"ON DUTY"

Duty arises when you have another person to deal with. The other person should deserve the duty that he receives. What is the purpose for which man has taken birth/Is it merely for eating, living and dyiing? In such case, there is no distinction between man, bird and beast! Man is born to do his dutyor Karma. Man is blessed with reasoning power or intellect. He has to realize the unity of Self with God. “ Your duty is to yearn for the attainment of the consciousness of the ONE, behind all this apparent multiplicity”says Bhagawan Sri Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba.  All Karma or duty has to be done according to Dharma or Righteousness. It requires diligence, discrimination and detachment. As the Bhagavadgita ordains, one should perform Karma or duty without expectation of any reward.  Performing duty well is, in itself, a reward. Well performed duty or Karma earns reward automatically.

The Vedas have prescribed many principles for performing one’s duties. Every act has to be performed with love, with no yearning  for acquiring personal profit, fame or benefit.  

The Taittiriya Upanishad , in the eleventh Anuvaka of SIKSHAVALLI, details the duties of the young student going out of gurukulavasa into the world for the first time. The Karmas or duties lead to the birth of Jnana. They have to be practiced necessarily. As these are ordained well before the realization of Brahmavidya,  it shows that after the dawn of Jnana there is no effect for the Karmas at all. So, all Karmas or duties are useful in destroying the accrued sins earlier leading to the rise of Jnana. The Vedic Anusasanas or Mandates are many and guide the student in leading a worthy life. 1 The first duty is: Speak the Truth 2 Practice Dharma—act in a ri8ghteous manner 3 Do not forget the Veda that you have practiced 4 Get yourself married and bring forth children 5 Even by mistake do not speak untruth or lies There is no greater sin than speaking untruth 6 Get riches or prosperous through just ways of Vedic practices and receiving alms from righteous persons

7 Continue your own studies and teach your students dutifully 8 Perform Deva karyas like yagnas and Pitru karyas like ‘Sraddhas’ dutifully 9 Consider Mother as God and worship her 10 Consider Father as God and worship him 11 Consider the Acharya---one who has given you education as God and worship him 12 Consider the ‘ Atithi’ (one who visits you unexpectedly at anytime) as God and worship him. 13 Perform acts that are not tainted and considered deplorable 14 Offer hospitality and serve other respectable Brahmins and offer gifts as per your capacity. 15 Offer dana or alms with Sraddha or faith. Give only to those who are qualified. 16 Be humble in offering alms Though you offer much feel that it is after all nothing and that you can give more 17 Offer with a fear for the other world. These mandates are the duties to be performed by each and every individual. The word Upadesa means any piece of advice offered by the teacher or father to the student or son for his progress! This is the secret of the Veda and the word of Iswara! One has to follow these mandates assiduously with the firm belief that these are the words of Iswara!

What a list of dos and don’ts!  I doubt how many of us follow at least one of the mandates of the Vedas. They are  breached more than in the observance. Vedic times and ambience has changed totally as well as priorities. All Vedic rules are violated        as society has changed! But the rules are eternal and help man to progress materially and spiritually. Duty has to be done with discrimination, and detachment.  All duty or activity or Karma has to be done selflessly. As the Bhagavadgita ordains, man has the authority to do his duty alone, not expect any reward! Performing the duty well is, in itself, the reward! The fruits of well performed duty shall come automatically. Every act should be done with sincerity, with love, without any desire for personal gain, fame, or benefit.

Bhagawan asks: What exactly is your duty? And summarizes it for us! “First, tend to your parents with love, reverence and gratitude.

Second , Speak the truth and act virtuously.

Third, whenever you have time repeat the Name of the Lord with the form in your mind.

Fourth, Never indulge in talking ill of others or try to discover faults in others and

Finally, do not cause pain to others in any form. (SSS Vol 4)

Let us realize what our duty for ourselves and for others is and make our lives fruitful and happy!