14th August 2018
A few years ago, I got involved in a medical business. It was a good idea on paper. If I am honest, however, the business never really convinced me. It all looked good in the business plan. However, I couldn’t feel any connection to it. Needless to say, this adventure bore little fruit, drained my energy and, most importantly, did not help me express my true nature. It cost me time, money and energy.
In the Bhagavad-Gita 18.47 it says:
“It is better to engage in one’s own occupation, even though one may perform it imperfectly, than to accept another’s occupation and perform it perfectly.”
This verse is talking about one’s “dharma”.
“Dharma” is an ancient and oft-used word. It can mean “duty”, “religion” or “function”. I like the word “function” because there is an implication that we have a responsibility to find, understand and fulfil our function. A lion is good at being a lion. A tortoise is an excellent tortoise. A tree fulfils the function of a tree. If we try to pursue a function that is not our nature we will not be happy.
We all thrive when we know our role and perform it fully. It is a solemn human responsibility to search for our true function, reject what is unfavourable and shape our activities around our nature.
Abraham Goldberg
