Swayambakam - Self help
Many would have heard an incident in President Abraham Lincoln's life.
The story goes that an English aristocrat was shocked to see Abraham Lincoln polishing his shoes. “In England , no gentleman polishes his own shoes,” the aristocrat remarked. Pat came the tit for tat, President Lincoln, “Whose shoes does he polish then?”
In this contemporary era, the IT legend Mr Narayanamurthy is admired as Corporate Gandhi. For, we learn he takes care of home hygiene himself.
Well,
Our yester years, about 7 decades ago, may reflect back. Rajaji, then the Prime Minister of Madras Presidency, washed his clothes himself.
Maha Periyava cites Sastras that it's not keeping in with Sastra Dharma to leave our basic personal care and depend on someone else to do it. True there would be seniors, aged parents at home who may not be able to handle their personal care. Sastras enshrines on young ones in the family to be of service to them.
It was at a time when Maha Periyava was in a discourse and time and again emphasized on paropakara, that's helping others and society. One day a senior couple walked into the Mutt and were looking to have Dharsn of Maha Swami. Their faces exhibited some hesitation and sadful look. Maha Swami let them pour down.
The lady began:
"Swami, we are worried about our only son. He doesn't care for us, the aged parents. He is always concerned about and has been engaging in only social service.'
The accompanying spouse opened up his pent up emotions, 'Swami, he doesn't mind home needs, my wife only washes my son's clothes."
The lady picked up and said, "never mind his not washing his clothes. He doesn't buy necessary provisions and vegetables also. It's only my husband in his advancing age takes pains to go to shops and markets for buying home essentials. "
Here is a wrap up with the following lines from தெய்வத்தின் குரல் :
"லோகத்துக்கு நல்லது பண்ணனும் என்றே ஆர்வமிருந்தாலும் நமக்கும் நம் குடும்பத்துக்கும் செய்தேயாக வேண்டும் என்ற நிர்பந்தம் இருப்பதை உணர்ந்து இந்த ட்யூட்டிக்கு ஹானியில்லாமல்தான் லோக ஸேவை செய்ய வேண்டும். "
You May have a heart to do good for society. Yet do it without any hiccups to your responsibility to your family and home.
Maha Swami has a rider as well :
"சொந்த கார்யம் என்பதையே கவனித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தால், அலை ஓய்ந்துதான் ஸமுத்ர ஸ்நானம் என்கிற மாதிரி பொதுக் கார்யங்களை எவருமே எப்போதுமே செய்ய முடியாது."
It's kind of balancing act.
