The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Notes from Lectures and Discourses/Work is Worship
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.