Work and Sadhana

[Guest guest]

Bhagavan shri Ramana has repeatedly said that work and sadhana are not

contradictory and the two can go along. However, in the quest of truth , it is

felt extreemely difficult in day to day practical life to maintain the levells

of awareness needed for self enquiry during the working hours. The hectic

schedules, stiff targets , travelling, meetings, late evenings at the office

and expectations of the family all these eat into the Sadhana time. Going

through all this with total indifference and without the sense of doership may

be possible at an advanced stage;but what does one do untill that levell of

maturity is achieved? One alternative could be to switch over to some small

time job just to keep two ends meeting ( It is expected that a sadhaka will not

have any expectations in the material world) or, if the finances are not a

problem, give up job altogether and plunge into the quest wholetime.

I am sure other sadhaks also go through this stage. Would appreciate sharing of

experiences and advise on this

Yours in Bhagavan

 

Sidhartha Dalakoti

[Guest guest]

Dear Shri Sidhartha,

 

you wrote: > Bhagavan Shri Ramana has repeatedly said that work and sadhana are

not contradictory

and the two

> can go along. However, in the quest of truth , it is felt extreemely

difficult in day to day

> practical life to maintain the levells of awareness needed for self enquiry

during the working

> hours.

 

My experience and observation is that most people find this to be the case .I

find it is better

not to strain or be over concerned about this or one loses and wastes the

necessary energy for

Enquiry. If I keep cool , then when awarenss and the wish to enquire

spontaneously arise through

grace ,then I do so without 'worrying' about lapses.

The desire for liberation and a satvic mind will bring about more opportunities

for Enquiry until

it becomes second nature.

 

 

The hectic schedules, stiff targets , travelling, meetings, late evenings at

the office

> and expectations of the family all these eat into the Sadhana time. Going

through all this with

> total indifference and without the sense of doership may be possible at an

advanced stage;but

> what does one do untill that levell of maturity is achieved? One alternative

could be to switch

> over to some small time job just to keep two ends meeting ( It is expected

that a sadhaka will

> not have any expectations in the material world) or, if the finances are not a

problem, give up

> job altogether and plunge into the quest wholetime.

 

 

There is no need to make drastic changes outwardly from the 'mind' which may

hurt the family.If

the quest is truly earnest the Self will guide , and any necessary changes

inwardly and outwardly

will happen without forcing.

If one

acts the part you are ordained to act as if on the Stage like a good Karma

Yogi,unidentified with

the mind as much as possible , energy will not be wasted , and enquiry will

proceed with the

energy saved.

 

 

> I am sure other sadhaks also go through this stage. Would appreciate sharing

of experiences and

> advise on this

 

This is my practice and I am sure others will offer their advice based on their

own experience so

you will have some helpful feedback.

>

> Regard and very best wishes in Bhagavan's Grace

 

Alan

>

 

=====

alan

 

 

 

 

 

_________

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[Guest guest]

Dear Sidhartha,

 

 

--- Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote:

> Dear Shri Sidhartha,

>

> you wrote: > Bhagavan Shri Ramana has repeatedly

> said that work and sadhana are not contradictory

> and the two

> > can go along. However, in the quest of truth , it

> is felt extreemely difficult in day to day

> > practical life to maintain the levells of

> awareness needed for self enquiry during the working

> > hours.

>

> My experience and observation is that most people

> find this to be the case .I find it is better

> not to strain or be over concerned about this or one

> loses and wastes the necessary energy for

> Enquiry. If I keep cool , then when awarenss and the

> wish to enquire spontaneously arise through

> grace ,then I do so without 'worrying' about lapses.

>

> The desire for liberation and a satvic mind will

> bring about more opportunities for Enquiry until

> it becomes second nature.

>

>

> The hectic schedules, stiff targets , travelling,

> meetings, late evenings at the office

> > and expectations of the family all these eat into

> the Sadhana time. Going through all this with

> > total indifference and without the sense of

> doership may be possible at an advanced stage;but

> > what does one do untill that levell of maturity is

> achieved?

 

Try to establish some regular sadhana no matter how

brief. Even if one takes just a few short moments for

sadhana at approximately the same time every day, they

will find the practice growing on its own and as it

will.

 

> > One alternative could be to switch

> > over to some small time job just to keep two ends

> meeting ( It is expected that a sadhaka will

> > not have any expectations in the material world)

> or, if the finances are not a problem, give up

> > job altogether and plunge into the quest

> wholetime.

 

Many years ago, when I decided to somehow perform

sadhana during all my waking hours, I was fortunate to

have a very simple job that didn't require much mental

involvement. I would recommend a simple job to the

serious aspirant; but as you have family concerns, it

may not be that easy for you to change jobs.

 

> There is no need to make drastic changes outwardly

> from the 'mind' which may hurt the family.If

> the quest is truly earnest the Self will guide , and

> any necessary changes inwardly and outwardly

> will happen without forcing.

> If one

> acts the part you are ordained to act as if on the

> Stage like a good Karma Yogi,unidentified with

> the mind as much as possible , energy will not be

> wasted , and enquiry will proceed with the

> energy saved.

 

Some wise sadhus recommend that the householder should

retreat into solitude occasionally in order to make a

more concentrated effort. This can be helpful; but

one should not neglect the welfare of one's own

family.

 

Regards,

 

michael

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sidhartha,

Alan and Michael have already given you some good advice. Two of these

are especially useful because you can plan them into your

schedule:

Set a regular time aside, even if brief, each day;

Have occasional retreats during the year.

To the scheduled-times category, I would add: If you have any

private time at lunch, quietly practice for a few minutes. It's a

nice way to get centered in the middle of the day. I have a digital

picture of Bhagavan on my computer at work. When I take a lunch break, my

office door closes, I bring up that picture, have a little guru bhakti,

practice Self-abidance for a few minutes, then I eat lunch in Bhagavan's

presence. :-)

Now, let's talk about the unscheduled, more spontaneous opportunities for

practice. I'm an engineer, so I have to be very active mentally during

most of the day. However, there are little, naturally occurring breaks

that are just wonderful for practice. During the day, look for

transitions when you are going from one thing to the next: waking up

in the mornings or going to bed at night; walking from one meeting to

another; driving from one place to another, grabbing a quick bite to eat,

taking a restroom break, etc. Use these little transitions as a way to

break the stream of thought. Often times, we just let our minds wander

during these little transitions and lose valuable opportunities for

practice. See if you can identify them during the day.

Simplify your life as much as you can. Society tells us we should

want and do so many things. Most of it is not necessary. My wife and I

agreed to put the TV in a closet years ago, only bringing it out to watch

an occasional movie. I listen to the radio for about 10 minutes a day

just to get the news; only play devotional kirtan or chanting music, and

that fairly infrequently; and I read mostly spiritual literature when

there's time to read.

And finally, try to have some satsang with like-minded friends

whenever you can. Spending time with spiritual friends can be a

wonderful aid in promoting our spiritual growth. If one doesn't exist in

your community, you may want to think about creating a satsang group

which meets every once in a while. For example, on special holy days--or

even once a month--for a little meditation, reading and a perhaps a

meal.

Jai Bhagavan,

David

[Guest guest]

Dear Sidhartha, David and everyone,

 

--- David McEwen <David.McEwen wrote:

 

 

Namaste Sidhartha,

 

Alan and Michael have already given you some good

advice. Two of theseare especially useful because you

can plan them into yourschedule:

 

Set a regular time aside, even if brief, each day;

Have occasional retreats during the year.

 

To the scheduled-times category, I would add: If you

have anyprivate time at lunch, quietly practice for a

few minutes. It's anice way to get centered in the

middle of the day. I have a digitalpicture of Bhagavan

on my computer at work. When I take a lunch break,

myoffice door closes, I bring up that picture, have a

little guru bhakti,practice Self-abidance for a few

minutes, then I eat lunch in Bhagavan'spresence. :-)

 

Dear Sidhartha, David and everyone,

 

To add just a little to the discussion, and hopefully

without offending anyone's sensibilities I would like

to say that one of the things that I have always

admired about Islam is the "call to prayer". As I'm

sure you know, the devout Muslim is to stop their

activities five times a day and pray. This is a

wonderful practice because it keeps bringing the

devotees mind back to Allah. Using a techinque such

as this is an excellent tool to help return one's

attention to the source.

 

I know a Swami who was interviewing a business man one

day. It was a long interview. The man's watch would

beep from time to time. The Swami told me that he,

the Swami, became a bit "irritated" by this. So the

Swami asked the man, "Why do your let your watch beep

so often?" The man said, "I do that on purpose so

that when the watch beeps it reminds me to focus my

thoughts on my ishta devata. The Swami was much

impressed by this.

 

So there may be any number of ways to return one's

mind to enquiry, or abidance, etc. But in between, if

there is an in between for you, if you are engaged in

your worthwhile duties, and your mind does not bother

you, then do not worry about what the mind was doing

while you weren't noticing.

 

michael

 

SNIP

[Guest guest]

SORRY!!!!!

 

Everyone:

The format of this post leads to ambiguity and

confusion. I don't know how it happened that way.

Since I posted it let me try to clarify who wrote

what. :-) This is just an attempt. ;-)

 

 

--- Michael Bowes <rmichaelbowes wrote:

> Dear Sidhartha, David and everyone,

>

> --- David McEwen <David.McEwen

> wrote:

>

>

> Namaste Sidhartha,

> DAVID WROTE THE FOLLOWING:

> Alan and Michael have already given you some good

> advice. Two of theseare especially useful because

> you

> can plan them into yourschedule:

>

> Set a regular time aside, even if brief, each day;

> Have occasional retreats during the year.

>

> To the scheduled-times category, I would add: If you

> have anyprivate time at lunch, quietly practice for

> a

> few minutes. It's anice way to get centered in the

> middle of the day. I have a digitalpicture of

> Bhagavan

> on my computer at work. When I take a lunch break,

> myoffice door closes, I bring up that picture, have

> a

> little guru bhakti,practice Self-abidance for a few

> minutes, then I eat lunch in Bhagavan'spresence. :-)

 

 

MICHAEL B WRITES:

> Dear Sidhartha, David and everyone,

>

> To add just a little to the discussion, and

> hopefully

> without offending anyone's sensibilities I would

> like

> to say that one of the things that I have always

> admired about Islam is the "call to prayer". As I'm

> sure you know, the devout Muslim is to stop their

> activities five times a day and pray. This is a

> wonderful practice because it keeps bringing the

> devotees mind back to Allah. Using a techinque such

> as this is an excellent tool to help return one's

> attention to the source.

>

> I know a Swami who was interviewing a business man

> one

> day. It was a long interview. The man's watch

> would

> beep from time to time. The Swami told me that he,

> the Swami, became a bit "irritated" by this. So the

> Swami asked the man, "Why do your let your watch

> beep

> so often?" The man said, "I do that on purpose so

> that when the watch beeps it reminds me to focus my

> thoughts on my ishta devata. The Swami was much

> impressed by this.

>

> So there may be any number of ways to return one's

> mind to enquiry, or abidance, etc. But in between,

> if

> there is an in between for you, if you are engaged

> in

> your worthwhile duties, and your mind does not

> bother

> you, then do not worry about what the mind was doing

> while you weren't noticing.

>

> michael

>

> SNIP

>