Wednesday 3 December 2008

Finding that dream job, having a passionate life

satnaam ji
dandauth bandhana ji
 
Some New Age Motivators say we need to find a job we are passionate about, then people reply they are still looking for something they were passionate about.  OK, some people will find that ideal job, but most people will not and will carry on being unsatisfied with their current situation.  Sai Baba said it best, "Its not about doing what you like, its about liking what you do."
 
If we accept that we are only going to get what we have sown in the past, and we also accept that wherever we are right now in life is the Hukam, the will of God, then the mind comes into contentment right away. And that is 90% of the battle.  The remaining 10% to peace of mind comes by understanding how to be passionate.    Most of us on a spiritual path are already very passionate about one thing and one thing only - attaining Union with the Truth.   When we are passionate about that, it doesn't mean we should then not do any thing else.  For many years I was passionate about going to the Gurdwara, doing seva (service) and simran (meditation).  But when it came to studying, going to work or starting a family, I just couldn't see the point.  I did it without any passion.   But with Baba Ji's blessing I have come to understand that the good things I learned in the Gurdwara were to be applied into every other aspect of my life.   So now with Guru's kindness, I have brought that passion of serving and living for others into my worklife and into my homelife.   Seeing work colleagues as my holy company (sangat) to serve, seeing work tasks and requests as being from my highest Boss, my Satguru.    And at home seeing household chores as service to the family sangat.  By keep the body in humble service and the mind on God wherever we are there is no duality of thinking some other job, or some other situation is better than where the Hukam has placed us right now.
 
Another point some New Age Motivators or religious groups make is that by following a certain techniques we can have whatever we want.   That there are tools that can help us destroy our self imposed limitations and make our dreams come true, to manifest our desires.  Once again, some people will get what they want, but most people wont.  Why?  Because again it comes down to what we have sown in the past.  We can only reap what we have sown. Law of Karma.   Not understanding Law of Karma means the mind will remain unhappy, will keep on feeling that we have failed or are inadequate because we are not living in our dream house, with our dream partner in our dream lifestyle.  Byron Katie summarised these techniques being sold to us as "You can have what you want."  Wereas she said what we really needed to do was "Want what you have."   It means accept that whatever we have right here, right now is absolutely the right thing for us.  This is our Guru's teaching also, to accept the Hukam, accept that what we have right now is God's will for us right now.  Then the mind is at peace.    Contentment in Truth, Sat Santokh, stabilizes the mind.  Then we can sit and meditate with one mind, one focus and escape from the hold maya (worldliness) has over us.  We can go into smadhee, deep meditation, and realise the objective of  our life on Earth.
 
So what will happen if we suddenly give up looking for a job we are passionate about, and we give up trying to have what we want?  Will our life stagnate?  Will we become poor and unfulfilled?  No, not at all.  What happens is we free our mind from "the grass is greener on the other side" mentality.   We stop complaining about the job or situation we are in.  We stop the downward mental spiral that drains us of our life energy, our inner amrit.  Instead, we wake up and become passionate about everything, because we see God in everything.  We work harder and more consistently in our work and home life.   We let go of all our wants and worldly desires and instead trust God-Guru to take care of everything.  We live in the moment by accepting the Hukam for us.  And when in a future moment an opportunity comes for us, we study or work for it as best we can. 
 
When we say to God that we now only live for doing Naam Simran, Seva and Bhagti (devitonal worship), then God-Guru will give us the worldly stabilty we need.  He will give us the opportunities to have all the material possesions, house, car, family, job and so on that we require in order to live a spiritual life.  And free us from chasing those dreams that can never come true for us because of what our karma has limited us to.
 
This is what it means in Gurbani whenever the Gurus have written that all their desires have been fulfilled and that whatever they have asked for has come true , eg "jo mangey takur apanay tay soee soee devay".   It means all spiritual dreams have been fulfilled and as a by product, all material needs (not wants and maya dreams), have been taken care of.   Satguru tumaray kaaja savaray ... The SatGuru takes care of all your tasks.
 
 
God Bless You
dust of your feet
Harjit
 

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