Animesh: Does each seeker have a special role to play, for example in the kind of vocation they choose, or is it sufficient just to work, no matter what kind of job it is?
Sri Chinmoy: No. It is a complicated question. In some cases, you know, if a seeker has specific qualities, specialised in something, then he has to or it is advisable for him to manifest, if he is a seeker, the Supreme by following, by carrying, that particular career in life. You understand? If somebody has studied electricity for a long time and he has become an electrician – now, if he has become a good electrician and if he becomes a seeker, then it is easier for him to manifest the Supreme through his capacity, which he has acquired over the years.
Now, again, if somebody is not specialised in anything but is a good soul, then in his case it is not necessary to learn something after becoming a good seeker, to learn anything specific so that he can manifest the Supreme in a more special way, no. For him, whatever the Supreme wants, you understand? He does not have to become a doctor or lawyer or electrician — no, no, no — only whatever. He is in no way inferior to the one who is specialised in something.
One has got some capacity in a particular field. God says, "Then, all right, then do it. Take it as a means for your further development."
One does not have any specific capacity, but God says, "All right, then I am giving you something else to do. Something — do it."
Most important thing is how devotedly you do your job as a doctor or lawyer or electrician or as a simple worker. Devoted service is of paramount importance. If somebody is holding the lowest rank in a big office and doing his duty soulfully, in God's Eye he is infinitely superior to the one who is holding the highest position.
So, now, there is another point. If the Will of the Supreme is to give additional confidence to the seeker by making him in the outer world, say, a celebrity, or by making him into a man of high, noble position so that he will have his confidence more in life, Supreme does it. He is not making progress through conscious surrender. Then Supreme says, "Then be something first. From the desire-world, living in the desire-world, become something and then enter into the aspiration-world."
Vivekananda used to say, "Go and play football. You will understand the Bhagavad Gita better if you play football." And he used to say "Go and tell lies" to someone because he won't budge an inch. He said, "I will be responsible. You are such a lazy person. For you, it will be better to go and tell lies and the world will kick you and you will get up from your sleep."
So, then again, people in the name of peace or poise — which is all false — will not move, they have no life-energy. So, Vivekananda used to say, "Go and play football. If you play football, you will have some life-energy. Then you will be able to understand the message of the Gita."
So, there are some seekers — unfortunately, I have — I tell them, "Do something, become something, make yourself think that you are a human being. You are not just a grain of sand or a speck of dust, no. You *are* something. First, prove to yourself on the human level that you are something. Then transcend the human level, go to the divine level. If in the human level, staying in the human level, you feel that you have nothing to accomplish, nothing to long for, and what you have or what you are is more than enough for you, then you are totally mistaken."
Many fool themselves by saying that they don't need anything. No, they do have intense eagerness, in a sense greed, to become famous like somebody else, but they do not have the eagerness or willingness to work for it. At that time, if they have the eagerness, then Supreme says, "Then follow. Then offer yourself. Do something, become something."
But if they feel that "No, we do not have the eagerness to do something or to become something, right from the beginning, only make of us what You want us to be," then they do not go through the desire-life. They start right away from the aspiration-life. So, it depends on the individual.
Now, to come to you personally. In your case, you do not have to be specialised in anything. Any job that satisfies you. You do not have to become something great in terms of work, let us say office work or anything. Anything that can defray your earthly expenses is what the Supreme in you needs from you. Just it is only to live on earth, you need money-power. That money-power is only to keep you one with the spiritual power so that you can come here, you can run your Centre. But not by becoming some big shot in the outer life that you will please the Supreme. Only do something that will support you in your outer life. That is what the Supreme wants. And then, with your intense aspiration you have started. This intense aspiration you continue, continue, to realise the Supreme, to manifest the Supreme through your dedication. All by yourself, you are working so hard.
You are in Brisbane? You did not try in Canberra? All right, Brisbane. Very good. So, you don't have to worry about it. Only do something just to support yourself. That is what the Supreme wants. Do well; you are doing well. Very pleased with you, very proud of you. So, sincerity keep, simplicity keep, humility maintain. Your name is 'Animesh' — sleepless. Your aim is sleeplessly to aspire and to devote yourself. That is the sole meaning of your life. So, sleeplessly dedicate yourself to the Supreme and, in order to keep the body and the soul together, to support yourself, you will work — work, work here, work there, just for the sake of your earthly existence. Main goal is to become a supremely chosen instrument of the Supreme, for the Supreme.
Sri Chinmoy, "The Canvas of Time", Madal Bal, Czech Republic, 2019.
Editor's Note. This question was asked by Animesh at an evening function, held at PS 86 in Jamaica, Queens, on 27 January 1978. Animesh had recently returned to live in Australia after many years living in London and he sought Sri Chinmoy’s guidance on what line of work he should enter into.
Editor's Note 2. Animesh was the founder of this site - Sri Chinmoy Reflections