02/10/2026
One day, a brother said to him, “I will spend half of my day doing my own work, and the other half doing Thakur’s work.”
Hearing this, Acharyadev replied, “If you divide it half and half, then both will receive only half. Be prepared for that as well. If you are happy with half and half, then do that. Do whatever you want in life. One who wants something in full will seek it in full. You want a share of both, so you may accept a share of both.”
After hearing this, the brother was about to leave when Acharyadev called him back and said, “Listen, you have no proper understanding of Thakur. Who told you that a person engaged in business does not belong to Thakur? If that were so, why would he have given teachings about the principles of business?”
When the brother tried to say something, Acharyadev stopped him and said, “Listen, If you are to belong to Thakur, then belong to him completely. Be a good businessman, become a person of distinction and renown, and at the same time remain wholly devoted to Thakur. It is this very idea of ‘half and half’ that I cannot accept.
“Who said that a businessman cannot be a person of Thakur? Is someone who cooks not a person of Thakur? Is a sweeper who cleans drains not a person of Thakur? Whatever work we do, we focus our minds somewhere so that the work may be done beautifully and well. Otherwise, the mind naturally becomes scattered.
“It is precisely so that I may bring whatever work I undertake to a beautiful completion that I need a Guru. That is the purpose of accepting a Guru. He will take me by the hand and teach me what is to be done where, how I should conduct myself, how I should behave, and how I should live. Learn those ways of conduct and behaviour, make them your own, and live accordingly.”
Alochona - July, 2024
** Translated from original bengali text