Duty...

The inactive man does not do his duty to his Creator or to the society that maintains him. The recluse who devotes his entire life to improving himself fulfills part of man's duty because he helps society by leading by example and by making at least one of its members good.

The world is full of people that keep themselves to themselves and concentrate on purifying their own mind, body and soul by praying in solitude, reading holy books in solitude, meditating in solitude, living in solitude trying to escape the distractions of the outside world. Is this enough? They refuse to see the vast humanity around them living a life of deprivation, hunger and suffering. If you bring these facts of life, that people do not have bread to eat, clothing to wear, Hindus will misguidedly say that their suffering is a result of their past Karma (action). As Hindu’s do we not have a duty to them? They may well be suffering their fate, but is it not a negative Karma on our part if we allow this suffering to continue? If a person is born with a treatable illness, should his Medical Doctor say, “this illness is the result of your past Karma, so I must leave you untreated and let you suffer.” Would we even call such a man a Doctor?

God is not some Father Christmas type figure whose lap we can sit on and ask for miracles. He doesn't sit observing all from a high perch in the clouds. God is a state of mind. All man can attain this state of mind. The man who does his duty as a son, a father, a brother, a husband, a friend, a neighbour, his duty as a human being with no thought to earn wealth, respect, applause or self-esteem through his actions, this man has reached the state of mind that is God. This man's sole thought is his duty, this man is a divine soul. Swami Vivekananda said - "If you wish to serve God, serve human beings."

When we say that God is in everything and everything is God, it does not mean we must worship trees and rocks. What it means is that we regard everything as sacred. We respect trees and rocks and therefore must not abuse the resources that have been provided in this world. This video narrated by a Native American describes it perfectly - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61BCB2-OmRY