New Age Spirituality - Inspirational Stories ( Part 18 )

He must struggle to acquire a good name by allactivity, the duty of the householder. There is a
means. He must not gamble, he must not move in thepassage later on, where it says that "if the
company of the wicked, he must not tell lies, and musthouseholder dies in battle, fighting for his country or his
not be the cause of trouble to others.religion, he comes to the same goal as the Yogi by
Often people enter into things they have not themeditation," showing thereby that what is duty for one
means to ccomplish, with the result that they cheatis not duty for another. At the same time, it does not
others to attain their own ends. Then there is in allsay that this duty is lowering and the other elevating.
things the time factor to be taken into consideration;Each duty has its own place, and according to the
what at one time might be a failure, would perhaps atcircumstances in which we are placed, must we
another time be a very great success.perform our duties.
The householder must speak the truth, and speakOne idea comes out of all this -- the condemnation of
gently, using words which people like, which will doall weakness. This is a particular idea in all our
good to others; nor should he talk of the business ofteachings which I like, either in philosophy, or in religion,
other men.or in work. If you read the Vedas, you will find this
The householder by digging tanks, by planting trees onword always repeated -- fearlessness -- fear nothing.
the roadsides, by establishing rest - houses for menFear is a sign of weakness. A man must go about his
and animals, by making roads and building bridges, goesduties without taking notice of the sneers and the
towards the same goal as the greatest Yogi.ridicule of the world.
This is one part of the doctrine of Karma-Yoga --