Man is the most active of all animals. The activities of all other animals are limited only to their search for food and reproduction of offspring. But man's activity is spread over a far wider field. He does not only grow, food produce children, but he also makes numerous useful things. For the security of his life he has built up a complex social organization and for the proper satisfaction of his wants, an equally complex economic system. Man's energy flows through many channels and through multifarious activities.
Man's greatness, therefore, lies in his capacity to act. The most active nations of the world have been most progressive. They have made progress in different spheres of life. They have built their industries, have developed their natural resources and have expelled poverty from their land. They have often penetrated into foreign lands and built empires across the seas. Thus, they have brought to their land the riches from remote corners of the earth.
Inactive nations, on the other hand, live in sloth and poverty. They are dominated by foreigners who develop their resources for their own benefits. They become their slaves and work for strangers in their own land. Thus, slavery demoralize them. The history of civilizations shows that the nations given to hard labor and constant work have made great achievements, while the achievements of the dull and inactive have been very small. Action is the royal road to success, both for nations and for individuals. So the philosophy of action has been highly valued through the ages.
But the action is the outcome of thought. Great actions come out of great thoughts and mind. If our thoughts are mean and narrow, our actions will be cruel and selfish, on the other hand if we think of the good of humanity, we shall strive to do good to every one. The action of good men are inspired by the ideal of universal love and brotherhood. The persecution of backward races, on the other hand, is the outcome of the 'get-rich-quick' policy. But thoughts do not always translate themselves into action. At times one does not proceed beyond the level of contemplation. We may think like Hamlet, and think deeply; but, when the time for action comes, we may find that the requisite 'will power' is wanting.
Disparity between thoughts and action is quite common in our world. There is no dearth of great ideals, but there is certainly a dearth of correspondingly great actions. Our statesmen talk of a lasting world peace and yet threaten the world with atomic weapons. Our scientists, with their ideals of the pursuit of knowledge, are devising more and more terrible means of mass destruction. Likewise, our priests, with all their mission of peace and love, are afraid to condemn violence and aggression. In the history of mankind great actions have often been done by comparatively small men. In their case the normal disparity between thoughts and action was eliminated. Inspired by great ideals, they did things which were calculated to do good for humanity, to remove its ignorance, ti lift it up from a state of moral degradation and to mitigate its sorrows and sufferings.
But, very often thoughts is merely an intellectual luxury. We discuss high ideals and show them to the world as a mark of our national glory, without acting in accordance with them.
Action and contemplation alone will not helpful us, unless our thoughts too are adequately expressed in action. If we are constantly absorbed in thinking, we become unfit for the affairs of life. We, then, lose will and courage to combat wrong and injustice and to improve life by our efforts. So we should not stop at contemplation alone but move to put our contemplation into practice and action. Contemplation, therefore, should naturally be followed by action.
Man's greatness, therefore, lies in his capacity to act. The most active nations of the world have been most progressive. They have made progress in different spheres of life. They have built their industries, have developed their natural resources and have expelled poverty from their land. They have often penetrated into foreign lands and built empires across the seas. Thus, they have brought to their land the riches from remote corners of the earth.
Inactive nations, on the other hand, live in sloth and poverty. They are dominated by foreigners who develop their resources for their own benefits. They become their slaves and work for strangers in their own land. Thus, slavery demoralize them. The history of civilizations shows that the nations given to hard labor and constant work have made great achievements, while the achievements of the dull and inactive have been very small. Action is the royal road to success, both for nations and for individuals. So the philosophy of action has been highly valued through the ages.
But the action is the outcome of thought. Great actions come out of great thoughts and mind. If our thoughts are mean and narrow, our actions will be cruel and selfish, on the other hand if we think of the good of humanity, we shall strive to do good to every one. The action of good men are inspired by the ideal of universal love and brotherhood. The persecution of backward races, on the other hand, is the outcome of the 'get-rich-quick' policy. But thoughts do not always translate themselves into action. At times one does not proceed beyond the level of contemplation. We may think like Hamlet, and think deeply; but, when the time for action comes, we may find that the requisite 'will power' is wanting.Disparity between thoughts and action is quite common in our world. There is no dearth of great ideals, but there is certainly a dearth of correspondingly great actions. Our statesmen talk of a lasting world peace and yet threaten the world with atomic weapons. Our scientists, with their ideals of the pursuit of knowledge, are devising more and more terrible means of mass destruction. Likewise, our priests, with all their mission of peace and love, are afraid to condemn violence and aggression. In the history of mankind great actions have often been done by comparatively small men. In their case the normal disparity between thoughts and action was eliminated. Inspired by great ideals, they did things which were calculated to do good for humanity, to remove its ignorance, ti lift it up from a state of moral degradation and to mitigate its sorrows and sufferings.
But, very often thoughts is merely an intellectual luxury. We discuss high ideals and show them to the world as a mark of our national glory, without acting in accordance with them.
Action and contemplation alone will not helpful us, unless our thoughts too are adequately expressed in action. If we are constantly absorbed in thinking, we become unfit for the affairs of life. We, then, lose will and courage to combat wrong and injustice and to improve life by our efforts. So we should not stop at contemplation alone but move to put our contemplation into practice and action. Contemplation, therefore, should naturally be followed by action.
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