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Work Silently
For the sake of sadhana and for the sake of work, it is always better to work silently.
When there is some work to do, the less one speaks of it the better it is.
Talk as little as possible. Work as much as you can.
X has a very bad habit of coming and talking to people while they are working. If he does not work himself, he should at least allow others to work conscientiously. So if he comes again to talk while you are working, you had better tell him – ”No, not now, we can talk when I have finished my work.” 7 January 1933 It seems to me that the proof of sincerity is in work and not in planning.
This is exactly what I have tried to make them understand − but the tendency to plan and talk seems to be too strong to be checked. Let us hope some work also will be done. Page − 343 Mother, my being wants to spend its time in silence. But it cannot because of my helpers. They tell me that it becomes difficult to ask me anything when I am grave. This creates confusion in the work. Mother, will You give me Your advice?
I don’t quite understand your question. Certainly the work should be done as conscientiously as possible. But that does not mean that you have to be grave. What is necessary is to be always peaceful and full of calm energy. Page − 344
Mother, why do I lose things so often?
Because you do not keep things sufficiently in your consciousness.
It is always very good to make use of things instead of uselessly destroying them.
It was an act of ignorance. Received in the right spirit the curtains could have lasted two or three years more. Received wrongly they might have gone to pieces within a month. Things also have a consciousness of their own.
The Divine is in things also and that is why they must be treated with care. 17 May 1955 Not to take care of material things which one uses is a sign of inconscience and ignorance. You have no right to use any material object whatsoever if you do not take care of it. You must take care of it not because you are attached to it, but because it manifests something of the Divine Consciousness. Page − 345
What would you say if a temple, built according to the design of some great artist, were to boast: “Admire my merits; am I not beautiful, well-built, solid and durable? Truly I am worthy of all praise! − ”just as if it were the author of its own perfections. We would find that very silly and ridiculous, and yet that is what we are doing constantly. We, like the temple, are ignorant of the great conscious power that has made us what we are, and because we do not perceive the labour of the Sublime Worker, we ascribe the merit of the Work to ourselves. 19 January 1933 Power of action: the power which results from a true surrender to the Divine.
Once the consciousness is settled in the aspiration, it cannot depend on work or absence of work. 17 December 1933 There is a time for action and there is a time for concentration; if, by mistake, one chooses the time for concentration to start an action, the action is bound to fail. But if one keeps faith alive, even failure can become a shortcut for reaching the Divine.
It is true that the divine protection is always around us, but it fully works only when we are faced by dangers which were unavoidable; that is to say, if dangers suddenly rise on the way Page − 346 when we are doing some work for the Divine, then the protection works at its best. But to take up some work which is, after all, not at all indispensable and not even surely useful and which is extremely dangerous, counting on the divine protection to save us from all possible consequences, this is a movement which is like a challenge to the Divine, and the Divine will never accept it.
When action is initiated by the Divine Will, it is pure.
If in all sincerity one acts only to express the Divine Will, all actions without exception can become unselfish. But as long as this state has not been reached, there are actions which are more favourable for the contact with the Divine.
Each must find the activity favourable to his progress.
A good material work not exceeding normal capacities is most useful for keeping a good physical and moral poise. 13 July 1935 Have you no intention of working physically yourself? Yet, it is quite indispensable for the welfare of the body. 30 January 1945 With a quiet mind and a peaceful heart, let us do the work happily. 16 May 1954 Page − 347 All work must be play, but a divine play, played for the Divine, with the Divine.
To work for the Divine is very good, it is a delight. But to work with the Divine is a felicity infinitely deeper and sweeter still. 12 July 1957 There is no existence without labour − if you want to get out of labour you must get out of existence. The only way to accomplish that, is the way to Nirvana, and that way, to follow it, is of all labours the greatest. 6 November 1960 We have, every one of us, a role to fulfil, a work to do, a place which we alone can occupy.
Anniversary message for the Ashram Typewriting Service
Blessings for all who work with conscience, good will, regularity and good taste and for all who want to learn and progress. 29 March 1966 Do the work with all your heart and as best you can and my help and my blessings will always be with you. 12 May 1971 Page − 348 |