The spiritual life

(Martin Jones) #1

SpiritualLifefortheManoftheWorld.^15


youbegin todo it not becauseIt bringsyou a


livelihood-though there is nothing to be


ashamed of in its bringing you the powerto


livehere ifyoubegintodoitslowly,gradually,


more and more because it ought to be done,


andnotbecauseyouwanttogainsomethmgfor


yourself, then you are taking the first step


towardsthespirituallife,youarechangingyour


motive; alltheactivitiesof yourdaywillhave


anewobject. Dutymustbedone; thewheels


of theworld must bekept turning. Menand


women must be fed along the variouslinesof


tradeandcommerce; thesickmustbehealed;


the ignorant must be taught; justice must be


soughtasbetweenthestrongandtheweak,the


richand thepoor; and,looking at it thus,the


tradesman,themerchant,thedoctor,thelawyer,

the teacher may all take a new view of life,


andtheymay say:Thisactivitywith which I


amengagedispartof thegreatworkingof the


world whichis Divine. I am in it to do it,


andmydutylies in the perfect performanceof


my task. I will teach, or heal, or argue, or


trade, orenter intocommercial relations of all

kinds,notforthemere moneythatitbrings,or


the power thatit yields, butin orderthat the


greatworkoftheworldmaybeworthilycarried


on, and that work may be done by me as

Free download pdf