Study circle Apr 7 th, 2013

May we be together May we be nourished together May we work together with vitality and energy May we radiate the light of life Never shall we denounce anyone, never entertain negativity Peace, Peace, Peace be to all………..

Reflecting…..

Home work # 1 Think of your your work. How do you see yourself with respect to the organization, do you find it an enriching experience or do you find it a just an activity that needs to be done to earn a living, do you often feel exhausted (mentally and spiritually drained out) by going to work? Then reanalyze the your responses to the above question assuming Swami assigned you your job, your work colleagues and everything that happens at work. Imagine reporting to Him daily. Does this situation change your perspective of your job? Note: During this exercise, maintain the focus on YOURSELF not OTHERS OR SITUATIONS outside of you

Spiritual practice Till the next study circle, every morning before you enter your workplace, a. pray to Swami for the ability to see your job as sadhana and that you are doing the work for HIM - not merely to earn money, fame or position b. Every day before you start interacting with your coworkers, before you start any conversation try to remind yourself that you are talking to Swami in that form.

Love in work Exercise 1 Love in action Patience Equanimity Surrender Being non-judgmental Right attitude Self control Service Duty Selfless help Self sacrifice Being purposeful Work

Tranforming work into service Social service does not mean merely going out into the streets and cleaning them. Whatever work you are engaged in, whatever duties you have to perform as an official or an employee, to do your duties efficiently and with diligence and devotion is also Seva (social service). Those in authority who discharge their functions well enough to justify the salary they receive are rendering real service. But such persons are rare. Employees agitate for more wages but do not render commensurate service to justify the incomes they receive. Disinterested service will ennoble man and raise his stature. It endows man with the intelligence and the skills required to refine human nature. Doing one's duty diligently is not enough. Men have to cultivate other qualities like love, sympathy, fairness, compassion and forgiveness. Only when one has these qualities will he be able to render dedicated service.

Tranforming work into service To plead that one has no time for service activities because of official duties or other preoccupations is an utterly lame excuse. Even in your official work you can render service. There is no need to go to bazaars for street cleaning. That is not the only means of serving the public. Whatever your official duties, whatever your profession or occupation, if you discharge your duties properly and efficiently, that is also social service. The right attitude for officials in authority towards service should be to ask themselves whether the services they render are commensurate with the salaries they receive. Seldom do we see persons in employment, whether they are workers or officers, doing the amount of work that would justify the salaries they get.

Tranforming work into service They all want more remuneration, but are not prepared to work more. They should realise that this kind of an attitude is a betrayal of the nation. Whose money are they receiving as wages? It is the public's money. To fail in the discharge of one's duties to the public is a grievous disservice. If a teacher imparts education on the fight lines, he is rendering real national service. Likewise, if a merchant conducts his business on the basis of earning not more than what is needed to meet his reasonable needs, he will be rendering public service. When this attitude prevails there is no need to claim that one is engaged in service. He should be content to abide by the dictates of his conscience Discourse in the Poornachandra Auditorium, 21 Nov 1988

Concerns and reservations about spiritualizing work Business and spirituality just don’t mix – the business of business is business.” “You can’t really be competitive in business if you’re spiritual.” Business greed is too widespread for spirituality to make a difference. “You can’t really be spiritual if you’re involved in business. “If I want to be accepted and promoted, I have to compromise my spiritual values.” “What if I find that my spiritual aspirations are contrary to the type of work I’m doing or to the goals of the company I’m working for? Do I have to quit my job?”

Turning concerns and challenges to inspiring questions/actions Exercise 2 Reframe the concern into a question driven by a “can do” attitude i.e., ask How can I ….. How can I be competitive in business if I’m spiritual? How can I be true to my spirituality at work even if business greed is widespread? How can I be spiritual at work in a way that’s aligned with my spirituality in the rest of my life? How can I be accepted and promoted without compromising my spiritual values? How can I deal with my job if my spiritual aspirations seem contrary to the type of work I’m doing or to the goals of the company I’m working for?

Aum Shanti Shanti Shantihi