World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 305

we have to be vigilant always and conduct things consciously and purposefully without getting ourselves lost in day-dreaming.
b)Self-criticism is the next step after self-observation. After observing oneself if we do not examine the minus points, progress is not possible at all. This examination of minus points of ours is itself called self-criticism which paves way for self improvement.
c)Self-comparision is the off-shoot of self-criticism. The building up of a personality is not a one day programme but is the ongoing process. In this process of personality building, after discovering our minus points and after improvement of our minus points, we have to compare the earlier character of ours with the later character for the purpose of self-improvement leading towards perfection. This is called as self-comparison.
d)Self-competition is the resultant of self-comparison. Self-comparison directs us to compete with our desired personality with that of the present personality for improvement and for the realization of the ideal personality which we aimed at. This will prompt us to improve still further and reach the goal of perfection.
Thus, Swa-vimarsha is the mile stone for self-improvement.
iii) Shrama: Shrama means work, which should be performed as a worship to reach the desired goal. Entire world is running with this melody of work. The wind which blows, the fire which burns, the rain which flows, the seasons which move, the earth which rotates, the akash which protects, all this is because of divine worship, divine order and divine direction. Shrama is the order of the Lord; no one can escape from it. It is through shrama we should bring heaven on earth. "One should regard work as worship and the sweat as the resultant of that worship which would lead to the path of selfperfection vis-à-vis God realization".21 This is the motto of Swami Vivekananda, Swamiji says: "Work incessantly, holding life as something deified, as God Himself, Hỳ he who has served and helped one poor man seeing Siva in him without thinking of his caste or creed or race or anything with him Shiva is more pleased than with the man who sees Shiva in temples". 22
Shrama constitutes four facets, they are: Self-resolution, Self-initiation, Self-exertion and Self-sacrifice.
a)Self-resolution means building a strong will to achieve the goal without which no one can initiate any action. This self-resolution or strong will or determination is the foundation for any successful action or achievement since it has the power of transcending all setbacks, obstacles and failures. After fixing a definite goal, one has to resolve oneself to achieve it and while achieving it this strong-will, will become sure vehicle. This vehicle makes us to initiate the action reaching towards the goal.
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