Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Jan 4th, 2006

[Guest guest]

When work is undertaken with an egotistic attitude, impelled by

selfish motives and inspired by hopes of self-advancement, it feeds

greed and pride, envy and hatred. Then, it fastens the bond and

fosters the feeling of attachment to more and more profitable works.

It promotes ingratitude to those who lent their hands and brains and

to God Himself who endowed the person with the urge and the skill. "I

did it", one says when the work succeeds; or "Others spoiled it" one

says when it fails. Resentment, depression and despair follow when the

work results in failure. The more deeply one is attached to the

fruits, the more intense and painful is one's grief when one is

disappointed. The only means, therefore, to escape from both pride and

pain is to leave the result to the Will of God, while one is happy in

the thought that one has done one's duty with all the dedication and

care that one is capable of.

-SAI BABA