Question : Recently I am applying for jobs. Unfortunately I am not able to link “WORKING” (i.e. getting a job) with Krishna. I tried many different analogies: like working to buy new clothes for Krishna, working to make food for Krishna, working to keep the home clean for Krishna…but I think that my husband’s earnings are enough to do these things. I grew up with a very strong academic background. My mind cannot even think of being a staying-at-home mom. But if I just try to get a job for my satisfaction, I am not at peace. My mind is only at peace when I can do things for Krishna.
So my question is, “How can I go to a job for Krishna? How can I offer the fruits of my job to Krishna?” I want to understand the “purpose of working for Krishna”. What does it mean? How do I implement it?
Answer by Romapada Swami :
There are different levels or stages of ‘working for Krishna’, or ‘karma yoga’ in the language of Bhagavad-Gita. An understanding of these different stages of yoga can help you identify how to implement it in your situation.
To be engaged 24 hours in direct devotional engagements (such as cooking for Krishna, decorating the Deities, cleansing the temple etc.) for Krishna’s pleasure is the highest stage of yoga. (yoginam api sarvesam BG 6.47) Artificially one cannot come to this stage; when one is purified, one feels completely satisfied to be engaged in whatever way Krishna wants (or His representative, the spiritual master wants). To come to this stage, Krishna recommends that in the beginning one execute varnashrama duties, and at the same time practice regulated sadhana bhakti.
Duty implies that it is prescribed by higher authority: the scriptures identify duties according to different natures of categories of persons, while spiritual master understands the nature and tendencies of a particular individual and thus prescribes work that they are most suited for, yet in a manner that will purify and elevate them. Although material duties by themselves are external and de-linked from Krishna, particularly so in the context of our modern technological society — yet when worldly duties are under the sanction and direction of scriptures and spiritual authorities, it becomes easy to connect these activities to Krishna.
Initially one is attached both to the work and the result i.e. one likes to do a particular type(s) of work, and wants to enjoy the fruits as well as the sense of accomplishment that comes from the work. In this stage, it is recommended to give a portion of the result to Krishna. This is called sakama karma-yoga. One may not be capable of directly engaging his wealth fully in Krishna’s service, therefore scriptures recommend, especially for householders, giving in charity to qualified saintly persons. Such bona fide sadhus are competent to expertly utilize everything for Krishna’s full satisfaction, and for the spiritual welfare of whole society. Thus up to 50% of one’s wealth may be offered for the spreading of sankirtana — this is a practical way of offering the fruits of your labor directly to the mission of Lord Krishna, and thus remembering Krishna as the proprietor and enjoyer of your work.
As far as the work at one’s job itself is concerned, one should execute the prescribed duties simply as a matter of duty, for purification. In other words, in this stage, *the purpose of working is purification*. While executing your duties, practice meditating as follows: “This duty is assigned to me by Guru and Krishna, and they are meant to be satisfied by this.” Try to bring to your work the principles of Bhagavad-Gita. Strive to act with transcendental qualities, minimally with the quality of goodness — being non-competitive, prideless, regulated, responsible, happy, peaceful, equal in success and failure, unattached to material gain or loss, etc. While striving in this way, you will be constantly forced to remember Krishna and His teachings, you will gain practical realizations of these teachings and feel purified of material attachments. Furthermore it will set a good example for others, by which they can begin to appreciate the practical relevance and potency of a Krishna conscious way of life.
By working in this consciousness, one is elevated to the next higher stage in the yoga ladder – nishkama karma yoga, in which one is detached from the results, and furthermore from the tendency for a particular type of work itself.
Please note the purport of Sri Brahma Samhita, verse 61. There you will find that joining occupational duties as well as ashrama-related duties with strong daily sadhana practices elevates the performance of these duties to the platform of ‘being as purifying as the direct processes of bhakti.’
It should be mentioned that generally such technical work is not the most ideal for one’s long-term spiritual progress; especially so for the spirit soul functioning in the role of a woman, for such work and its environment is not conducive to bring out their higher nature. There are indeed examples of devotee women with highly academic background and successful careers who have opted for more fulfilling devotional engagements as they progress in spiritual life, and you may also in future, in an environment or association that is more supportive for such engagements, come to feel naturally inspired and ready for such a step. But until such time you can work in this spirit of purification.
We have the example of none other than Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, who were circumstantially obliged to work for the Muslim Nawab, but they were constantly looking out for a better opportunity to serve Lord Caitanya’s mission. And while working, internally they nurtured deeper attachment for Krishna and externally did their duties in an exemplary manner. It was Srila Rupa Goswami who personally set the example by offering 50% of all his wealth to the brahmanas. You can derive inspiration from their examples.
