Theos-Talk Archives (December 1997 Message tt00128)

At 12:53 PM 12/28/97 PST, Sophia TenBroeck wrote:
>>From :  Sophia TenBreock
>Date :   Dec. 28th

Dear Sophia and Annette:

I think we are all on the same wavelength. I am in full accord with what
both have stated clearly and eloquently. Let me add a few more comments for
whatever it is worth.

As a great man once said, we are responsible for everything around us -- we
cannot pick and choose. I think that is the sense in which we can look at
what is our "Duty". Since words are not the real things, Duty may mean
different things to different people and also has a lot to do with the
situation at hand. All we can do is try to do the best we can to the best of
our understanding and hopefully we will become very sensitive and fully
aware of what "Duty" means to us. No one outside of us can define what it is.

As for the doing things without the thought of reward -- there are two
aspects to it. First is the point of the doer and second is the point of the
beneficiary. The beneficiary who is in dire need of help does not care where
the help comes from and what motivates the helper. From the point of the
doer, the most ideal situation is where we don't think of the personal
benefit we get -- we do what we have to and then we just forget about it and
look for another opportunity. That is the ideal situation. On the other
hand, many of us may get satisfaction now or hope for some reward at a
future date or future life. Within the range of the two extremes, we act all
the time and hope to reach a condition where we just do what have to and
forget about it. Till we can consistently be in that state of action -- call
what you will - Karmaless action or whatever, it is, IMHO better to act to
the best of our ability rather than not act. The fact of the matter is
someone is being helped. That is the most important thing when we try to do
our little to the suffering "Orphan Humanity". From my personal experience,
when we swing into action motivated to help someone -- always I find other
supporting help comes along; but we have to act. Also a great amount of
confidence in ourselves and our actions are essential for our actions to be
efficient and effective. Many times we have seen we may get into a passive
mode in the thought that after all what can one single individual can do.
When we look at all the great things wrought about by single individuals in
history, we can get motivated and spur us into action.

I have wandered enough for the day. I hope I have given some idea of my
thinking on this issue (of course not all of it is my own ideas!!!)

Happy New Year to everybody.

mkr



>
>Dear Annette
>
>Ramadoss has not misunderstood me, as I know from an e-mail received
>from him.
>
>>Definitely I'm unhappy with this feeling of "doing one's duty and
>getting on with the job" as it feels very much like a 19th Century
>thing, an enslaving thing, and one of the things I personally emigrated
>away from.  I can't see it as being a 21st Century thing that calls
>people to dream and to practice.>
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