Karma-Yoga : Ch-7. Part-12.

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CHAPTER VII .
FREEDOM : :

Part-12.

What is duty after all?

It is really the impulsion of the flesh, of our attachment; and when an attachment has become established, we call it duty.

For instance, in countries where there is no marriage, there is no duty between husband and wife; when marriage comes, husband and wife live together on account of attachment; and that kind of living together becomes settled after generations; and when it becomes so settled, it becomes a duty.

It is, so to say, a sort of chronic disease.

When it is acute, we call it disease; when it is chronic, we call it nature.

It is a disease.

So when attachment becomes chronic, we baptise it with the high sounding name of duty.

We strew flowers upon it, trumpets sound for it, sacred texts are said over it, and then the whole world fights, and men earnestly rob each other for this duty's sake.

Duty is good to the extent that it checks brutality.

To the lowest kinds of men, who cannot have any other ideal, it is of some good; but those who want to be Karma-Yogis must throw this idea of duty overboard.
There is no duty for you and me.

Whatever you have to give to the world, do give by all means, but not as a duty.

Do not take any thought of that.

Be not compelled.

Why should you be compelled?

Everything that you do under compulsion goes to build up attachment.

Why should you have any duty?

Resign everything unto God.

Swami Vivekananda
To be continued  ...



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