John: Lately, have been contemplating a lot about swadharma, and the application of this knowledge to my own life.
Job wise, I manage large IT projects for a global company. Overall, it uses the skills that Ishvara has given me in leadership and people management to good effect and overall it is a good job – I am content with it. I apply the karma yoga attitude to the job and also have a good work-life balance.
Senior leaders within the organisation often tell me I could do more – which to them means climb the corporate leader. Recently, I was also approached by a head-hunter about a director level opportunity in a different company, it would be a promotion and most people would jump at it ! The role sounds ok, but at the same time I know it would involve considerably more responsibility and long hours, and knowing there is no joy in objects – ultimately won’t really be fulfilling. Plus, it is likely the work-life balance I currently have would be impacted.
My current lifestyle offers me the opportunity to focus on my love of Vedanta, and allows me to lead a simple sattvic lifestyle.
Coming back to swadharma – do I serve Ishvara by applying the leadership skills given to me and take on more senior positions ? or do I follow the swadharma of a mumukshu and be content with what I have, which I feel is my new Swadharma ? this is where I am stuck.
The teachings say we need to put moksha front and centre of our lives with a burning desire – this is one of the most important qualifications. Therefore, pursuing opportunities in the world of objects, does not qualify the mind.
I remember James saying to me, that after he spent two years with Swami Chinmayananda decisions such as job, value for money, relationships and even where he lived were simple ; if it didn’t support moksha he said no to them.
Any guidance would be appreciated 😉
Rory: I read your email with interest and my feeling is that you answered your own question. Your slight uncertainty comes down to a question of values. Specifically, what do you value most and what is your highest goal? According to the scriptures, life’s highest goal is moksa–liberation. It’s all that we can really ‘take with us’ from the mithya world, because moksa frees us of the imperative to keep ‘returning’ here in order to satiate the itch of the vasanas and play out the impetus of past karma. If you think about it, nothing worldly can lead us out of the world, it can only keep us bound to the world. You can spend a lifetime slaving away to amass wealth and success, but when you get to the end of your life find that all you’ve really amassed are vasanas for those things…vasanas that will only carry you to the next round of fun and games in samsara! This isn’t a problem in itself…unless you happen to be a mumukshu and realise that this setup isn’t the best way to go.
The mumukshu needs to fully assimilate the value of moksa. Often spiritual seekers have only a partially assimilated value for moksa. In other words, they know it’s important and a priority, but they have other competing vasanas, such as the desire for prestige and fortune, or for certain objects and experiences. Unclear values lead to unclear priorities, and a partially assimilated value for moksa that’s competing with values for worldly things will not likely win out.
It sounds to me like you’re already clear on the benefits of moksa. In Vivekachudamani, Shankara stresses that life’s greatest blessing is to have not only a human birth, but a good mind, good karma, the desire for freedom and access to the teaching and a teacher. This is life’s highest blessing because it’s the setup for moksa. Nothing in this world can lead us beyond the world, but Vedanta + a qualified mind + a teacher is all that’s needed to ‘bestow’ our birthright of freedom. Worldly joys are finite and always offset by sorrow, whereas moksa is an infinite and lasting joy because it’s based upon that which is infinite and lasting–our own ever-free, self-effulgent nature as awareness/consciousness. The realisation of this inherent freedom does not come easily to a mind habituated to worldly cravings and suffering. Indeed, applying Self-knowledge and re-educating the mind is pretty much a full time job.
As a householder, it sounds like you’re quite lucky in that your current job allows you to take care of your worldly duties and responsibilities while allowing you to keep a sattvic mind and to devote your spare time to Vedantic study and practice. That’s the ideal set up for a householder.
Of course, I’m well aware that conflicts can arise when we realise that our personal values aren’t reflected by the values of those around us. While Vedic culture recognised moksa as a legitimate goal–and, indeed, the highest goal of life–modern culture has absolutely no recognition of that. As a result, you’ll have to accept that your co-workers, bosses, and even family and friends may not understand or appreciate your values and priorities. Outside of the Vedanta sangha, you’re unlikely to have anyone pat you on the back and congratulate you on your commitment to karma yoga and moksa! More’s the pity. In my own life, I’ve experienced some flak from friends and family for my lack of worldly ambition. Admittedly, health challenges have also contributed, but I saw through the emptiness of worldly attainment at quite a young age, and as a result was never greatly enticed by the promise of fame and fortune. I had a burning desire for freedom, however, and that only grew and grew as the years went on. The funny thing is, moksa is often quite fatal to ambition, because you end up feel utterly satisfied with whatever you have in life. As long as your basic needs are met, and as long as you’re following the appropriate dharma, the need to strive and attain drops away, and you feel perfect contentment, satisfaction and fulfilment with even the most ‘meagre’ of things. They don’t warn you about that! But it’s rather wonderful. Contentment with what one has is one’s of life’s greatest riches. Just be aware that family and friends may not understand or share that contentment. We live in an avaricious, consumer/capitalist driven world, where ambition and greed is seen as the norm and anything less is suspect. But when you’re truly happy in yourself, the conflicting opinions of samsaris will no longer bother you.
In summary, I say be aware of your svadharma and your highest values. Let those guide in when making decisions. As a householder, you have worldly duties to take care of, but that should never be too much at the expense of your ultimate goal, moksa. Karma yoga plus an attitude of devotion and dedication to Vedanta will carry you far! Don’t let the samsaris pressure you into becoming one of them 🙂
John: So much wisdom in your response! You hit on a couple of key points for me. For the seeker of moksha, it can be a lonely place outside of interaction with teachers like yourself or attending satsangs. As such, the question I raised is seldom discussed ..in fact, I am often amazed at how many folk do not even reflect on their lives in basic ways.
It is almost a ‘corporate crime’ to admit you are not ambitious…often better to smile and just get on with one’s duty at work with the karma yoga attitude. …is my approach.
I guess the reason, I did have some confusion originally, is because the teachings say we should give to life and be of service to Isvara and as I have skills in management etc by not fully actualising these in the workplace, I was somehow not following my Swadharma and serving Isvara! After, I sent you my original email I reflected more and considered the situation does not necessarily need to be either/or, in that I can be of service in the workplace and ‘give back’ as long as one does so with the karma yoga attitude.
However, discrimination is key in this approach, because there will come a time, which it does for me were good results are noticed and folks will push me to take on more responsibility and as such pressure, with ultimately less time for studying and applying Self knowledge to my life ..so in my case, I keep my head low and let the other more ambitious folks reach and stretch for the dancing carrot. As you say, values are so important!
I too have found how very little interest these days in acquiring objects and even experiences, such as fancy holidays – what a relief!! As you say, it is a side effect of applying the teachings to one’s life – and it feels wholesome and great! In fact, besides occasional contact with close family and a few close friends I am quite happy to live a low profile lifestyle, it feels like a blessing.
Rory: I’m glad the response was of some help! I’m always delighted to help, just a little slow in responding, alas.
I agree, moksa can be a lonely pursuit without the presence of a sangha. The average person will find it ‘kooky’ at best. I’ll never forget meeting up with a friend I hadn’t seen for a number of years, and eventually he concluded “Oh, so you’re still into your Buddhist shit!”. It wasn’t Buddhist and it certainly wasn’t ‘shit’, but that’s about all it would amount to the regular Joe. I think I just smiled and said ‘sure am’. But no, most people don’t self-reflect very much at all. They just march on like clockwork toys, wound up to pursue specific aims, mainly relating to security, wealth and pleasure.
I can only imagine how the corporate culture would react to sattvic values! Qualities such as contentment and lack of ambition would most certainly be seen as heinous weakness of character! It doesn’t bear thinking about. Alas, rajasic and tamasic people have never had held the sattvic in any esteem whatsoever, unless perhaps there’s a way to exploit it for some gain. Your response is perfect, just smile, feign agreement and do the work with the karma yoga spirit. We can play the game while keeping the knowledge that it is in fact just a game.
The teachings do indeed state that we should live a life in service of Isvara. That’s where karma yoga comes in. With karma yoga, our every action, right down to cleaning our teeth and sweeping the floor can be an act of service, bearing in mind that the universe and environment is Isvara‘s body. Being able to use your work skills in a constructive and positive way is a wonderful opportunity for you to serve the Lord. The degree to which you do this, specifically in terms of workload etc, is a matter for your own discretion. Everything has an upside and a downside in maya, and it’s really a matter of seeing how these weigh in. If you feel you want to offer more in certain areas, and feel the benefits offset any downside, then that might be a good choice. Although, more isn’t always better. Again, for the inquirer, the inner work–worshipping Isvara by devoting time to our sadhana and inquiry–is no less important than the outer work. Sometimes we just need to be clear about that, and not be too upset when we realise that others with opposing values judge us harshly for what they see as missing opportunities or wasting our time. Always be clear on your goal, and allow your values to guide your priorities accordingly.
It’s wonderful that you’re already tasting the fruits of that Self-knowledge. As you say, it is the biggest relief imaginable when we start to wiggle free of the relentless push and pull of rajas and tamas and all those extroverting worldly vasanas. The greatest contentment is truly to be found within.
