Harmony at Work

Listen: Download Audio MP3 (2 MB). This post is Part 1. See also Part 2.

(Excerpted from Swami Kriyananda’s First Things First, Lesson 6 of Success and Happiness through Yoga Principles)

There is an expression in America today: “the bottom line.” I don’t know if this expression is used in England or in other countries where, as in India, English is widely spoken. Usually the expression refers to monetary profit. By extension, it also indicates something of fundamental importance to an undertaking. Because profit is so often people’s concern, unless they make it clear that they mean something different it is generally understood that they are talking about money.

Let me clarify what I mean, then, in naming this lesson as I have. For this course of lessons serves a dual purpose, and may be said, in this sense, to have two “bottom lines.” First, it accepts the common equation of material success with monetary profit. It also attempts to show, however, that monetary profit, without corresponding inner satisfaction, is a hollow victory. As the Bible puts it, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?”

People for whom the entire issue is monetary profit often fail to achieve what they really want, even materially. As a fairly common example, they may sacrifice the subtler satisfaction of esthetic good taste. Their coffers may be overflowing with gold, while their homes are monstrosities that declare only, with puffed-up pride, “See how rich I am!” They seem to shout the news. Tunnel vision has deprived their proud creators of refinement.

Tunnel vision also deprives people of spiritual satisfactions that are more important than esthetic pleasure: happiness, for example, and peace of mind. Worst of all, from a standpoint of what interests businessmen particularly: They may blind themselves to unusual opportunities for success that would enliven their very pursuit for money. One-pointed concentration on anything, including money, if directed with will power and energy, generates, as I have said, a magnetic field which can attract to itself whatever one desires. Thus, by energetic concentration on making money one ought indeed to become rich. In the process, however, he may lose that creative flair which lends special interest to money-making. If he pursues it merely as “the bottom line,” that goal may lose all charm for him and become merely an obsession. Even money-making cannot really be anyone’s real goal in life. How can bulging coffers radiate happiness? They and their contents are inert.

A collector of anything, be it money or stamps or antiques or fine porcelain, may exult in what he amasses. His exultation, however, will be a poor imitation of the happiness he desires most deeply in his heart. His collection may easily awaken negative emotions in him, moreover: envy of others who possess more, fear of robbery or breakage, or (worst of all) vain pride of possession which, robbing him of an innocent (because guileless) sense of freedom, makes true happiness impossible.

Many years ago, in New Delhi, I visited the ambassador (or “plenipotentiary,” as he was titled) of a country in South America. He served me tea on priceless porcelain; its beauty was a pleasure to behold. I wasn’t able to enjoy it completely, however, for my host didn’t share my pleasure at all. Before, during, and after we were served he kept on exhorting his servant fearfully, “For God’s sake be careful!” Most of our time together was filled with his lamentations about how careless servants were “nowadays.” Later on, after the table had been cleared, his cautionary shouts followed that tray and its precious contents all the way to the kitchen. Was my host’s refined taste really worth his excessive apprehension? I somehow doubt it.

Continued in Part 2: Make Inner Peace Your Bottom Line

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