Our hands are tired, our hearts strained

With too much grasping and greed.
Need to let go a little our grip on the world,To wear it as if it were a loose garment
That we may walk at ease and in freedom,
There is freedom in action indeed
When in work there is no ulterior motive,
Done simply because it is duty’s directive
Performed with dexterity and skillful mastery,
But unattached to the fruits of action thereof
Balanced in success and failure, gain and loss,
Free from karma’s bondage at last.
This is the path of selfless, disinterested action
When work itself is consecrated activity,
Redeeming and purifying as the fire of knowledge
A gateway to freedom and salvation,
As sung by Shri Krishna, Universal Teacher
To Arjuna in sacred Bhagavad Gita.

A far cry from this standard our actions now
Many deeds prompted by deceit and greed.
Selfless service, compassion and morality
The anchor no longer of our actions,
Every despicable act we sanction
Though to others there is pain and affliction,
In shameless quest for wealth and sense gratification.
The light of our humanity dimmed so low
Seeds of cruel and dreadful acts we sow,
Must reap the bitter harvest of pain and sorrow.
As sure as night must day follow.
Peace and happiness not to be won
When others’ welfare we shun,
When incalculable wealth to some accrue
While souls in millions, hunger and pain must endure.
Though our fair world becoming ever smaller
Room enough there is for all to roam and gather,
To enjoy the fruits of honest consecrated labor
If we would but loosen our grasp.

CECIL RAMKIRATH
Bayonne, NJ,
USA