Hare Krishna,
I am not a very advanced devotee, but have very strong beliefs in our scriptures. As of now, I am working with an IT firm. At times, I am confused with how to practically apply the points given in scriptures in real life and feel a bit of disconnection;
e.g. In the scriptures, it is said that we should work and have leisure activities moderately. However, I see in our industry, that people work like crazy hours working like anything. Now, if I go by the scriptures and just follow it, should it mean that I ignore however long hours my colleagues might be working, but I put efforts in a moderate way. The downside though according to me with that approach is there is automatic expectation from the manager to put in long hours because of comparision to other team mebers and somehow that would impact the annual performance/cycle.
Please let me know your suggestions how I can apply some of the points given in scriptures in today's world practically.
Thank you.
Replies
Hare Krishna,
Take a break from work when you feel overly tired and relax a bit. When working work so hard that you must give 100% involvement. And leave the results to Krishna.
Your collegues are working for appraisal from the boss * recognition and fame or want more salary or bonus.* They are work is basically result oriented.
You as a BG student should work for appraisal from BOSS ( KRISHNA). If i do faulty mediocre work will Krishna like it? WILL MY ANTARAATMA be happy with that work?
Like I told u before also --
You employ a kaam wali baai.. and she does work for the sake of salary. her working style doing work taking payment. She has no attachemnt no love for the work she is doing. She is just focussed on the money /hike in salary. She will accept duty in 10 houses. She will spare 30 min per house. You can see how fast they do.. the work. ( QUALITY OF WORK =0.. QUANTITY= 10 houses ). You ask her to clean the corners she will say-- uska extra paisa lagega. or she will say..- I don't have time.
Your wife on the other hand if she is free and does the same work-- She will clean every nook and corner of the house.. she will do all works with love. Because she feels it is her own responsiblitity her own family. Her own home. ( QUALITY OF WORK= 100% and QUANTITY = 1 house) + PLUS SHE ADDS FUN while doing her chores. ( she will put music and do activity with fun or maybe she will turn on bhajan and while humming .hare krishna.....hare krishnannnnnnnnnnnaa... may work and loads of love while she is doing to make her home clean.
There is a hell a lot of difference between her work and the kaamwali baai's work.
After cleaning the home she will even light up the diyas and pray to Krishna and put some flowers and make a bhog give aarti to Lord and than prepare food for you and her children with love.
This not done by the Kaamwali. Kaamwali baai does the same work.. But has no LOVE NO EMOTION IN IT.
When you do any work just FOR APPRAISAL from BOSS or for SALARY.. the WORK ITSELF FEELS A BURDEN. Thora overtime karo... ( will I get anything out of it?) will I get a raise??????????
, paisa is the motivating force for doing extra work for a Kaamwali baai and those collegues in your office.
WHEN YOU DO the work thinking it is your duty. You want to it perfectly giving 100% involvement the work is not a burden but it become fun. THat type of work Krishna loves ( SUPERSOUL UR ANTARAATMA IS SATISFIED) as you gave ur 100% and you are not thinking about the result or appraisal of someone.
Now u can see for urself.. You praise your wife or doesn't praise.. She does the cleaning of house thinking it is her house. She just enjoyed doing the activity by putting on music/bhajan and enjoyed and made it a fun activity and she finally puts diya and offers Krishna aarti and bhog with satisfaction that Oh my house is CLEAN now..... KRISHNA .. Please welcome to my Home.
Regardless of you getting hike or appraisal of your perfomance. You are working and giving ur 100%. Results will come as per Krishna's wish. But you work until...your antaratma is pleased. That become a sacrifice to Vishnu sitting in your heart.
Tell me simply.. When you go out to enjoy urself even when you are enjoying ( THAT IS ALSO A KARMA BY THE WAY) there also are you giving ur 100% in there?
In whatever you do you must give in 100% involvement.
Tann mann se involve hoke karna chahiye. THEN THE VISHNU the who is sitting in your heart is pleased. Tum apne hi kaam se santusht ho jaaoge. Koi tumhe praise karein na karein.. YOU will feel happy interanally that "I did this work" perfectly with contentment and self satisfaction.
If there is no love then don't do that work as simple as that.
Look at the great artists. They are enjoying their art and painting. What a messy art but still they are happy. They spent hours with colors and yet they don't get bored. It isn't a burden when you enjoy the work you do. If I give these guys an incentive for drawing something really beautiful and put a contest who will win will get a chocolate. Do you think these kids will enjoy the colors. They would be focussed on how to win the chocolate. How can I make the better painting than the other. Or let me pour some color on the other child's painting so that it is ruined and I get the chocolate. They are missing the enjoyement now. :-(
Hare Krishna
Hare Krsna
"Anyone who gives up prescribed duties as troublesome or out of fear of bodily discomfort is said to have renounced in the mode of passion. Such action never leads to the elevation of renunciation. "
Bhagavad-gita 18.8
Can you please provide reference for your statement that scriptures say one should work and have leisure activities moderately?
As far as application is concerned you are working in an IT firm, you are answerable to your boss. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed or work causes bondage in this world. That means you have to work for Visnu or Krsna while following the orders of your boss. It is not direct but your allegiance has changed within for mentally you are working for Krsna. This is the core principle.
yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam
Bhagavad-gita 9.27
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.
So, in the beginning one has to change his allegiance from working for illusory masters to working for Krsna. Then every word of Bhagavad-gita will light up your way.
Hari Bol
Hare Krsna
there is automatic expectation from the manager to put in long hours because of comparision
Initially I thought these were exceptions, but after hearing this issue from too many people, and facing such expectations I've realized this has become the new norm. Nothing much can be done in short term. Long term find a team with reasonable expectations.
how I can apply some of the points given in scriptures in today's world practically.
Start with applying most important reccomendations of scriptures.
1. Chanting Hare Krsna daily & hearing Krsna Katha at least on weekends
2. Offering food to Sri Krsna & eating Krsna Prasad
3. Offer results of our activities to Sri Krsna
Hare Krsna