Essays

The very shape of human body tells us that it has been made for work. This is very evident to us if we have a look at a buffalo. So, even nature has made human body in such a way that man is expected to make himself busy in various types of activities. Our feet and legs tell to walk and run, if possible.

The hands and arms urge us to do one or the other physical work or to carry out some kind of art activity. Over and above this, man is endowed with brain which means that we should be intelligent, wise and judicious. Besides, man has certain qualities, both virtues and vices hidden in the heart. Nature or God perhaps don't tell us to be vicious. That is our own choice. Nature has given us emotions and impulses and the power to think, to will, to love, to behave decently and to do good to others.

It is said that "Work is worship". It is also said, "An idle man's brain is the devil's workshop".

These together mean that man must keep his limbs and mind busy which can bring him material and financial gains as well as real happiness which arises from doing useful work. Broadly speaking, work can be of two types, that is, work for some selfish purpose or for some financial gain for oneself or for the members of one's family,

Thus when we pursue any profession or do any business, the spirit of earning is strong in us. We may sometimes have to imitate or emulate or compete to steal a march over others or not let others overtake us or outdo us.

This is altogether not an unhealthy spirit but could be good for the health and growth of society. But what is the use of underhand methods arising out of cunningness, cheating, flattery back-biting or unhealthy short-cuts.

There are several unhealthy and undesirable professions taking their roots due to human greediness and excessive love for money and luxury which should be avoided.

It means that contentment is not a negation of work. Similarly, working too much at the cost of one's health is also bad. It is essential that there should be a healthy balance between work and leisure and one should feel satisfied and contented with one's work even while working hard for livelihood. Getting rich by working beyond one's capacity or through wrong methods is not desirable.

The best kind of work is, however, that which is done without any selfish motive. To this category, we have social work or helping a poor relative, a friend or a stranger.

Now-a-days, even social work has become materialistic as it has become a means for earning money and several institutions offer special courses and degrees in this respect.

That is not bad. But the most important factor in doing a work is the intentions with which we do it. If our intentions are good, the work is good and valuable. Otherwise, bad intentions mar the value of even a good work.