Karma-Yoga : Ch-6. Part-20.

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CHAPTER VI

NON-ATTACHMENT IS COMPLETE SELF-ABNEGATION

Part-20.

Thus the man that has practiced control over himself cannot be acted upon by anything outside; there is no more slavery for him.

His mind has become free. Such a man alone is fit to live well in the world.

We generally find men holding two opinions regarding the world. Some are pessimists and say, “How horrible this world is, how wicked!"

Some others are optimists and say, "How beautiful this world is, how wonderful!"

To those who have not controlled their own minds, the world is either full of evil or at best a mixture of good and evil.

This very world will become to us an optimistic world when we become masters of our own minds.

Nothing will then work upon us as good or evil; we shall find everything to be in its proper place, to be harmonious.

Some men, who begin by saying that the world is a hell, often end by saying that it is a heaven when they succeed in the practice of self-control.

If we are genuine Karma-Yogis and wish to train ourselves to that attainment of this state, wherever we may begin we are sure to end in perfect self-abnegation; and as soon as this seeming self has gone, the whole world, which at first appears to us to be filled with evil, will appear to be heaven itself and full of blessedness.

Its very atmosphere will be blessed; every human face there will be god.

Such is the end and aim of Karma-Yoga, and such is its perfection in practical life.

Swami Vivekananda
To be continued  ...




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