Here are some very useful definitions I got from your article:
Work: Any activity or occupation that is consistent with the principles of Dharma, allows an individual to express their true nature (svarupa), and serves God through their unique psycho-physical qualities, emphasizing quality over quantity.
Meaningful work: Work that is determined by an individual's svadharma (inherent duties) rather than economic factors, providing an opportunity for self-realization, spiritual growth, and service to the Supreme. The individual's work is an expression of their soul.
Employment on the other hand is simply the act of having a job for economic reasons. It prioritizes quantity over quality and views individuals as statistics/cogs in the system rather than as souls.
In traditional societies, work was determined by one's inherent qualities and purpose in life (varṇa/dharma). It facilitated self-realization and service to God but now work serves as a means to an economic end only.
What small changes could people make in their daily lives to bring more spirituality and meaning into their work?
If one realizes they are in the wrong line of work and would better be spiritually suited to something else, how would they go about making that transition?
What indicators could be used instead of purely economic metrics like GDP to measure societal well-being?
Also, I don't believe you mentioned non-profit organizations but could you touch on that? I sometimes read from others that some non-profits offer a more meaningful work experience compared to, say, a corporate for-profit structure.
First, let me say thank you for your questions. The definitions you provide are very useful, and absolutely the meaning I am attempting to impart in this article.
"What small changes could people make in their daily lives to bring more spirituality and meaning into their work?" - my answer to this is to attempt to bring a single-mindedness to ones work, as far as possible in the modern word. In doing this, we remove the false ego, and allow devotion to be the presiding mood over our work. Then we cultivate the mindset of doing the work perfectly and for Sriman Narayana (for God). How do we do this? We do this by giving the results of the work to God, not expecting recognition or some material or spiritual "payback". This is the pinnacle of renunciation. I would recommend making time in the diary to stop working and perform mantras. This helps us bring the mind back to Sriman Narayana, and contextualises the day. One can also do things like change the computer desktop background to a devotional image. ALl of this needs to be balanced with the realities of the word-a-day world of modernity, where we find ourselves divided across tasks. I personally prefer to remove distractions, and I will go so far as to silence all notification when I am working on a task.
"If one realizes they are in the wrong line of work and would better be spiritually suited to something else, how would they go about making that transition?" This is an excellent question. My guru has taught that if one is working in a job that is unsuited to one's dharma, or is just adharmic (let's say a dharmi is working in an abattoir), then the transition should be made slowly and intelligently. We should not just give up our work and leave ourselves without an income. Instead, strategise your way into a more suitable work. Know what it is you want to do. Make a strategy for up-skilling or re-skilling.
"What indicators could be used instead of purely economic metrics like GDP to measure societal well-being?" - This is a difficult question for me to answer. In general, I would argue against the Rule of Quantity. Measurements and statistics are impersonal means of understanding the state of affairs in a heartless, depersonalised world where economies of scale are more important than the individual.
"Also, I don't believe you mentioned non-profit organizations but could you touch on that?" - NGOs and non-profit organizations are incredibly difficult to contain in one group or category. One should look at what the Non-Profit seeks to achieve and the means that are used to achieve it. Some NGOs and so-called Non-Profits are fronts for extremely adharmic political movements. In terms of the work itself, so long as it is not adharmic, then I believe it is worthwhile. But one should always review their material needs. Though the point of our work is not financial gain alone, ideally the work we do should provide the material means to take of the material necessities, such as care for family, etc. This in keeping with the varna-ashrama system. The work is itself a means to cultivate God-consciousness, but also to provide the material means that enable a person to be comfortable enough to focus on that. Sadly, modernity keeps us thinking about money alone, and it achieves this through debt and unfair taxation.
Here are some very useful definitions I got from your article:
Work: Any activity or occupation that is consistent with the principles of Dharma, allows an individual to express their true nature (svarupa), and serves God through their unique psycho-physical qualities, emphasizing quality over quantity.
Meaningful work: Work that is determined by an individual's svadharma (inherent duties) rather than economic factors, providing an opportunity for self-realization, spiritual growth, and service to the Supreme. The individual's work is an expression of their soul.
Employment on the other hand is simply the act of having a job for economic reasons. It prioritizes quantity over quality and views individuals as statistics/cogs in the system rather than as souls.
In traditional societies, work was determined by one's inherent qualities and purpose in life (varṇa/dharma). It facilitated self-realization and service to God but now work serves as a means to an economic end only.
What small changes could people make in their daily lives to bring more spirituality and meaning into their work?
If one realizes they are in the wrong line of work and would better be spiritually suited to something else, how would they go about making that transition?
What indicators could be used instead of purely economic metrics like GDP to measure societal well-being?
Also, I don't believe you mentioned non-profit organizations but could you touch on that? I sometimes read from others that some non-profits offer a more meaningful work experience compared to, say, a corporate for-profit structure.
Namaste Les Fleurs.
First, let me say thank you for your questions. The definitions you provide are very useful, and absolutely the meaning I am attempting to impart in this article.
"What small changes could people make in their daily lives to bring more spirituality and meaning into their work?" - my answer to this is to attempt to bring a single-mindedness to ones work, as far as possible in the modern word. In doing this, we remove the false ego, and allow devotion to be the presiding mood over our work. Then we cultivate the mindset of doing the work perfectly and for Sriman Narayana (for God). How do we do this? We do this by giving the results of the work to God, not expecting recognition or some material or spiritual "payback". This is the pinnacle of renunciation. I would recommend making time in the diary to stop working and perform mantras. This helps us bring the mind back to Sriman Narayana, and contextualises the day. One can also do things like change the computer desktop background to a devotional image. ALl of this needs to be balanced with the realities of the word-a-day world of modernity, where we find ourselves divided across tasks. I personally prefer to remove distractions, and I will go so far as to silence all notification when I am working on a task.
"If one realizes they are in the wrong line of work and would better be spiritually suited to something else, how would they go about making that transition?" This is an excellent question. My guru has taught that if one is working in a job that is unsuited to one's dharma, or is just adharmic (let's say a dharmi is working in an abattoir), then the transition should be made slowly and intelligently. We should not just give up our work and leave ourselves without an income. Instead, strategise your way into a more suitable work. Know what it is you want to do. Make a strategy for up-skilling or re-skilling.
"What indicators could be used instead of purely economic metrics like GDP to measure societal well-being?" - This is a difficult question for me to answer. In general, I would argue against the Rule of Quantity. Measurements and statistics are impersonal means of understanding the state of affairs in a heartless, depersonalised world where economies of scale are more important than the individual.
"Also, I don't believe you mentioned non-profit organizations but could you touch on that?" - NGOs and non-profit organizations are incredibly difficult to contain in one group or category. One should look at what the Non-Profit seeks to achieve and the means that are used to achieve it. Some NGOs and so-called Non-Profits are fronts for extremely adharmic political movements. In terms of the work itself, so long as it is not adharmic, then I believe it is worthwhile. But one should always review their material needs. Though the point of our work is not financial gain alone, ideally the work we do should provide the material means to take of the material necessities, such as care for family, etc. This in keeping with the varna-ashrama system. The work is itself a means to cultivate God-consciousness, but also to provide the material means that enable a person to be comfortable enough to focus on that. Sadly, modernity keeps us thinking about money alone, and it achieves this through debt and unfair taxation.
Thank you again for your questions. Namaste.