WORK IS WORSHIP

The Role of Culture in Moral Development

 WORK IS WORSHIP

The highest man cannot work, for there is no binding element, no attachment, no ignorance in him. A ship is said to have passed over a mountain of magnet ore, and all the bolts and bars were drawn out, and it went to pieces. It is in ignorance that struggle remains, because we are all really atheists. Real theists cannot work. We are atheists more or less. We do not see God or believe in Him. He is G-O-D to us, and nothing more. There are moments when we think He is near, but then we fall down again. When you see Him, who struggles for whom? Help the Lord! There is a proverb in our language, "Shall we teach the Architect of the universe how to build?" So those are the highest of mankind who do not work. The next time you see these silly phrases about the world and how we must all help God and do this or that for Him, remember this. Do not think such thoughts; they are too selfish. All the work you do is subjective, is done for your own benefit. God has not fallen into a ditch for you and me to help Him out by building a hospital or something of that sort. He allows you to work. He allows you to exercise your muscles in this great gymnasium, not in order to help Him but that you may help yourself. Do you think even an ant will die for want of your help? Most arrant blasphemy! The world does not need you at all. The world goes on you are like a drop in the ocean. A leaf does not move, the wind does not blow without Him. Blessed are we that we are given the privilege of working for Him, not of helping Him. Cut out this word "help" from your mind. You cannot help; it is blaspheming. You are here yourself at His pleasure. Do you mean to say, you help Him? You worship. When you give a morsel of food to the dog, you worship the dog as God. God is in that dog. He is the dog. He is all and in all. We are allowed to worship Him. Stand in that reverent attitude to the whole universe, and then will come perfect non-attachment. This should be your duty. This is the proper attitude of work. This is the secret taught by Karma-Yoga.
 

Meaning of ‘Work is Worship': Every man is born with two hands and a mouth. It means God wants us to work. We have to work to satisfy our needs. When a man works sincerely, he gets success in life. When he works half-heartedly, he is bound to fail. As is the case with work so is the case with worship. A worshipper worships with some aim in mind. He wants to be free from sufferings. He does not worry about the obstacles on the way. A worshipper can find God if he worships sincerely. A worker can succeed if he works honestly. So work and worship are similar in nature.

Discoveries and inventions: The man who works hard brings happiness to the earth. We have many immediate needs to meet. Man discovered fire to cook his food. He discovered clothes to protect himself against cold. He had no shelter. So he built huts and houses. Man invented machines to produce things faster. Man kept on inventing one thing after another. He succeeded in his efforts only when he worked day in day out. Columbus discovered America despite all difficulties. Marconi invented radio after devoting all his life-time to it. So work and worship are of the same type.
Happiness: Both work and worship aim at ending sufferings. They try to create happiness on earth. Man invented machines. They are of different kinds and for different purposes. What we did with hands is now being done by machines. We do not have to work slowly and painfully. Machines work faster and better. All this shows the truth of the saying that “Work is Worship”. Man’s work aims at creating better and happier conditions in society. A worshipper wants to be free from want, hunger and sorrows. A man who works for improving the living conditions of human beings is also a worshipper.
Conclusion: But too much of everything is bad. “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. So we should both work and play. Where work is creating, it is worship. It is a blessing to mankind. But wicked work like starting war, looting people, black-marketing, smuggling etc. is not worship. Work which is done for the welfare of human beings is worship.