120.  Religion, to me, is nothing but our duties towards our responsibilities. Our responsibilities comprise anything or anyone in our charge in the order of their appearance. We must understand our priorities correctly. Thus, our responsibilities as per the order of their appearances are as follows –

(a) To keep the Soul alive: Its presence can be realized whenever we do something wrong and keep feeling uneasy till we set it right. ‘Pricks of the Conscience’, as they say. Believers describe Soul (Atma) as part of God (Param-atma) and Conscience as the Voice of God. Agnostics, however, wouldn’t subscribe to any such concept. Nevertheless, they too feel uneasy when they do something wrong and keep feeling so as long as they do not set the things right. So, our first priority should, therefore, be to keep this Guiding Spirit alive. That will automatically ensure the ultimate good. Hence, this is our first responsibility.

(b) To keep the Mind under control: The mind is selfish. It is primarily concerned with our present feelings, whatever the ultimate results. We are advised to make our Mind our slave rather than become its slave because, as I have observed so many times, the Mind can be the best of friends and the worst of foes. Thus, with the help of our intellect and will-power, we must strive to keep our Mind in our control and make it function in accordance with the vibes of the Soul to ensure the ultimate good. This, therefore, becomes our second responsibility.

(c) To keep the body fit: A healthy lifestyle, regular physical exercises … This is our third responsibility.

(d) To enhance our capabilities: Our potentials and recourses are mostly un- or under-utilized. Shouldn’t we use them to the full? This is our fourth responsibility.

(e) To live a worthy life: As has been rightly observed, life itself has no meaning in it. It is an opportunity to create a meaning … Don’t we owe it to ourselves to live a more positive, meaningful life? Thus, this becomes our fifth responsibility.

(f) To take good care of the family: Shouldn’t we strive continuously, in every conceivable way, to ensure the ultimate good in the family? Thus, this is our sixth responsibility.

(g) To improve the environment: A better environment is more helpful for our growth. So, this is our seventh responsibility.

(h) To improve the circumstances: It is an uphill task, no doubt, but can a laid-back attitude make our life interesting or even give us any hope for a better future? This, therefore, is our eighth responsibility.

(i) To respect our home: Shouldn’t our home be the one place we should respect, in fact worship, the most? After all, our home is the place where we learn to prepare ourselves to face the world outside. Our home is the place which gives us shelter and security when we need it most. Our home is the place to which we return when we are tired. Our home is the place which gives us enough time and space to relax, think, rejuvenate ourselves … In short, our home is the place where we want to return, again and again. Our home is where our heart lives. This is our ninth responsibility.

(j) To ensure a better life for our children: Our children didn’t ask to be born. We bring them to this world for our own reasons. Our duty towards them is not limited to providing them just with material resources. In fact, more important is that first we learn to think properly – if we are not happy, we are not thinking properly – and then teach our progeny the same. ‘Examples are better than precepts’ or ‘Actions speak louder than words’. We must show rather than just say. If we can learn and teach that proper management of the Self is the key to success and, therefore, a satisfying life, our job will be done.  This is our tenth responsibility.

 The list can go on. Next in order would be – our neighborhood, the less privileged, relatives (decided by God or chance), friends (chosen by the self), society, country, humanity, other living creatures and non-living things …

- Sujit Mukerji

119. Anything can be possible. So, why not

(a) be prepared i.e. take all necessary actions and precautions? Isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?

(b) keep trying for a better result?

- Sujit Mukerji

118. If complaining can help resolve a problem, then it is justified. Otherwise, isn’t it a futile exercise … a waste? After all, there can be only three types of responses to our complaints:

(a) Our well-wishers become sad,

(b) The ‘not-concerned’ become irritated and

(c) Our ill-wishers become happy.

Do we really want such responses?

- Sujit Mukerji

117.  Blaming is a negative action. It has its negative results. However, it has a positive side too! Whenever I am blamed, I do some re-thinking and become wiser and more cautious. I’ve learned to consider and treat all my negative experiences as tests of my intelligence, wisdom, correctness, goodness, patience, tolerance or, in short, my positive side. Blessings in disguise, as they say! Such experiences are opportunities for me to prepare myself in such a way as never to let them repeat themselves.

So, as a doer, I should not blame or, in fact, take any negative action against anyone or anything with a malicious motive. Blaming with malice simply cannot have any positive result whatsoever. It can only lead to more negativity. However, if the motive is benevolent, blaming or any other negative action can be justified if done with respect and politeness etc.

As a receiver, I should treat all my negative experiences as opportunities to learn and improve myself.

- Sujit Mukerji

116. We never get what we like. We never like what we get. Still, we live, love and hope that some day we will get what we like or like what we get. That’s life …