WE HELP OURSELVES, NOT THE WORLD - 6

This world is like a dog's curly tail, and people have been striving to straighten
it out for hundreds of years; but when they let it go, it has curled up again. How
could it be otherwise? One must first know how to work without attachment,
then one will not be a fanatic. When we know that this world is like a dog's
curly tail and will never get straightened, we shall not become fanatics. If there
were no fanaticism in the world, it would make much more progress than it
does now. It is a mistake to think that fanaticism can make for the progress of
mankind. On the contrary, it is a retarding element creating hatred and anger,
and causing people to fight each other, and making them unsympathetic. We
think that whatever we do or possess is the best in the world, and what we do
not do or possess is of no value. So, always remember the instance of the curly
tail of the dog whenever you have a tendency to become a fanatic. You need
not worry or make yourself sleepless about the world; it will go on without
you. When you have avoided fanaticism, then alone will you work well. It is
the level-headed man, the calm man, of good judgment and cool nerves, of
great sympathy and love, who does good work and so does good to himself.
The fanatic is foolish and has no sympathy; he can never straighten the world,
nor himself become pure and perfect.
To recapitulate the chief points in today's lecture: First, we have to bear in
mind that we are all debtors to the world and the world does not owe us
anything. It is a great privilege for all of us to be allowed to do anything for the
world. In helping the world we really help ourselves. The second point is that
there is a God in this universe. It is not true that this universe is drifting and
stands in need of help from you and me. God is ever present therein, He is
undying and eternally active and infinitely watchful. When the whole universe
sleeps, He sleeps not; He is working incessantly; all the changes and
manifestations of the world are His. Thirdly, we ought not to hate anyone. This
world will always continue to be a mixture of good and evil. Our duty is to
sympathise with the weak and to love even the wrongdoer. The world is a
grand moral gymnasium wherein we have all to take exercise so as to become
stronger and stronger spiritually. Fourthly, we ought not to be fanatics of any
kind, because fanaticism is opposed to love. You hear fanatics glibly saying, "I
do not hate the sinner. I hate the sin," but I am prepared to go any distance to
see the face of that man who can really make a distinction between the sin and
the sinner. It is easy to say so. If we can distinguish well between quality and
substance, we may become perfect men. It is not easy to do this. And further,
the calmer we are and the less disturbed our nerves, the more shall we love and
the better will our work be.