The How of Work
One of the primary lessons of Vedanta is “Work for the Fulfillment of Work”. This concept is repeated in a number of texts in various ways. In the Bhagavad Gita alone, instruction on how to work seems to be propounded dozens of times. Here’s a couple:
BG Passage 2.47~ “You have the right to work but never the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.”
BG Passage 3.25~ “The ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna, the wise work for the welfare of the world, without thought for themselves.”
The question then begs, why is it we must put work into how we work?
As is likely apparent to any who might be reading this, work is unavoidable and ultimately necessary. Even attempts to avoid work require work!! Any relationship requires work as does maintaining your shelter and sustaining your own life. The emphasis on learning how to work is akin to learning how to breathe and eat better. If having a breathing practice and eating healthy leads to a healthy life with less suffering than learning how to work with the appropriate attitude will contribute to a life that leans more towards joy.
The “How” of work is much more difficult than choosing a healthy diet. The science is clear on which foods to incorporate into your diet and which to cut. Navigating work requires self awareness and adaptation to constantly shifting variables. This is why the great texts do not deal directly with the work you are doing but with the attitude you posses while working. There’s no doubt that certain occupations can be extremely difficult compared to others but your attitude while working will ultimately determine the ease in which you experience your work and the pleasantness you feel and exhibit. The best attitude to have while working is one of detachment as expressed in this passage from the Mundaka Upanishad
MU Part 2 passage 10~ “The Lord of Love is the one Self of all, which is detached work, spiritual wisdom, and immortality. Realize the Self hidden in the heart, and cut asunder the knot of ignorance here and now.”
Detachment does not mean working without passion or purpose. As a matter of fact work detached from the stressors work might impose upon us can make space for passion and purpose. Studies have shown time and again that misery is self induced. The struggles of work force the mind to decide to succumb to the present misery or override it and perform our work with lightness and ease. Difficult it is to override but not impossible.
