Saving the Saviors

Let me be honest: many of the people I relate to often "brag" that they have to attend to certain works, whether they are sick or healthy, whether it rains or shines. Often the phrase they use to describe such a situation is : "I have to" or "I can't help it". These are the self-appointed saviors the world is proud to behold. Their primary duty is to redeem the world through their efforts and hard work. It is as if the whole world rests on their shoulders, and if they were to bend down to scratch the itching feet, the world will roll down and be broken into fragments. These are not merely workaholics, but more than that: here they feel the burden of the society, of the organization they represent... If I don't go, nothing will work. Even if I don't do any work, I have to be present there. Often when I hear these sentences, I feel these are the omnipotent gods, who unfortunately are not omnicient or omnipresent.

These people take great pride in claiming credit for what I am incapable of, or what I possibly cannot do. They conveniently forget the fact that no single person on earth is indispensable, not even Osama or Obama, not even the best minds, not even the most saintly person who has sanctified the world by his/her sanctity. The world is made of sterner stuff and it will continue to exist even without me, who knows it may continue to exist even better than when I am with her. In the universal plan of action, we all of us are negligible characters; all of us are. Once we realise this fact, then we will begin to take things differently.

Don't we come across people who cannot stop their work in between to take a sip of coffee or tea, or to say hello to a friend. I am not saying that we should postpone our deadlines and ultimatums, but we can organize our schedule in such a way, we don't give our lives in order to get something done. Our lives, luckily, are far more precious than the work we often think we have to complete to the best of our ability. That is the reason why sometimes people vent their anger out on such people and say, the world will not collapse if you don't go for work today! We need to begin the process of our role in the universe with a realization that I am not the beginning and end of this world. I have a limited role to play in the economy of the universe.

The universe has its own rhythm, and human beings cannot alter it in any way; we are utterly helpless. We may not even be able to accelerate or slow down the pace of its movement; and thank God for it. Human ingenuity has caused enough harm to this universe, and today we are bearing the brunt of it all. One of the words that keeps popping up in my mind in this regard is "moderation". I am reminded of the popular Latin saying "corruptio optimi pessima" (any good in excess may be bad). Even the work that we give our heart and soul to. Let me do my best and leave the rest for others to do. The Bhagavad Gita would have it so beautifully : karmanyevadi karaste, ma phaleshu kadachana... do your duty, and do not fret about the fruits.

Today I am going to pause a few times during my work, and ask myself : by this work, am I hoping to save the entire universe? Am I trying to swallowing more than I can gulp? Let me think of my limitations, and leave the rest to God and others... I don't need to be the sole savior of the world... Let the worthy ones take up that role; as for me, I will be happy to be a negligible instrument in the hands of the powers that govern the world we live in. Maybe that power may make use of me for little things today, and greater things tomorrow. I will only try to be alert to the promptings of this Great Spirit, my inner voice... I can be happy with my limitedness and be ever grateful to the world for making me so! Truly so.