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This 'I' of mine toils hard, day and night, for a home which it knows as its own. Alas, there will be no end of its sufferings so long as it is not able to call this home thine. Till then it will struggle on, and its heart will ever cry, 'Ferryman, lead me across.' When this home of mine is made thine, that very moment is it taken across, even while its old walls enclose it. This 'I' is restless. It is working for a gain which can never be assimilated with its spirit, which it never can hold and retain. In its efforts to clasp in its own arms that which is for all, it hurts others and is hurt in its turn, and cries, 'Lead me across'. But as soon as it is able to say, 'All my work is thine,' everything remains the same, only it is taken across. Where can I meet thee unless in this mine home made thine? Where can I join thee unless in this my work transformed into thy work? If I leave my home I shall not reach thy home; if I cease my work I can never join thee in thy work. For thou dwellest in me and I in thee. Thou without me or I without thee are nothing.

Rabindranath Tagore#24

EgoSelfServiceSufferingWorkDedication

About this quote

What does it mean?
The ego suffers until it offers its work and home to a greater whole, transforming personal struggle into shared purpose.
In plain terms
Giving your work to others ends your suffering.
What can you take from it?
Transform personal struggle by dedicating work to others.

Where it applies

  • career burnout
  • personal loss
  • community service

Putting it to work

  • share your labor
  • serve a cause

Questions to consider

  • What work do you cling to?
  • How do you share your efforts?

Another view

Dedication requires trust that the work will be valued.

More from Rabindranath Tagore

  1. Indeed, the realisation of the paramatman, the supreme soul, within our antaratman, our inner individual soul, is in a state of absolute completion. We cannot …

    Permalink to quote #23
  2. If you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars. ~ 6

    Permalink to quote #25
  3. Knowledge is partial, because our intellect is an instrument, it is only a part of us, it can give us information about things which can be divided and analyse…

    Permalink to quote #22

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