Total Thoughts (March 8, 2009) - What is my Duty

 

What is my Duty

• The purpose of the ashramas or stages of living (brahmacharya or student life, grhastha or married life, vana prastha or retirement life, and sannyasa or renunciate life) is to develop our center of attention away from ourselves - if we adhere to this timeless social system with each stage we would become more selfless
• The purpose of the varnas or castes (brahmana or thinking class, kshatriya or leading class, vaishya or merchant class, and shudra or labour class) is to understand what mental temperament we have and to serve accordingly - all the castes are equally important (i.e. our society needs medical doctors as much as mail deliverers)
• Focusing on knowing ourselves is crucial - through this understanding of ourselves we become more sensitive to the 'bigger picture' allowing us to better fulfill the mission of life, selfless service
• Identifying what makes one 'successful' helps us to understand ourselves and others - we then become more open minded and accepting
• We should not get lost in societal pressures - rather we should take the time to reflect on what we should be doing and then act on it
• The psychological texture of an individual is fluid, is changing - if we are aware of these transitions we can better harness and direct our capacities
• The process of reflection is indescribably important - through proper reflection we begin to gain clarity in our thoughts and answers come by easily then
• We have to make the most of what we do - by developing a passion for what we do we do not succumb to postponing happiness
• There is only Life - there is no body who lives a Life
• By understanding there is only One our egos are immediately nullified - when this original limitation is transcended the ashramas, varnas and all other means of guidance become non applicable

Foundation for our upcoming discussion:  The Goal of Social Systems
 
" To give the maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximum time is our religion. " --- Swami Chinmayananda
 
Inspire-Love-Peace