ECONOMIC RECESSION AND VIVEKANANDA VEDANTA
Part - 1 Introduction It’s official. We are amidst a serious economic crisis now. We are in recession. Gigantic nations like the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and others have declared that they are in recession. Many measures at resolving the problem are being taken, and the results are what they are. In spite of the bailout and the $819-billion stimulus package by the United States Government alone, even the best brains in the economic field fail to predict what is in store in the future. Foreclosures, declaration of bankruptcy, and layoffs have become so alarming that at least one family of 5 committed suicide because the father lost his job. In one day, just in the United States, 70,000 jobs were lost. At least 100,000 jobs are about to be lost this week. There is suffering ahead. We don’t know until when. Thus, classical economics is what it is. It has shown its cruel face. Is there any other way to save ourselves? There are several great thinkers who have thought of, written about and are speaking about spiritual economics. But long ago, before anybody else could even think of it, Swami Vivekananda had foreseen problems of the world and had suggested means of overcoming or avoiding suffering. We can only present a few of his ideas. This article is about his ideas. Before mentioning the ‘10 commandments’ of spiritual economics of Swami Vivekananda, we shall see what the Internet has to say about the present crisis.
What is Recession? 1. What is Economic Recession? In economics, the term recession generally describes the reduction of a country's gross domestic product (GDP) for at least two quarters. The usual dictionary definition is "a period of reduced economic activity", a
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business cycle contraction. GDP is equal to the sum of the income generated by production in the country in a particular period, say, of one year—that is, compensation of employees, taxes on production and imports less subsidies, and gross operating surplus (or profits).
[copied from Wikipedia.] 2. What are the usual methods of overcoming recession? Strategies for moving an economy out of a recession vary depending on which economic school the policymakers follow. While Keynesian economists may advocate deficit spending by the government to spark economic growth, supply-side economists may suggest tax cuts to promote business capital investment. Laissez-faire economists may simply recommend that the government not interfere with natural market forces. [copied from the Internet] Despite extraordinary measures taken, like the 820 billion stimulus package passed by the House of Representatives of the United States Government on 28 january, the promise of the creation of millions of jobs by 2010, the economy is still in crisis, the job situation is painful, poverty is increasing.
Looking for Help In such a situation of suffering, poverty, and uncertainty, many people naturally look for help, especially, spiritual help. However, some may think it is wrong to combine economy and spirituality. Spirituality and economics do not appear to go hand in hand. Yet, India has since ages removed such distinctions and compartmentalization. For India, life is one—from birth to death, death to rebirth— it’s a continuous flow. Spirituality should cover all aspects of life. In fact, Sanatana Dharma has given four ideals to all human beings: leading virtuous lives [dharma], earning money righteously [artha], satisfying only legitimate desires with righteousness at the background [kama], and aspiring for liberation from limitations [moksha]. So economy is an integral part of life. For spirituality to concern itself with righteous wealth is not wrong. Arthasastra is one of the secondary Vedas. Sri Ramakrishna also replies to a question by M, the author of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna in a positive way. M asks: ‘Sir, may I make an effort to earn more money?’ Sri Ramakrishna replies: "It is permissible to do so
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to maintain a religious family. You may try to increase your income, but in an honest way. The goal of life is not the earning of money, but the service of God. Money is not harmful if it is devoted to the service of God." [Gospel, 13 August 1882, chapter 4].
Contribution of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda For those millions of adherents of sanatana dharma who had forgotten the ideals of their religion and had confused virtue for vice and vice versa, the latest and greatest rejuvenation of dharma took place with the advent of Ramakrishna-Sarada-Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda forcefully rejected the idea of excluding some aspects of life from spirituality. For him, spirituality is all-inclusive. But Vivekananda was fully aware of the value of wealth: ‘Money is earth-clod, earth-clod is money’ – these words of Sri Ramakrishna are the hallmarks of the new age, he knew fully well. Yet, in the name of renunciation, neglecting the suffering masses was not the thing Ramakrishna meant. So Vivekananda declared: ‘I do not believe in a God or religion which cannot wipe the widow's tears or bring a piece of bread to the orphan's mouth.’ [Complete Works, Vol.5, p. 50]. ‘Whenever any religion succeeds, it must have economic value. Thousands of similar sects will be struggling for power, but only those who meet the real economic problem will have it. Man is guided by the stomach. He walks and the stomach goes first and the head afterwards. Have you not seen that?’ [Complete Works, Vol 8, p.436]. Vivekananda further said: ‘Religion permeates the whole of man's life, not only the present, but the past, present, and future… Now comes the question: Can religion really bring bread and clothes? It does. It is always doing so, and it does infinitely more than that; it brings to man eternal life.’ [Complete Works, Vol. 4, p. 209].
Can Vedanta Alleviate Suffering? So religion has something to do with the problems the world faces. Speaking of religions, the eternal fountain of Vedanta, which Swami Vivekananda envisages as the future religion of the world, is definitely capable of lessening our suffering to some extent, if only we listen to its voice. Vedanta is eternal, without a historical date of birth, and its truths are eternal. And Vedanta has never failed because its truths are the ultimate truths of life and Reality.
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The rejuvenator of Vedanta was Vivekananda. His ideas are practical, true, and effective. Applying his ideas to India, a nation which was a slave for 1,000 years, a country which was robbed systematically for over 1000 years, it has been possible to rejuvenate the nation within just 60 years. India is all set to becoming a world leader again. Imagine! And Vivekananda, for one, was a progressive thinker, more progressive than most progressive thinkers of modern times. He insisted on industrialization, modernization, education, and civilization—but not forgetting the eternal fountain of Vedanta. Gurucharan Das writes in India Unbound (see pp. 136, 360, 334): “How times have changed! In the 1960s we were a ‘basket case’. Now, India comfortably sits on a grain mountain year after year. Stocks in the central pool typically swell to thirty-five million metric tons by June every year. …Literacy has also begun to climb—it reached 65 percent in 2000 compared to fifty-two percent in 1990. …The inspiration for our new economy is the 250,000 Indian warriors now living in the Silicon Valley.” You may ask what Vivekananda had to do with this rejuvenation of India. The answer is simple: Vivekananda had everything to do. All the national leaders of India acknowledge that their inspiration was Swami Vivekananda: Gandhiji, Nehru, Patel…. So Vedanta has shown it. Vedanta has proved that it can uplift a nation in distress. So there is value in Vedanta. Furthermore, Swami Vivekananda’s ideas on solving problems of life are most vital and important now, for various reasons, but we shall mention two. One, he is the prophet of the age. Two, he has envisaged a golden era for the world of the future, and his words will never fail. We are the harbingers of this golden age. Passing through insurmountable difficulties, sufferings, and miseries, we shall conquer and hoist the flag.
Vivekananda and Spiritual Economics Amongst those scholars who are working on spiritual economics are Eric Butterworth, Amit Goswami, Nancy Rosanoff and several others. These great thinkers have been doing wonderful work in this field. Ours is an humble attempt to compile only a few of Vivekananda’s ideas. Please remember: the author of this article is not an economist and he has gathered only a few ideas here; it is for economists to discover more ideas of Swami Vivekananda for the betterment of the world.
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First of all, what is spiritual economics? Spiritual economics is that Cosmo-centric financial system which teaches us that inner peace and spiritual uplift are the goal of all our economic transactions. While classical economics is based on ‘I’ first ideal, spiritual economics is based on ‘you’ first ideal.
Part - 2 The Ten Commandments of Spiritual Economics of Vivekananda The First Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: In classical economics, ‘when you give something away, you have less. In spiritual economics, when you give something away you have more.’ [taken from the Internet]. Long ago, Swami Vivekananda had declared: ‘Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not the patience to practise it. It is more paying from the point of view of health also.’ [Complete works, vol. 1, p. 32]. This is one of the most fundamental statements of spiritual economics, the best means of bringing good to the world, the best mantra for right living. The Second Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: In classical economics, work is necessary, but is done in exchange for wealth. In spiritual economics, work is necessary, but is done for fulfillment and transcendence. Swami Vivekananda said: ‘If a man works without any selfish motive in view, does he not gain anything? Yes, he gains the highest. ... Love, truth and unselfishness are not merely moral figures of speech, but they form our highest ideal, because in them lies such a manifestation of power. In the first place, a man who can work for five days, or even for five minutes, without any selfish motive whatever, without thinking of future, of heaven, of punishment, or anything of the kind, has in him the capacity to become a powerful moral giant. It is hard to do it, but in the heart of our hearts we know its value, and the good it brings. It is
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the greatest manifestation of power--this tremendous restraint; self-restraint is a manifestation of greater power than all outgoing action. A carriage with four horses may rush down a hill unrestrained, or the coachman may curb the horses. Which is the greater manifestation of power, to let them go or to hold them?’ [Complete Works, Vol. 1, p. 33].
The Third Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: In classical economics, work as a means of living has limited value-base because the wealth that comes as a result goes on decreasing. In spiritual economics, work as karma yoga has ample value because the return is enormous, and is goes on ever-increasing. Reap as you sow. Swami Vivekananda has said: ‘No one can get anything unless he earns it. This is an eternal law. We may sometimes think it is not so, but in the long run we become convinced of it. A man may struggle all his life for riches; he may cheat thousands, but he finds at last that he did not deserve to become rich, and his life becomes a trouble and a nuisance to him. We may go on accumulating things for our physical enjoyment, but only what we earn is really ours. A fool may buy all the books in the world, and they will be in his library; but he will be able to read only those that he deserves to; and this deserving is produced by Karma. Our Karma determines what we deserve and what we can assimilate. We are responsible for what we are; and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.’ [Complete Works, vol.1, p. 31]. The Fourth Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: In classical economics, we work due to self-interest or, at the most, for the sake of our family. This self-interest always breeds problems. In spiritual economics, we work due to Self-interest [the “Atman-interest”], or we work for work’s sake, or we work for pleasing God.
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Swami Vivekananda says: ‘Man works with various motives. There cannot be work without motive. Some people want to get fame, and they work for fame. Others want money, and they work for money. Others want to have power, and they work for power. Others want to get to heaven, and they work for the same. Others want to leave a name when they die. ...Others work as a penance; do all sorts of wicked things, then erect a temple, or give something to the priests to buy them off and obtain from them a passport to heaven. They think that this kind of beneficence will clear them and they will go scot-free in spite of their sinfulness. Such are some of the various motives for work. Work for work's sake. There are some who are really the salt of the earth in every country and who work for work's sake, who do not care for name, or fame, or even to go to heaven. They work just because good will come of it. There are others who do good to the poor and help mankind from still higher motives, because they believe in doing good and love good.’ [Complete Works, vol. 1, p. 31]. Swami Vivekananda further says: ‘The miseries of the world cannot be cured by physical help only. Until man's nature changes, these physical needs will always arise, and miseries will always be felt, and no amount of physical help will cure them completely. The only solution of this problem is to make mankind pure. Ignorance is the mother of all the evil and all the misery we see. Let men have light, let them be pure and spiritually strong and educated, then alone will misery cease in the world, not before. We may convert every house in the country into a charity asylum, we may fill the land with hospitals, but the misery of man will still continue to exist until man's character changes.’ [ Complete Works, Vol.1, p. 53].
The Fifth Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: In classical economics, since money is the motive of all work, work becomes duty and a burden—seeking appreciation becomes the only motive. Work does not bring joy but we want to escape from it. In spiritual economics, work is the manifestation of the creative energy of the individual, or a loving adoration, and every little act brings satisfaction and fulfillment— appreciation or no appreciation. Work is a joy. Swami Vivekananda said: ‘All the actions that we see in the world, all the movements in human society, all the works that we have around us, are simply the display of thought, the manifestation of the will of man. Machines or instruments, cities, ships, or men-of-war, all these
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are simply the manifestation of the will of man; and this will is caused by character, and character is manufactured by Karma. As is Karma, so is the manifestation of the will.’ On page 194 of the first volume of Complete Works¸ we read an excellent story from Swami Vivekananda about two people wanting to know when they would be liberated. That story tells it all. The Sixth Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: In classical economics, there is always fear: fear of losing, fear of failure, fear of competition….This fear is abhinivesha—the fear of annihilation. In spiritual economics, there is absolutely no fear of losing anything at all. There is only gain. In spiritual work, there is only peace and blessedness. What do we gain? From worldly good through peace to ultimate liberation—everything that is good will come to us if we work without attachment. Everything will come. Swami Vivekananda did not say this in vain: ‘Teach yourselves, teach every one his real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self - conscious activity.’ [Complete Works, vol. 3, p. 193]. Swami Vivekananda says: ‘The whole gist of this teaching is that you should work like a master and not as a slave; work incessantly, but do not do slave's work. … Do you not see how everybody works? Nobody can be altogether at rest; ninety - nine per cent of mankind work like slaves, and the result is misery; it is all selfish work. Work through freedom! Work through love! … If you buy a slave and tie him down in chains and make him work for you, he will work like a drudge, but there will be no love in him. So when we ourselves work for the things of the world as slaves, there can be no love in us, and our work is not true work. This is true of work done for relatives and friends, and is true of work done for our own selves. Selfish work is slave's work; and here is a test. Every act of love brings happiness; there is no act of love which does not bring peace and blessedness as its reaction.’ [Complete Works, vol. 1, p. 56-57]. The Seventh Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: In classical economics, there is always the danger of being ruled by these bad qualities: (a)
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greed, dissatisfaction and covetousness; (b) problems like sleeplessness, restlessness, anxiety, stress, and mental breakdowns; (c) competition, struggle to succeed, and so on; (d) ailments due to overworking, undernourishment, and so on. In spiritual economics, the more we work, the more is the joy of working. The more we give, the more health, peace and happiness we enjoy. Swami Vivekananda says: ‘Do you ask anything from your children in return for what you have given them? It is your duty to work for them, and there the matter ends. In whatever you do for a particular person, a city, or a state, assume the same attitude towards it as you have towards your children -- expect nothing in return. If you can invariably take the position of a giver, in which everything given by you is a free offering to the world, without any thought of return, then will your work bring you no attachment. Attachment comes only where we expect a return. If working like slaves results in selfishness and attachment, working as master of our own mind gives rise to the bliss of non-attachment.’ [Complete Works, Vol.1, p. 59]. Greed and other vices, anxiety and other health problems, and stress and other nervous imbalances are all caused because of the idea of difference: classical economics can never teach us how to see oneness. Further, classical economics is ruled by military power. In spiritual economics, there is no chance for jealousy or any other evil, because (a) there is the notion of the fundamental oneness; and (b) every action is sacred, be it sweeping the floor or worshipping in the temple. Swami Vivekananda continues: ‘What right has any section of the community to base the whole work and evolution of the universe upon one of these two factors alone, upon competition and struggle? What right has it to base the whole working of the universe upon passion and fight, upon competition and struggle? That these exist we do not deny; but what right has anyone to deny the working of the other force? Can any man deny that love, this "not I", this renunciation is the only positive power in the universe?’ [Complete Works, Vol. 2, p. 354]. Vivekananda says: ‘Human society is a graded organization. We all know about morality, and we all know about duty, but at the same time we find that in different countries the significance of morality varies greatly. Similarly, in all other departments of morality, we find the standard varies greatly yet we have the idea that there must be a universal standard of morality. So it is with duty. The idea of duty varies much among different nations. In one country, if a man does not do certain things, people will say he has acted wrongly; while if he
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does those very things in another country, people will say that he did not act rightly -- and yet we know that there must be some universal idea of duty. The important thing is to know that there are gradations of duty and of morality -- that the duty of one state of life, in one set of circumstances, will not and cannot be that of another. ... Our first duty is not to hate ourselves, because to advance we must have faith in ourselves first and then in God. He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God. Therefore, the only alternative remaining to us is to recognise that duty and morality vary under different circumstances…’ [Complete Works, vol. 1, p. 36-37]. The Eighth Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: Classical economics tried to propose economic equality in the name of socialism, but it is impossible. Spiritual economics proposes spiritual equality, which is natural. Down the centuries, many have tried to remove poverty by means of equalizing all—the professor of a university must earn the same as the laborer because both are same. Such ideas have all failed because no two individuals are the same in intelligence and power. Socialism and all other methods have failed: Swami Vivekananda says: ‘The one central ideal of Vedanta is this oneness [Complete Works, vol. 2, p. 297]. Ay, let every man and woman and child, without respect of caste or birth, weakness or strength, hear and learn that behind the strong and the weak, behind the high and the low, behind every one, there is that Infinite Soul, assuring the infinite possibility and the infinite capacity of all to become great and good. Let us proclaim to every soul: Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached. Arise, awake! Awake from this hypnotism of weakness. None is really weak; the soul is infinite, omnipotent, and omniscient. Stand up, assert yourself, proclaim the God within you, do not deny Him! [Complete Works, Vol. 3, p. 193]’. This oneness is not socialism or communism. This oneness is at the spiritual level. Once we understand this oneness at the spiritual level, all other levels will reveal their oneness too. About this spiritual oneness, Swami Vivekananda makes this remarkable statement: ‘Get rid, in the first place, of all these limited ideas and see God in every person -- working through all hands, walking through all feet, and eating through every mouth. In every being He lives, through all minds He thinks. He is self - evident, nearer unto us than ourselves. To know this is
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religion, is faith, and may it please the Lord to give us this faith! When we shall feel that oneness, we shall be immortal. We are physically immortal even, one with the universe. So long as there is one that breathes throughout the universe, I live in that one. I am not this limited little being, I am the universal. I am the life of all the sons of the past. … Stand up then; this is the highest worship. You are one with the universe. That only is humility -- not crawling upon all fours and calling yourself a sinner. That is the highest evolution when this veil of differentiation is torn off. The highest creed is Oneness. I am so-and-so is a limited idea, not true of the real "I". I am the universal; stand upon that and ever worship the highest through the highest form, for God is Spirit and should be worshipped in spirit and in truth. Through lower forms of worship, man's material thoughts rise to spiritual worship and the Universal Infinite One is at last worshipped in and through the spirit. That which is limited is material. The Spirit alone is infinite.’ [Complete Works, Vol. 1, p. 341].
The Ninth Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: Classical economics is based on a false foundation: for the simple reason that its promises are false, and while it appears to be benevolent in the beginning, it is destructive in the end. Spiritual economics is based on Truth: for the simple reason that its promises are true, and it appears to be painful in the beginning but is always benevolent in the end. In classical economics, our work appears to produce result but the result is material gain. This gain never satisfies us because it is in the very nature of things. No man who lives a material life is contented. Not one! It is all a mad race after the mirage. Spiritual economics promises peace, harmony, and spiritual well-being. And it delivers. Our gain is according to our karma. Swami Vivekananda says: ‘The least amount of material prosperity that we enjoy is causing the same amount of misery elsewhere. This is the law. The young, perhaps, do not see it clearly, but those who have lived long enough and those who have struggled enough will understand it. [Complete Works, vol. 2, p.94].’ Further, he says: ‘The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit Kri, to do; all action is Karma. Technically, this word also means the effects of actions. In connection with metaphysics, it sometimes means the effects, of which our past actions were the causes. But in Karma-Yoga we have simply to do with the word Karma as meaning work. The goal of mankind is knowledge. That is the one ideal placed before us by Eastern philosophy. Pleasure is not the goal of man, but knowledge. Pleasure and happiness
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come to an end. It is a mistake to suppose that pleasure is the goal. The cause of all the miseries we have in the world is that men foolishly think pleasure to be the ideal to strive for. After a time man finds that it is not happiness, but knowledge, towards which he is going, and that both pleasure and pain are great teachers, and that he learns as much from evil as from good.’ [Complete Works, Vol. 1, p. 27]. The Tenth Commandment of Vivekananda Economics: Classical economics leads to bondage: Spiritual Economics leads to all-round well-being, success and freedom. Swami Vivekananda says: ‘He works best who works without any motive, neither for money, nor for fame, nor for anything else; and when a man can do that, he will be a Buddha, and out of him will come the power to work in such a manner as will transform the world. This man represents the very highest ideal of Karma-Yoga.’ [Complete Works, Vol. 1, p. 117-8].
Part - 3 How to Work in this World? Thus, the ‘ten commandments’ of Vivekananda economics are the following: (1) Always give more; (2) Always work for spiritual fulfillment; (3) Always work for honoring values; (4) Work for Self-interest [i.e., Atman-interest]; (5) Always work for the joy of it; (6) Always work for overcoming fear; (7) Always work free from negative qualities; (8) Always work for spiritual oneness; (9) Always work for Truth; (10) Always work for freedom from limitations. What has all these 10 laws to do with economic recession? We come to that now. To those who are suffering, here are the words of hope.
01. No Good Work is Lost: You have worked hard all this time. Do you think all this is lost? Rest assured, No! ‘We know that nothing is lost. In the Gita, Arjuna asks Krishna, "Those who fail in attaining perfection in Yoga in this life, are they destroyed like the clouds of summer?" Krishna replies,
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"Nothing, my friend, is lost in this world. Whatever one does, that remains as one's own, and if the fruition of Yoga does not come in this life, one takes it up again in the next birth.".’ [Complete Works, vol. 2, p. 36]. 02. Let us have Contentment in what we get: Vedanta teaches us greed is not the way; capitalist madness for growth is not the way. It is not the amount of things that we have that makes us great, but the lesser we have that makes us great. Many people remain depressed because their standard of living will come down due to economic crunch. But what is important is inner strength. Vivekananda says: ‘In some oil mills in India, bullocks are used that go round and round to grind the oil-seed. There is a yoke on the bullock's neck. They have a piece of wood protruding from the yoke, and on that is fastened a wisp of straw. The bullock is blindfolded in such a way that it can only look forward, and so it stretches its neck to get at the straw; and in doing so, it pushes the piece of wood out a little further; and it makes another attempt with the same result, and yet another, and so on. It never catches the straw, but goes round and round in the hope of getting it, and in so doing, grinds out the oil. In the same way you and I who are born slaves to nature, money and wealth, wives and children, are always chasing a wisp of straw, a mere chimera, and are going through an innumerable round of lives without obtaining what we seek.. …. Study your own lives, and find how little of happiness there is in them, and how little in truth you have gained in the course of this wild-goose chase of the world.’ [Complete Works, vol. 1, p. 408]. 03. Simple Living is the Way: Simple living, with the only aim of attaining inner peace, will lead to mental balance and calm during calamities such as this one. 04. Let’s be Prepared for Any Type of Work: There is no shame in delivering pizza door to door. Let’s be prepared to do any work: All works are equal because spiritually, all is one. Everything is an integral part of the cosmic sacrifice. All is one. Competition, jealousy, envy and so on are auto destructive. ‘If you really want to judge of the character of a man, look not at his great performances. Every fool may become a hero at one time or another. Watch a man do his most common actions; those are indeed the things which will tell you the real character of a great man. [Complete Works, vol. 1, p. 29]
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…Do all work but without attachment; work for work's sake, never for yourself.’ [Complete Works, vol. 7, p. 19].
05. Let’s have Faith in Ourselves: Yes, we can achieve success in every endeavor if we are sincere. ‘Faith, faith, faith in ourselves, faith, faith in God -- this is the secret of greatness.’ [Complete Works, vol. 3, p. 190]. 06. Work is a Cosmic Sacrifice: Work is not mere physical activity but active participation in a cosmic yajna, sacrifice. Our lives are important. We are important.
07. The Art of Giving: ‘Give and take is the law,’ Vivekananda declared. It is only by working for others that we can uplift ourselves. ‘…this life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.’ [Complete Works, Vol. 4, p. 363].
08. Concentrating on Life’s Higher Purpose: Work, money, work, money—we have had enough. We have suffered enough. Let us work like karma yogis. Let us work without selfish motives. Soon, we shall accumulate countless merits, destroy our past samskaras, and all our difficulties will sure come to an end. Furthermore, there is a Higher Power which takes care of us. ‘So if you want to love, love God. Who cares for these things of the world? This world is utterly false; all the great teachers of the world found that out; there is no way out of it but through God. He is the goal of our life; all ideas that the world is the goal of life are pernicious. This world and this body have their own value, a secondary value, as a means to an end; but the world should not be the end.’ [Complete Works, vol. 4, p. 20]. 09. On Being Heroes: ‘Political ideals, personages representing political ideals, even social ideals, commercial ideals, would have no power …. We want spiritual ideals before us, we want enthusiastically to gather round grand spiritual names. Our heroes must be spiritual.’ [Complete Works, vol. 3, p. 315]. Why should we do good to others? Because there is no ‘others’ at all: all are one. 10. Work Constantly, for the Good of the Many: ‘There arises a difficult question in this ideal of work. Intense activity is necessary; we must always
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work.... The ideal man is he who, in the midst of the greatest silence and solitude, finds the intensest activity, and in the midst of the intensest activity finds the silence and solitude of the desert. He has learnt the secret of restraint, he has controlled himself.’ [Complete Works, Vol. 1, p. 36]. 11. Praying for All: Prayer is being considered effective nowadays. We must pray for the difficulties to pass. 12. Self-Surrender: Those who have faith in God should surrender to Him. The Lord never ignores His sincere devotee. Conclusion: This world is huge, and 6 billion people are searching for happiness on this planet. The present crisis of economy is affecting all. Is there hope? Are we bound to suffer? Karma works on one plane, Grace works on another plane. All our sufferings, be they due to recession or anything else, are owing to our karma. But this is NOT fatalism. We can change the situation very soon, very fast. How? Through selfless action, and prayer. This is the gist of Vivekananda’s Vedantic economics. Blessed is he or she who works selflessly, without desire for results. They alone shall gain happiness through work. No doubt it is not possible to change everyone. These noble ideals are for everyone, though. If at least some people put into practice some of Vivekananda’s ideas, the beginning is made. The gist of Vedantic teaching to the world of economics is simple: ‘The more selfish a man, the more immoral he is. And so also with the race. That race which is bound down to itself has been the most cruel and the most wicked in the whole world.’ Selflessness because the Self or Atman is One, is the supreme ideal.
Written by : Swami Sunirmalananda Brazil Jai Maa Sarada
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