I understand that mindfulness is an integral part of Buddhist practice. How can a lay person like me apply it in their work, be it in an office, a shop, a school, or any work environment? Also, since profit is the main reason for any profession, especially business, how can we relate to our jobs in a way where making profit can also be seen as a means of practice.
Seeking answers, Thimphu
Well, mindfulness can be practiced in many ways. In a formal context, for example, there is watching the breath in sitting meditation. However, if you are talking about mindfulness as a Buddhist practice, then it is important to understand that its purpose is not to make our worldly lives more comfortable, but to wake us up to reality.
So, what does this mean in practical terms? Well, usually we consider everything we see, hear, touch, and think as real, but if we analyze these things, we will realize that they are compounded phenomenon (something that is created from other things) and in this way are no more substantial than rainbows (composed of light and moisture) or mirages (composed of light, heat, moisture). As everything in the universe exists in this way, samsaric life is often described as an illusion or a dream.
Now, it is not the aim of Buddhist practice to make this fleeting dream comfortable, but to wake us up and so bring the dream to an end – or, to put it in Buddhist terms, to attain enlightenment. Does that mean, then, that nothing matters? No, although phenomena are insubstantial, we still need to work with them, because, in reality, that is all we have. However, our efforts should be aimed at waking us up, not helping us to slip further under the temporary blankets of illusion.
How do we apply this knowledge in a practical way? Well, when I trained in Buddhist monasteries in East Asia, our main practice was mindfulness. Basically, every time our minds would get distracted, we would bring them back to the present moment, and this totally changed the dynamics of all our activities. As an example, instead of washing dishes in the normal way, with our minds somewhere else and with the aim of finishing the chore as soon as possible, we would do so with our minds fully focused on the activity. In this way we were fully aware of each and every moment, noticing the weight of the plates, feeling the soap on our hands, and experiencing the temperature of the water. Furthermore, even though we were focused on the job we were doing, we were not blind to the world around us, but instead fully aware of our environment. In this respect, we would be mindful not to make a sound that would disturb others and would place the plates and cups on a rack in a way that would make it easy for the next person to pick up. In this way, a normally dull activity became something mind-transforming and dynamic.
Actually, every aspect of our lives can be approached in this way. When we work in an office, for example, we do each aspect of our work beautifully and with full awareness. In this respect, we write letters in a way that conveys our message clearly and politely. Furthermore, we ensure that we arrive on time and that we do not take extended lunch breaks or attend unnecessary meetings and workshops. Instead, we put full effort into each and every activity, with the aim of benefitting those who we are employed to serve. Basically, we are mindful at a micro and macro level – we ensure that each small job is done with full attention and, at the same time, we remain aware of the bigger situation.
However, merely done as a concentration endeavour, these activates are devoid of transcendental qualities, and so it is important to maintain awareness that the person who is doing the chore (us), the activity, and the receiver of our action are a compounded phenomenon and, in this way, no more real than figures and action in a dream. We should also be aware that the knower – the thing that is aware and can cognize – is our Buddha nature.
Finally, if you want to add a religious element to a work, at the end of the day, you can dedicate any merit from our work to the ultimate benefit of all beings. When we act in this way, we invite sacredness into the kitchen, into the office, and into our lives, and we transform our daily activities into something dynamic, cool, and as a means to develop merit and wisdom.
With regard to a business, it is important to approach our work with passion and not only think of profit. If we only think of the financial aspect of our business, we will find our daily routine stressful, boring, and a struggle. Of course, we need to make money, but job satisfaction, fulfilling a passion, and developing compassion and wisdom are more important.
From a worldly point of view, whatever we do in life it is to be satisfied, right? However, people in today’s society generally associate satisfaction only with wealth and status, but, in reality, this vision is bereft of inspiration and lacks courage. Even if money is your primary goal, you should think of it like the peak of a mountain. Now, if you only focus on the peak and rush towards it, the journey will be stressful and you are likely to stumble and fall. Instead, you should be mindful of each step. If you can approach your work in this way, you will enjoy the journey and, in reality, it then becomes irrelevant whether you reach the peak or not, because you will have already achieved your goal – to achieve satisfaction. Therefore, to gain all round benefits from your business, you should approach each activity like an artist placing his first strokes on a blank canvas – mindfully, elegantly, courageously, and with underlying wisdom.
Finally, I suggest that you employ people who need help to move forward with their lives, such as recovering addicts or youth from broken families. Helping others to regain their lives will give you far more satisfaction than an increased bank balance or multiple shopping trips to Bangkok.