How we should go about balancing work and devotional life is an area that no doubt occupies a lot of time in the spiritually inclined persons mind before they begin their life in the working world and during it. How to break the balance between i) accepting it as one’s duty and therefore committing fully to it, and ii) knowing that it is of highest importance that we take care of our spiritual practices, our families, and the other spiritual related responsibilities we are required to as responsible people within broadly the varna-ashram framework. This article aims to provoke thought and perhaps change the paradigm slightly to help us get perspective on a very important long term core part of our lives.
Importance of getting this right
Many spiritually inclined people are in the working world. They are not renunciates, or monks. They are family people, most of which do not live on farms to maintain their livelihoods and engage in devotional service in this way. Most of the society is in the working world, in some profit making organisation. These businesses are driven by making profits for the board, for the shareholders, and arguably in increasingly unethical ways, Barclays Libor and Eurobor fixing allegations this week for example. Spiritual life encourages truth, prioritisation of thinking of Krishna, fairness, dedicating most of one’s time engaging in devotional service. The corporate world on the other hand, generally, encourages dedicating one’s time, energy, and even social life, to the company and its doing well. So who can blame a devotee for viewing the two as opposing forces? Of course this would be a natural sentiment. Doesn’t this sound similar to Arjuna’s countless arguments, based on scriptural injunctions, not to fight? We do not have Krishna here to give us the answer in as direct a way as He was 5,000 years ago, but we can certainly consult with the triangle of guidance of senior devotees, and the scriptures combined to find the balance that is right for us.
Everyone is different
A huge caveat for this article and its implications is that everyone is different, has different level of ability to tolerate different levels of non-spiritual environment without succumbing to it, everyone has different skillsets and inclinations to very different fields of work, and different emotional and mental makeup and conditioning which causes one to feel better situated in certain environments over others. Whilst this is true, and should always be considered very important, it should not be used as a ‘cop out’ in not sincerely trying to do the best we can in our individual situations.
Living two lives is difficult
If we view spiritual or devotional life and work life as two entirely opposing forces, it will be naturally challenging for us to remain in a similar consciousness in both. Where do we spend more of our time? On the mat in front of the spiritual parapherneila and serving the Lord directly, or at our desks in front of the laptop writing reports, in meeting rooms discussing work and on the London transport systems going to and coming from work? For 9 people out of 10 in the working world, suffices to say that the answer will be the latter. So we must find ways to raise our consciousness at work. HH Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami said “If it works, its Vedic”. If people are getting promoted at work based on their relationships and alignment with the companies vision (which is like inquiring from seniors) work their doing (which is like rendering service to their seniors), then there is clearly operation of a Vedic principle, and is of course a perverted reflection of the true spiritual principle in relation to spiritual advancement, but nonetheless it is in operation in its perverted form. Unfortunately, often times, we don’t see it like that; we see it as people “sucking up,” “getting in there,” and then “working like slaves,” which further creates conflict in our minds about devotional life and working life. So we sometimes try to stay aloof from work, just do what’s necessary and get out, minimise our efforts without understanding the deeper dynamics at play and making the connections with the spiritual principles, and viewing the world through the eyes of scripture, being shastra-chaksus. Naturally, such a removed and aloof mentality, if done out of a sense of fear, may make us less effective at what we do. There may be a broader collective implication that may be the result of feeling the need to be very removed from our jobs and responsibilities at work. Srila Prabhupada when asked what his biggest concern was by one disciple, said that the devotees are not afraid enough of maya. This is certainly very applicable in the working environment, where if we get too absorbed in working so many hours, at the expense of our sadhna, going out with colleagues under the name of networking, there is certainly a danger of falling in this trap. However, if we are very very conscious of what we are doing, very strategic, very grounded, and sincere in trying to progress in our spiritual lives at the same time as working sincerely, Krishna will surely help us in a way we can relate to.
Being sincere and smart
Hanumanji and Arjuna are two exemplars representing sincerity to serve and the tact and wit or smartness to be able to operate to execute the tasks at hand. HH Radhanath Swami explains that when Hanumanji entered the palace of Ravana, which was opulent beyond imagination, he did not think, oh what a terrible environment, so materialistic, I need to get out of here as soon as possible. Rather he thought, how incredible this opulence of Ravana is, if he only engaged it all in the service of Sri Rama, he would be the greatest devotee in the world! When we go into work, what is our mentality like? This is all nonsense, or is our mentality more inclined towards Hanumanji? Arjuna similarly engaged his military prowess in ultimately being very successful on the battlefield. Perhaps we should keep asking what this means for us rather than to continually withdraw and render work as a “necessary evil”. HH Keshava Bharati Maharaj said that devotion is required in anything, including at work. This statement has immense implications. Devotion does not mean to just want to get out of the place as soon as possible. Nor does it mean not to want to spend any time to understand what needs to be done and sincerely try to help or serve. Have you ever had a situation where someone is trying to make you do something, and you don’t want to do it? When you resist, what happens? Don’t they try to get you to do it even more, knowing that you will try your best not to do it? The people at work, trying to get their promotions, or make more profits have a high degree of conviction and even power to some extent. They can make you spend longer at work, give more of yourself. This can lead to one feeling overwhelmed, and becoming resentful of work. Isn’t this the state of affairs with most people even aside of devotees? Why do people look forward to long weekend, and holidays? Is it not partially if not mostly because they don’t have to go to work? It is very simple a dynamic to understand; the more we are resistant to something, afraid of something, the more there will be a conflict and the stronger force will win. When we are being paid by the people at work in an environment that is driven by financial rewards, it is clear whose side has the power. So it is far more sensible to be very intelligent, and engage meaningfully and with genuinely try to understand and serve, whilst being shastra-chaksus, without being afraid or disengaged. The very outcomes that we are afraid of, such as spending too much time at work, having unrealistic demands from our bosses, are far more likely to manifest if we approach the situation with this fear. If we are confident, confident in Krishna’s protection being there if we behave sincerely, and therefore being fearless, this is far more likely to be successful and is encouraged in scripture in many places.
We can learn from anywhere
Srila Prabhupada once visited a doctor, and had gone with his disciples. The doctor advised that he should spend “less time praying and should spend more time walking.” His disciples suggested that Srila Prabhupada need not listen to such advice. However, Srila Prabhupada then began his morning walks, and said to his disciples very famously that “we can learn from anywhere.” We must discriminate where we learn from and Srila Prabhupada’s teachings will always be the most spiritually superior teachings in this age compared with any. In HH Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaj’s Gurukul in Mayapur, there is a martial arts area, a very traditional one. It has a punching bag, and on the wall is a picture of the lineage of Thai Boxing teachers, one of which comes to the gurukul to teach. It is very obvious, if we want to learn about a field, we must ask the people who are expert in that field. There are a number of domains that must be addressed if we are to be effective in the working world and in most fields actually. These include time management, stakeholder management, communication, visioning, managing the quality of our work, determination and so on. One could argue we need many of these in spiritual life also, and they are certainly not contrary if gone about in the right way. Developing these in the right way can help us manage our engagement in the working world, be more conscious, and if done properly, can certainly help us progress in spiritual life. HH Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj, in his books on Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness, and HG Bhuta Bhavana prabhu more recently in his seminars on contemporary leadership from a Vedic perspective help us to make these connections better, and illustrate that it is not only possible, but achieves many wonderful outcomes. In the coming weeks, I intend to share on some of the more detailed dynamics in the working world, certainly to help myself be more conscious, and hopefully help others in sharing.
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