Perform your prescribed duty, which is better than not working. A man cannot even maintain his physical body without work. Gita 3:8
Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme. Gita 3:19
If there is a plant in your hand when they say to you: Behold the Messiah has come! Go plant the plant and afterwards go out to greet him. Yohanan Ben Zakkai (1st Century CE, Judea), quoted in: Michael Shire, The Jewish Prophet, P.50.
The worker who performs his duty without association with the modes of material nature, without false ego, with great enthusiasm, and without wavering in success or failure is said to be in the mode of goodness. The worker who is too attached to the work and to the results of the work, who wants to enjoy the results, who is envious, unclean and subjected to joy and sorrow, is said to be in the mode of passion. The worker who is always engaged in work against the injuction of the scriptures, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating, is said to be in the mode of ignorance. Gita 18: 26-28
One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by sinful actions, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water. Gita 5:10
Prescribed duties should never be renounced. If, by illusion, one gives up his prescribed duties, such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance. Anyone who gives up prescribed duties as troublesome, or out of fear, is said to be in the mode of passion. Such action never leads to the elevation of renunciation. O Arjuna, if one does everything as a matter of duty and gives up attachment to the results of his work, his renunciation is said to be in the mode of goodness. Gita 18:7-9
One who disregards the duty of pleasing the Lord and takes the shelter of worldly people will always remain distressed. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 240.
Always remember your duty. You should always forge ahead to fulfill your duties. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 746.
Concentrating upon the Lord, go on performing your duties. Have firm faith that the consequences shall never be negative. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 1288.
If you perform your all your duties with detachment and service to the Lord, you will remain always blissful. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 1515.
If you waste time, time shall ruin you. Be cautious, realize the value of time. Utilize your time fruitfully and remain absorbed in your duties. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 2090.
It is the duty of each individual to pay attention and drop unnecessary activity. Do your duty! Do not be idle. This is an Age of Action. Perform your karma yoga. Show the world ideal actions. Service to humanity is service to and worship of God. (...) Baba blesses all who do their duty sincerely and with devotion. Do your duty lovingly. Teachings of Babaji, P.11.
Fulfilling your duty is the highest accomplishment - higher than other sadhana, penance and the rest. Your own duty comes first. The result of hard work is happiness and the result of laziness is pain. Troubles of this world are caused by inactivity. I repeatedly tell you this so you will be industrious and be benefited. Teachings of Babaji, P.34.
To follow and demonstrate the path of Truth, Simplicity and Love is man's supreme duty and the highest Yoga. Diligent work is a quality of this path, for laziness is death on earth. Only by work can one claim victory over karma. All must strive to their duty in the best way possible and not wander from that duty. Service to humanity is the first duty. (...) Teachings of Babaji, P.36.
All the living beings, animals, flowers, plants, and stones have been given a form by God and this body has been given by God to perform a duty and to serve all human and living beings. But when human beings come in this world, they forget their duty and they fall into attachment of maya and into the concepts of "me" and "mine" and so they forget God. Teachings of Babaji, P.49.
Everyone must use his own common sense - he should do his duty without waiting to be told what to do. To do your duty is the greatest worship (puja), the greatest service (seva), the greatest devotion (jap) and penance (tapas). Teachings of Babaji, P.110.
(...) A soul in love with God and immersed in Him approaches her duties with the same disposition as she does Holy Communion and carries out the simplest tasks with great care, under the loving gaze of God. (...) Faustina Kowalska, The Diary, 890.
The spiritual life is not a life of quiet withdrawal, a hothouse growth of artificial ascetic practices beyond the reach of people living ordinary lives. It is in the ordinary duties and labors of life that the Christian can and should develop his spiritual union with God. Merton, Thomas. Life and Holiness. P. 9. Submitted to L-Center Discussion Group by Gary Horn mailto:ghorn@uswest.com
What is a person's duty? To do good to all beings. Shankara, quoted after: Novak Philip, The World's Wisdom, P.41.
In the discharge of the ordinary duties of life and in the exercise of care in ordinary conversation, whenever there is shortcoming, never fail to strive for improvement (...). Confucius, quoted after Novak Philip, The World's Wisdom, P.117.
To be a yogi is to meditate. (...) Filled with the inspiration found by his deeply diving meditative mind, he is able to perform happily all the duties of the day. Paramahansa Yogananda, Man's Eternal Quest, P.19.
Thus I learned a great lesson: first comes my duty to God, and then I take care of lesser duties. Paramahansa Yogananda, Man's Eternal Quest, P.126.
And though I sleep very little I always feel fresh, because I perform my duties with the right attitude: that it is a priviledge to serve. Paramahansa Yogananda, Man's Eternal Quest, P.188.
By doind well the duty which is nearest to us, the duty which is in our hands now, we make ourselves stronger; and improving ourselves in this manner, step by step, we may even reach a state in which it will be our privilege to do the most coveted and honoured duties in life and in society. Vivekananda, quoted in: Nikhilananda, Vivekananda, A Biography, P.197.
Duty is seldom sweet. It is only when love greases its wheels that it runs smoothly (...). Vivekananda, quoted in: Nikhilananda, Vivekananda, A Biography, P.197.
Every duty is holy, and devotion to duty is the highest form of worship of God. Vivekananda, quoted in: Nikhilananda, Vivekananda, A Biography, P.198.
Undoubtedly, a man who has once tasted the bliss of God, finds the world insipid. (...) But, if you live in a house you have duties to perform. Learn in accomplishing them always to enjoy the ray of light. Do not lose a particle of it, and never lose touch with it (...). Ramakrishna, quoted in: Rolland, Romain. (1994). The Life of Ramakrishna. P.188.
I am not here to be loved and admired but to act and love. It is not the duty of people to help me but it is my duty to look after the world and the people in it. Janusz Korczak (1879-1940, Poland), pioneer of children's rights, who voluntarily accompanied two hundred orphans to the Nazi's gas chambers, quoted in: Michael Shire, The Jewish Prophet, P.112.
A Jew is asked to take a leap of action rather than a leap of thought. He is asked to surpass his needs, to do more than he understands in order to understand more than he does. In carrying out the word of the Torah he is ushered into the presence of spiritual meaning. Through the ecstasy of deeds, he learns to be certain of the hereness of God. Right living is a way to right thinking. Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972, USA), God in Search of Man, quoted in: Michael Shire, The Jewish Prophet, P.123.
Last modified: 2003/09/28
See the related subjects: Discipline, Fear of God, Filial Piety, Karma, Marriage, Strive for God, Work