Karma-Yoga : Ch-5. Part-8.

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Chapter-5.


WE HELP OURSELVES, NOT THE WORLD :


Part-8.


Both are foolish nevertheless.

Life is good or evil according to the state of mind in which we look at it, it is neither by itself.

Fire, by itself, is neither good nor evil.

When it keeps us warm we say, "How beautiful is fire!"

When it burns our fingers, we blame it.

Still, in itself it is neither good nor bad.

According as we use it, it produces in us the feeling of good or bad; so also is this world.

It is perfect.

By perfection is meant that it is perfectly fitted to meet its ends.

We may all be perfectly sure that it will go on beautifully well without us, and we need not bother our heads wishing to help it.




Yet we must do good; the desire to do good is the highest motive power we have, if we know all the time that it is a privilege to help others.

Do not stand on a high pedestal and take five cents in your hand and say, "Here, my poor man," but be grateful that the poor man is there, so that by making a gift to him you are able to help yourself.

It is not the receiver that is blessed, but it is the giver.

Be thankful that you are allowed to exercise your power of benevolence and mercy in the world, and thus become pure and perfect.




Swami Vivekananda

To be continued   .....



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