7rcTIX1xP

Part III: The Secret of Work.1413
nourished and grown; from rain cometh the food; from the gods come the
rain in response to the desires and demands of man; and the desires and
demands of man are forms of action; and the actions proceed from the
One—All-pervading Life.’
“He, who, living in this world of action, attempts to refrain from action—
he, who, enjoying the fruits of action of the acting world, would still shirk
from his share of the work and action of the world—he who would thus idle
away his life lives a life most vain and shameful. He who profiteth by the turn
of the wheel, at every moment of his life, yet refuseth to touch his hand to
it to impart motion, is a shirker of tasks and a thief who takes, giving nothing
in return.
“But wise is he who acteth otherwise, and who performeth well his work
of the world, providing, that he be unattached to the fruits thereof and
that he be always centered in the knowledge of the Real Self. For such an
one concerneth not himself regarding what is being done in the world, nor
what is being left undone; in all created things, there is no one thing upon
which he needs lean, or in which he need place dependence for his being.
Partaking of all, and acting in all—according to the dictates of Duty—he
never depends upon any external thing; his trust, and hope and knowledge
are fixed upon the Imperishable—the only sure dependence.
“Therefore, such action, springing from Duty, free from attachment or
dependence, leadeth one straight to the consciousness and plane of Spirit.
“Rememberest thou not, that Janaka and many others reached a stage
of perfection by means of Good Works and Right Action? Thou shouldst
take note of the universal practice of mankind, and act accordingly, for such
universal practice must needs be the result of long experience in happiness.
The wise, in all times, have taught the virtue of work and action, and thou
mayst well follow the best of thy race.
“Considereth thou Me, O Prince! Thou knowest that there is nothing in
the Universe of Universes which I desire, or which is necessary for Me to
perform. Nor is it possible for anything to be attained by Me, which I have