Comments on: The world is like a dog’s curly tail http://www.swadharma.org/2008/12/23/the-world-is-like-a-dogs-curly-tail/ The voice of Dharma Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:48:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Priya http://www.swadharma.org/2008/12/23/the-world-is-like-a-dogs-curly-tail/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Priya Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:32:55 +0000 http://www.harvarddharma.org/wp/wordpress/?p=378#comment-23 Like Saketh said, for students all over the world - not only in the community - this lecture by Vivekananda serves as a morality boost. It reminds me the of the Gita, which stresses that a person who has gained enlightenment does not perform actions for their fruits, but rather because it is their duty to perform certain actions. For us students, whether it be studying, working, or volunteering, it helps to remember we are doing so to gain more insight into ourselves and the world. And yes, if through this the dog's tail does straighten out for good, it's definitely a huge plus. Like Saketh said, for students all over the world – not only in the community – this lecture by Vivekananda serves as a morality boost. It reminds me the of the Gita, which stresses that a person who has gained enlightenment does not perform actions for their fruits, but rather because it is their duty to perform certain actions. For us students, whether it be studying, working, or volunteering, it helps to remember we are doing so to gain more insight into ourselves and the world. And yes, if through this the dog’s tail does straighten out for good, it’s definitely a huge plus.

]]> By: Saketh http://www.swadharma.org/2008/12/23/the-world-is-like-a-dogs-curly-tail/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Saketh Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:12:12 +0000 http://www.harvarddharma.org/wp/wordpress/?p=378#comment-20 It's interesting that you say Vivekananda has "given up" on the world, because he urges giving up -- renunciation -- everywhere in his works. Yes, the analogy is grim, and yes, it seems like Vivekananda is saying that the world cannot <span style="font-style: italic;">be </span>helped at all, but here I think he's addressing a specific audience with his turns of phrase -- fanatics, people who think the world <span style="font-style: italic;">needs </span>their help. <div> </div> <div>That's why <a href="http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_1/karma-yoga/we_help_ourselves.htm" rel="nofollow">the section you've excerpted</a> resonates here at Harvard, especially with me. With all the high expectations for Harvard students, it's easy for me to fall into a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_complex" rel="nofollow">messianic complex</a> -- when the stress of this fanaticism burns me out, it is equally easy for me to remain complacent about the issues facing our world. What Vivekananda seems to encourage here is a mean between the two, a calm, collected approach to performing good works on earth.</div> It’s interesting that you say Vivekananda has “given up” on the world, because he urges giving up — renunciation — everywhere in his works. Yes, the analogy is grim, and yes, it seems like Vivekananda is saying that the world cannot be helped at all, but here I think he’s addressing a specific audience with his turns of phrase — fanatics, people who think the world needs their help.

That’s why the section you’ve excerpted resonates here at Harvard, especially with me. With all the high expectations for Harvard students, it’s easy for me to fall into a messianic complex — when the stress of this fanaticism burns me out, it is equally easy for me to remain complacent about the issues facing our world. What Vivekananda seems to encourage here is a mean between the two, a calm, collected approach to performing good works on earth.
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