Theos-Talk Archives (February 2002 Message tt00758)

At 03:10 AM 2/22/02 +0000, you wrote:

> Can an experienced Theosophist list the current "works"
> (building homes for children without parents, hospitals in 3e world
> countries, involvements with volunteer services in Africa helping
> AIDS victims and so on) ore scientific breaktroughs and other "work"
> apart from reading books ?
>
> Bri.
For some, the reading of the books is part of a spiritual
practice that also involves discussing the ideas with others
and integrating them in a philosophy that embraces the world.
As a particular spiritual practice, it offers value to those
who successfully embrace. The same may be said of someone
sitting Zazen, or a Christian in prayer, or someone else
dwelling in devotion to Krishna.

Apart from one's spiritual practice, it's entirely
individual what works of charity one does to help
others. Making a positive contribution to the world
cannot be measured in simple material things. One person
may feel a calling to heal the sick, and that's their
gift to the world. Another may fight for some social
reform. A third might give themselves to doing great
works of art.

None of us are in a position to judge others as to
whether they are being true to their inner calling.
What we are able to do, though, is to look deep within
and see if what we do with our free time and resources
is making the best gift we can to the world. Are we
being true to our inner calling? That is the question
for all of us to answer.

-- Eldon