From The Bhagavad Gita
The Spiritually minded, who eat in the spirit of service, are freed from all their sins; but the selfish, who prepare food for their own satisfaction, eat sin. Living creatures are nourished by food, and food is nourished by rain; rain itself is the water of life, which comes from selfless worship and service.
Every selfless act, Arjuna, is born from Brahman1, the eternal, infinite Godhead. Brahman is present in every act of service. All life turns on this law, O Arjuna. Those who violate it, indulging the senses for their own pleasure and ignoring the needs of others, have wasted their life. But those who realize the Self2 are always satisfied. Having found that source of joy and fulfillment , they no longer seek happiness from the external world. They have nothing to gain or lose by any action; neither people nor things can affect their security.
Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world; by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life3. Do your work with the welfare of others in mind. It was by such work that Janaku attained perfection; others too have followed this path.
What the outstanding person does, others will try to do. The standards such people create will be followed by the whole world. There is nothing in the three worlds4 for me to gain, Arjuna, nor is there anything I do not have; I continue to act, but I am not driven by any need of my own. If I ever refrained from continuous work, everyone would immediately follow my example. If I stopped working I would be the cause of cosmic chaos, and finally of the destruction of this world and these people.5
The ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna; the wise work for the welfare of the world, without thought for themselves. By abstaining from work you will confuse the ignorant, who are engrossed in their actions. Perform all work carefully, guided by compassion. …
Even the wise act within the limitations of their own nature. … It is better to strive in one’s own dharma than to succeed in the dharma of another6. …
Just as fire is covered by smoke and a mirror is obscured by dust, just as the embryo rests deep within the womb, knowledge is hidden by selfish desire. … Selfish desire is found in the senses, mind, and intellect. … The senses are higher than the body, the mind higher than the senses; above the mind is intellect , and above the intellect is the Atman. Thus knowing that which is supreme, let the Atman rule the ego. 7
1Is inspired by God.
2Their true, spiritual Self, not their ego self.
3The goal being spiritual enlightenment or Cosmic Consciousness.
4Three major plains of existence: material, psychic or mental, and spiritual.
5The Complete Universe would indeed fall apart if God stopped working.
6Use the talents we have instead of trying to follow the success of another.
7Let the soul (spiritual mind) rule the ego (material mind).