22.1 Social Obligation

 22.1 Social Obligation

Question:

What is the objective of working hard and producing wealth?

 

Answer:

Only those who realize that others are just like them are truly living,

while others who do not realize that are considered dead.                             (Couplet – 214)

 

All the wealth gained from hard work is to help the

deserving people.                                                                                           (Couplet – 212) 

ஒத்த தறிவோன் உயிர்வாழ்வான் மற்றையான்

செத்தாருள் வைக்கப் படும்.                                          (குறள் – 214)

 

தாளாற்றித் தந்த பொருளெல்லாம் தக்கார்க்கு

வேளாண்மை செய்தற் பொருட்டு.                                     (குறள் – 212)

 

Explanation:

It is essential for every living human being to realize that other people are just like him. If such a realization is there, then one is likely to have empathy for others' sufferings. Empathy will lead to compassion, which will lead to helping the poor, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, assisting the less fortunate, etc. Helping others who are suffering can be done in two different ways. One way is to offer help when help is requested by those who are suffering. The other way is to realize that there are people who need help and proactively provide the necessary assistance. The former would come under the category of charity, and the latter would come under the category of philanthropy. Generally, Charity is an empathetic response to an immediate crisis or need. Philanthropy is long-term and a more strategic kind of assistance. For example, helping a panhandler is charity. Whereas establishing a scholarship program for poor students is philanthropy. Invariably, both charity and philanthropy involve money. Since money is vital to provide assistance either by way of charity or philanthropy, the objective of working hard and producing wealth should be to help the deserving people.