Dignity of Work

Work is the most important aspect of human life. In this Sansara work is as vital to all humans as food and entertainment. It is equally important to a king and a commoner. The type of work may differ but its vitality remains the same. Irrespective of one's origin or place in the social order, he or she has to engage in some productive work, to earn or otherwise. It is necessary to maintain the balance of the body, brain and also the living environment. In Bhagavad Gita, the compendium of the highest philosophy, there lies a storehouse of practical guidelines for daily life, for the common man caught in the mire of "Sansara" and plagued by doubts, fear and restlessness. The matter-of-fact advice of Lord Krishna to the common man is the path of Karma Yoga; simple and unambiguous. He stressed the practice of selflessness [free from greed and expectation] action, i.e. doing honestly and diligently whatsoever one is engaged in, as a means of fulfilment and salvation. A daily routine which involves the performance of various acts, small or big, is very important. The spirit that should guide the various actions of an individual is the essence of Karma Yoga. The Lord explained it at great length to Arjuna when he was overtaken by doubts and confusion about his role and participation in the battle of Kurukshetra.

The Lord said, "You have the right to work, but to work's sake only. Let not the fruit of action be your object or motive in working. Neither should you yield to inaction."?

The value of the Lord's advice lies in both the performance of the action and in the right attitude and spirit behind the action. Total commitment to action and the need to relinquish any desire for the fruit of action are the key watchwords. The extent of involvement and degree of commitment to whatsoever the nature of work- whether mundane or spiritual, is the key to Karma Yoga. Conscious avoidance of action or half-hearted involvement is not permitted. The most important task is to train oneself (to condition the mind) to fully align with whatsoever one does. It is an internal command that enables work without craving for fruit or reward. Thus, the right mental work mode is the most vital part of Karma Yoga. The disciplined activity is the essence of renuntiation. It requires effort and training to reach such a state of coordination of body, mind and intellect.

Lord Krishna himself was a Karma Yogi of a superior order. He incarnated to human form for a specific purpose of freeing the world of evil and wickedness. He observed the centrality of this objective whole of his life. He completed the job of substantial elimination of the forces of evil and tyranny, in massive exercises of destruction at Kurukshetra and Parabhasa, without any partiality or preference. Being part of a nomadic cowherd community in his early life, he enjoyed his work as a cowherd boy, tending cows and bulls and enjoying butter and curd with full abandon. The dignity of Work, irrespective of the nature of work that came his way, was the Lord's basic approach as a human incarnate. He loved whatsoever he did and, in return, he was greatly loved by his gopas, gopies, cows, bulls and the whole Yadava community. In later times at Dwarka, he acted as a prince and built an impressive kingdom which had no parallel, in the whole world, in respect of beauty and prosperity. He was not an armchair prince or guru. Whatever he preached, he did himself with happiness and dignity.

While in active consultation with Pandavas on how should they reclaim their kingdom from Duryodhana, he did not merely advise and preach but went to Hastinapura as their ambassador with the explicit purpose of pleading their case The climax of Lord Krishna's devotion to duty was most evident during the great battle of Kurukshetra when he acted as the charioteer of Arjuna He meticulously watered and groomed the horses and maintained the chariot in battle Fit condition. This is the most inspiring example of Devotion to Duty or Karma- Yoga. He had, in fact, no need to do all that; and could have well acted as an armchair advisor from the comforts of royal tents. It was his total sense of commitment and dedication to work or duty that propelled him to do what He did and created the best-known example of respect for duty or work assignment. He discharged his duty to the fullest perfection. In Lord's opinion, there is no work that is too low or unworthy of attention. The thought of work- as low or high lies in one's brain only since nature has not made any such discrimination Normally, it is the negative energy thought that classifies a work as low, which by itself be avoided. From a review of the life and works of Lord Krishna, there is no evidence of activity or event which He viewed as low or not worth attention if the same was to be done in a given situation. He did all that came his way, with full energy, commitment and pleasure. The Lord washed the feet of his long-lost friend Sudama with his own hands when he had an army of servants and attendants. The Lord created an example for posterity (in respect to the dignity of work) and honoured his childhood friend.