Pleasure or happiness lies in the garb of work.
People do not realise the beauty and grandeur of real work. They entertain worldly motives to work. Develop desires and become attached to the objects of their desires. While trying to fulfil desires they crave for fruits of their actions. In doing so, they pitch up and pursue self-imposed duties tirelessly. And become bound by them. The result of their labour is suffering and sorrow in their lives. Instead, gain freedom and happiness.
That is the principle of renunciation. Why have any motive for work? Work itself is most rewarding, entertaining, blissful. Employ this simple principle of work in practical life. The wide world becomes your temple. All your activities become one divine chant. When you thus begin to work in a spirit of renunciation, the world returns your courtesy.
Remember work is your creation. You impose duties upon yourself. But you are the ultimate master. Duty need not lord over you. You are your own lord. Not realising this you turn pale at the thought of duty. Become a mere machine of duty. And get into a fever of doing. Hurrying and worrying all the time. Impassioned by your responsibilities in life. Duties and responsibilities threaten you. Harass you day in and day out. You have created a frankenstein of duty. This is ridiculous. Remember your self-imposed duties and responsibilities are not indispensable. The world can take care of itself. It does not need your help. Nor does it wait for your condescension. The world will go on and on. Nevertheless, work must you perform. You ought to take to work as a prince takes to sport. Not as a drudgery or burden. Your life is one big game. Full of fun and frolic. The most laborious undertaking pursued in the right spirit is found to be all play. Intense work undertaken thus is no work at all. That should be your attitude to work.