My Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

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May 23, 2010
14 Comment

“Do Not Fail To Do What Ought To Be Done, and Do Not Do What Ought Not To Be Done.”

Buddhastatue

“Do not fail to do what ought to be done, and do not do what ought not to be done. Otherwise your burden of suffering will grow heavier.”
–The Dhammapada

One of my Twelve Personal Resolutions is Do what ought to be done, but I’d never come across this particular enunciation of that idea. It sure covers a lot of situations.

* I was very pleased to read this post on David Pollay’s blog, where he talked about The Happiness Project in a discussion about What’s your calling?

* If you’d like to volunteer as a Super-Fan, and help me out from time to time, please sign up here or email me at grubin [at] gretchenrubin [.com]. I so appreciate the help of the Super-Fans! Thanks again!

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  1. What is “The Only Payment That Can Never Fail”? Guess.
  • http://amotherinisrael.com/ Hannah @AMotherInIsrael

    There’s a similar idea in the rabbinic work Ethics of the Fathers (Mishnah): You are not obligated to complete the work, neither are you free to refrain from it.

    • jenny_o

      I find this a really intriguing idea. If you read this reply, would you consider expanding on it for me? Thanks.

      • http://cookingmanager.com/ Hannah Katsman

        Hi jenny-o,
        I meant to put the statement in quotes. I think the simplest interpretation involves planting. Even if you might not be able to harvest grain, you should still sow seeds. You might not live to see the tree you plant bear fruit, but you should still plant it.
        The statement could easily apply to any community project–raising funds for the needy, building a communal building, etc. You are obligated to pitch in and do your part for an existing project, as well as start new ones as required.
        It also means that you can’t wait for the community leaders to do everything–you have as much responsibility as anyone else.

        • jenny_o

          Thank you for replying. I wouldn’t have thought about it in this context, so it helped to have your explanation. Good things to think about.

  • http://www.happinessandwisdom.com HappinessandWisdom

    After reading this, I couldn’t help but think of all the damage we do to our own happiness by acting (or not) in ways that do not support a sense of contentedness or well-being. We procrastinate and seem to miss doing things that are good for us (exercise, eating right, time with family and friends) but given the slightest opportunity to do something we shouldn’t (insert your own brand of self-destruction here!), we seem to always be able to find the time! In order to help overcome this destructive cycle, every time I feel the urge to not do something good for me, I make myself focus on the task intensely for 20 minutes. Everybody has 20 minutes to spare! More often than not, I find that the task is completed in that time and is off my mind, or I find myself enjoying it so much, that I dedicate much more time to the endeavor. That’s my answer — spend 20 minutes doing what ought to be done!

    • Peggy

      HappinessandWisdom, this is a fantastic idea! I’m going to start using it today. There are some exercises that I’ve had prescribed by my physical therapist that I need to do every day. They are on my Resolution Chart. I have yet to complete all four-per-day sessions. And this is only one example of tasks not started due to procrastination.

  • http://beautifulsummermorning.com Nick Grimshawe

    This law takes over when making one of those life changing decisions because the decision itself is a combination of doing and not doing. A decision focuses your intent on the things that ought to be done to achieve the desired result and those things you should not do which would hinder progress forward. I’ve had first hand experience with this recently with a wonderful balance between what ought to be done and that with ought not to be done.

    Your book is setting off all kinds of sparks.

    Thanks

  • Elli

    To this beautiful quotation I would like to add : Feel as you ought to Feel, and love as you ought to be loved.

    Thanks Rubin for this amazing page.

  • Kamy

    Yes, this is one of my biggest struggles. Sometimes i don’t even like to thing about my TO DO list, it is just too long, but once in a while I will cross off a couple of my tasks and I feel the weight just melting off my back and I feel so proud of myself. When I actually excersice I brag to my husband all day “this is a good day, I am in a great mood because I excersiced!” It is so rewarding!

  • Angela

    This quote is a great reminder that happiness is a choice.

  • http://www.conversationarts.com Conversation Arts

    It’s the same thing as people being busy for the sake of being busy. I think a lot of times I find myself unhappy because I spend the day looking back and going…”What did I actually accomplish?” and then if nothing comes up it makes me sad. But when I get up, do things according to my values and my highest ambitions it feels great. And those days truly make feel intrinsically rewarded. Thank you for the wonderful quote.

  • indespair

    I need to break off a 9 yr realationship – the last few strings attached, this relationship has caused me some good, but more than good, many tears, and loss of hope and broken dreams. I have to cut it off for good as- being friends (only leads to having a blimp of hope that maybe, just maybe things will work out!. Thoughts and advise – ANYONE??! please……

    :(

  • http://featurethem.com Angelee

    This post reminds me of myself. I had once realized how important it is not to fail what ought to be done. What ought to be done for me is to have Patience. Before, I had failed how valuable it is to wait and be patient. I was not patient enough to hold on to my dreams in life, until I got defocused. Now, Im always reminded to be firm, patient, and focused in life.

  • Beth

    Thank you for this post. Great stuff, and love you’re style…

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