We are living in a world of profession. In the present world, it is one’s profession that defines one’s identity. The profession-oriented life is the generally accepted lifestyle of every person.
Having a profession means living according to the dictates of the ‘money market’. And everyone tries to develop a professional skill that enables them to be a sharing partner in the flow of money in the market. This culture has resulted in a new phenomenon that was absent in former times, i.e., living in accordance with external requirements and setting aside internal requirements, that is, what is required by one’s inner nature. The result is that while everyone is a developed personality in terms of his profession, in terms of his own nature, everyone is an underdeveloped personality.
Talk to anyone at random and ask him about his profession he will readily give you specific answers. If you speak to him about his professional subject, he will give you a detailed answer for every question. But, if you ask him about those issues, which pertain to human life that is, non-professional issues, you will find that he is not mentally prepared to discuss this subject.
We are living in a culture of duality. When it comes to their profession, everyone is wellequipped. But, as far as the science of life is concerned, everyone is illequipped.
Upon enquiry with a lady from Europe in a meeting about her profession it unravelled that she was well-disposed in sharing information about her professional field. But, in her personal life she was unhappy with her spouse and said that she had decided to separate from him. The main reason she cited was that her husband was an adamant person and she did not like this. She knew the science of her profession but was quite ignorant of the science of life. This is true of every person. Each one is living in a culture of duality.
When it comes to their profession, everyone is well-equipped. But, as far as the science of life is concerned, everyone is ill-equipped. This is so common that finding an exception is very difficult.
It is not a question of balance, it is a question of priority. Everyone should set or reset their priorities right. The problem with this is when you try to reset your priorities, you fear that you are going to damage your commercial interests, because when your mind is engaged in intellectual issues, it will not be able to engage in money-related issues. You gain one thing, but at the same time you lose another. But, this is not a genuine excuse. You should think in terms of intellectual development and not just in terms of material development.
Intellectual development is so important that no excuse for neglecting it is acceptable. Adopt a simple formula: make intellectual development your first priority and then try to manage all other aspects of your life.
Make intellectual development your first priority and then try to manage all other aspects of your life.
A lack of intellectual development is not a simple matter. It is the lack of intellectual development which has resulted in all those problems that are common in our present age, for example, tension, unnecessary lifestyle diseases, lack of peace of mind and losing that very thing that man so desperately wants—happiness.
