One’s attitude to work and duty is determined by his character and values. When power and money are the criteria, your whole attitude to work and duty is dictated by those criteria only; that is, duty is valued in terms of what it can get you. Whereas, when ethical and moral living is the main objective, duty becomes sacred. In this concept of duty, there is no demand whatsoever - there are no rewards for duty, other than self-fulfillment.
In ethical and moral living, there is no competition - you do not have to prove that you are better. What job you do signifies nothing; but how well you do it, signifies a lot. And because you bring a certain attitude to it, you love doing the job that is yours to do. What you need is maturity of mind and by performing what is to be done, you would gain it.
In the ancient Hindu society, every one had duties – and performing one’s duty is his Dharma (obligatory duty). Every concept needs a champion. Dharma also needs a champion. The champion becomes the role-model for others in his group or family. A man of truth and integrity, who always goes by his values is unquestionably a leader - he is respected and admired in any society. They hold him in high esteem and he influences the standards of behavior of the society - at all levels.
The role model has followers - who follow him implicitly. Because his followers want to emulate him, he constantly comes under the microscope. He should be aware of this fact and should never do anything that would be wrongly interpreted by his admirers.
At the family level, the parents set the tone of behaviour of their children. If they live a life of high moral values, every one else in the family also lives a life of exemplary values. If the parents are observed to exploit others through lies for self gain, the children also emulate them and tell lies for selfish gains. If the children perceive that the parents are selfish, look after their own pleasures, do not pay attention to the needs of their children, the children also grow up selfishly and neglect the proper upbringing of their own children too. On the other hand, if the parents always sacrifice their own interests and put the interests of the children first and foremost, the children grow up selflessly and the society around them rests on a strong foundation of selflessness and spirit of sacrifice.
A school teacher is a leader to his students. He has a unique opportunity to influence the students at a tender and impressionable age. The children get programmed permanently and it is this program that directs their behaviour in later life. If the teacher is selfish, ignorant and fails to instill proper values and discipline in his students, the students conclude that selflessness, learning, values and discipline need not become priorities in their later lives.
In the work place, a supervisor is the boss to his group of workers. Several such bosses report to a boss at a higher level and this is how the hierarchy is usually organized. A boss is the leader for his group. He sets the tone of the discipline, motivation, dedication, quality and productivity of the workers in his group. If the workers perceive that the boss is highly dedicated to his job, invariably gives higher priority to the work objectives and is genuinely interested in the well being of the workers, the workers also dedicate themselves with equal sincerity to their work. It is truly said that there are no bad soldiers - only bad Generals.
When political leaders scrupulously follow high moral and ethical standards, they develop charisma. Charismatic leaders always galvanize the entire society to uphold high moral and ethical values. They can make ordinary people do extraordinary things. The Mahatma Gandhi, with his emphasis on honesty, sincerity and moral values, galvanized the entire Indian nation to rise against the mighty British rulers. Churchill similarly galvanized the entire United Kingdom to extraordinary war efforts during the world war II.
On the other hand, if the political leaders become selfish and follow questionable morals and unethical standards, the society collapses and the nation degenerates rapidly. The dishonest leaders, who have no scruples, ethics and morals, try to make fortunes by foul means. Since the masses always emulate their leaders, people think that the way to succeed in life is through dishonesty, chicanery and selfishness. If leaders do not perform their duty selflessly, ordinary persons will not also see any real virtue in performing their duties honestly.
There is, of course, no universal standard for duties. They differ from time to time and from society to society. However, in every society, at every point in time, whatever, the man of wisdom does, by precept and practice, becomes the standard for the common man.
Standards for duty may change from time to time and from society to society, but the concept of duty does not. It is universal and everlasting. Duty has no rewards. If there is a reward, it is not a duty.
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