Today we are considering the topic of work ethics, particularly in relation to our spiritual interests. For many among us, work presents struggle, when it does not reasonably align with our genuine interests. Our work ethics are important determinants of the overall value and contentment that we contribute and derive from work.
As spiritual seekers who frequently delve into the abstract during our metaphysical explorations, we often ignore the importance of the practical work, that is involved in the day to day maintenance of our body-minds.
Those of us who can spend much of our free time in sitting quietly meditating, reading, or contemplating about things that do not directly concern making a living, may not appreciate that this is a privilege that many can only hope for, and only a very few can afford.
The limited time and energy available to each of us as a body-mind, can find its most optimal unique expression depending on our context, only after fulfilling our very basic necessities first. A body under threat of starvation or a mind in crisis, cannot have the luxury to indulge in seeking the higher sublime truths of life.
A body-mind safe and secure with all its basic needs met, is more likely to flourish in its quest for the unknown, or stumble upon the veiled reality beyond the visible material maze of manifestation, that predominates and occupies most of our daily lives.
More often than not, meeting the various practical necessities of life in the complex contemporary human society, relies on systematic diligent hard work. This brings the topic of work ethics and the right approach towards work, at the forefront of any spiritual worldview.
We all have unique dispositions and specific inclinations. Our natural propensities may not always align well, with the needs of the immediate situation in our lives. We flourish the most, contributing our best, when our interests match with the work we do.
But for many of us, this may not materialize. This is particularly applicable to the seekers of the ultimate truth, on an inner quest to find the meaning and purpose of life. Those strongly driven by their spiritual interests and a deep passion to unveil the hidden truths of existence, often do not find legitimate career options, that incorporate or accommodate their natural metaphysical interests.
When we do not manage to find employment in an area that we are truly passionate about, our work ethics keep us motivated and engaged, in the jobs that nevertheless need to be done.
We may need to compromise and work hard at jobs that we do not deeply enjoy doing. Our circumstances may require us to earn a living, support a family and we may feel deprived of a chance, to freely indulge in our deeper genuine interests.
Having a body-mind and its various dependent relationships, we cannot always escape the practical demands of life, to answer our inner calling to our complete satisfaction.
Working against our natural interests, for the honest completion of a job, always presents a challenge. We usually do well at things we enjoy, but may not work nearly as hard on things that we don’t. Some of us are better at handling these challenges than others. Our work ethics largely influence and determine our experience with work, that does not align with our natural interests.
Our work ethics are an integral part of our character, bearing the imprints of our earliest and deepest influences and conditioning. They are acquired attitudes, imbibed in our learned and cultivated psychological habits.
Our work ethics belong to the world of the body-mind, and they offer a structure for us, to provide sustenance for them. Good work ethics are rooted in our value system, arising from the ingrained qualities of earnestness, integrity, our sense of fairness and a drive for making positive contributions.
Some people just sincerely work hard, at whatever they do. It does not matter what they are doing, they always try to do it to the best of their capabilities. More often than not, such people succeed in whatever they undertake, irrespective of their underlying talents or their natural inclinations. They simply attend to the needs of the moment, with the best of their abilities.
These doers slide down their invisible to do lists, moving swiftly from one chore to the next, conquering one task after another, with no procrastination or excuses! They go about their business with not a wasted second, not a stone left unturned. Meeting all challenges head on, they finish one job after another, with smoothly flowing ease. Always on top of things, doing everything promptly, usually finishing right on time, they move through their lives conquering whatever comes along!
Either relishing the contentment received from a timely completed job, or remaining indifferent to the fruits of their labour, these people reap the psychological benefits of their good work ethics. It is the doers of this world, with great work ethics, that have taken the human civilization to its current stage of technological advancement.
We all share the fruits of their labour, living our lives of comfort and ease, because many have toiled away their days, always enthusiastically doing, whatever was needed. All of us, without exception, owe gratitude for our numerous comforts and conveniences, to the diligent human attitude of sincerely, promptly, and persistently doing whatever needs to be done.
Many continue to work hard at their jobs and go through the daily grind and drudgery of seemingly boring work, to earn their living and contribute their time and efforts, towards improving the conditions for human society. There is dignity in labour, pride and contentment in an honest day’s work.
To all those active ‘doers’ out there, this discussion may appear superfluous, a topic beneath their consideration, not worthy of their time or attention. They just do what they must, there is no need to talk about it!
Our work ethics reflect our willingness to sincerely give, what needs to be given in any situation. Having appropriate work ethics in any circumstance, should not depend on specific interests or talents, because it is an attitude, with which we act and approach work, in every situation.
This attitude naturally springs from and correlates with, our inner wisdom and maturity. It is one of those attributes of human body-mind, which may be consciously cultivated, but also spontaneously blooms, when life is lived with an alert awareness and presence. Similar to the qualities of kindness, empathy, peace and happiness.
As a human body-mind, we suffer when we live a lopsided life, either ignoring the myriad practical necessities for the abstract spiritual world, to which we are strongly drawn- or by submerging ourselves completely in pursuit of the material success, ignoring the faint longing for a union with the unknown stirring in our depths.
The key is to find a balance, an appropriate middle path, between the outrageous demands of the modern social norms and our own authentic inner exploration. At least in the beginning, it may help to consciously and deliberately strike such an inner balance.
At some point in our spiritual journey, we ease into giving all our reigns to life itself. Trusting in its wisdom and compassion, we cease to strive or struggle. That is when the reality takes over, the oneness lives for us, releasing us of all our concerns, practical or otherwise!
Then, we are carried with its flow, there is no meticulous strenuous work, no duality remaining between outer and inner, the world and ourselves. We effortlessly live in the welcoming openness and perfection of our true nature.
From this stage on, our work ethics emerge spontaneously from our whole awareness and presence, the natural source and origin of all our actions. Outwardly, we may get a lot of work done, or nothing done at all, but we continue to remain aligned with the flow of life, in tune with the totality and reality of what is, renewed from moment to moment!
Comments
5 responses to “Work ethics and spirituality”
I have always been highly diligent at doing my own thing but employment by others amounts, in my mind, to simple slavery. Many have to work long hours for a very meagre reward and my heart goes out to them. For some 14 years I was very well remunerated in law and then finance. And loathed it. I do not loathe work as such but have always worked best alone and mercifully I have worked for myself since my early 30s
In different circumstances, born into a different “class” perhaps, I may well have followed a different path. But of course I shall never know.
I do not allow modern working practice any dignity. It is mostly a degrading waste of a life better spent elsewhere.
But of course work for the underdog has been a bitter and cruel undertaking ever since civilisation emerged.
Life as a hunter gatherer was no doubt a bestial affair. No noble savage, I think. But at least such people were free
Nonetheless, if our world was not spilt between obscene wealth for a tiny few and abject misery for a huge majority, more could enjoy their work and it could actually become a spiritual task.
I always think of “work” in a monastic garden, or tending forestry. Or an ancient craft of some sort.
I enjoy my “work” which largely involves writing computer algorithms for trading my own account in the financial markets.
But I despair at the misery countless millions have to put up with.
Few I suspect have the guts or determination to follow the stoic path.
And in my own case I freely admit that I would have opted out entirely if I had had to spend my life in an Indian coal mine or a sweat shop in China.
I find nothing glorious in work as such. Unless as you say it aligns with your interest and joys.
For the vast majority, that luxury is not afforded them. Sadly. It really is not a good world for most people I’m afraid.
Thank you for sharing your views! I completely agree with how you feel about work.
I have always felt that despite their financial struggles, people most happy from their work may be those who chose it because they just could not do anything else- like artists, musicians etc. for whom it is a deep calling. But everyone is not that fortunate!
I wrote this post because in my life I have struggled with this for a long time. I could never find happiness from work because it was never my real passion. But there are things that I have always loved to “do” that never developed into a profession, so I have always had to deal with this conflict. But I know some people who seem to be entirely free of such a conflict, and I have always wondered about the reason!
That is precisely my own experience and exactly why I feel so strongly about the matter
I have to say you know that I really do not believe in a work ethic. I was once living out in Hong Kong and a fund manager complained to me about the Philippine economy. The trouble was he said was that they were lazy. That all they had to do in their lush hot climate was to reach out and pick fruit from a tree.
And that is a bad thing? Do we all have to work in factories and down mines? do we all have to be slaves to materialism and the absurd and wasteful compulsion to consume?
I did not think so then and I have not changed my mind these past 30 years.
It may be that no one owes us a living but if the world’s resources were not owned by a small and greedy minority, if the world was not filled by violence and the desire for ever more, we could all just pick fruit off trees.
So, no, I do not have a work ethic.
As a cultural Christian (but on no account a believer) I often think about the communism (with a small c) of Jesus and his disciples.
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. “
You are right. A lot of our work culture is conditioned to serve and maintain the established social structures, finding a way out is perhaps possible for some, but very difficult for many. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to work at what they loved and enjoyed the most, but the current human society and our civilization is far from that stage. Thank you for sharing your experience!