Buddha described Eight Factors on a path to liberation from greed , hatred, and ignorance. They were meant to encompass every aspect of our lives.
Right Livelihood is the third path factor of the three ethical factors of Right (harmonious) Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. I suppose that it may be the most overlooked factor of the Eightfold Path. When we are on retreat or attending a meditation session we don’t notice that we are supported by those who made the tea, organized the room etc. We also don’t pay attention to how many people support our lifestyle (remove the trash, deliver mail, transport our foods etc. and how we support others in our work life.
There is no question but that work can create stress in our lives. The wrong job, no job, not enough money from our job, are all stressors that may influence our peace of mind.
Perhaps we may believe that because we don’t have an “ideal“ job (in the helping professions for example) we may as well just give up on the entire path factor of Right (harmonious) livelihood. The fact is that most of us don’t have a job in the helping professions so how can we bring these jobs into the practice of right livelihood? Occupations listed as inherently causing harm to our self and other beings include, killing, selling sex, human beings, and poisons, as well as dealing in weapons. Occupations using deceit (lying) also are unskillful and cause suffering. So if we have eliminated these as a mode of employment then we are in a position to use our livelihood to move us along the path to wisdom, peace, and letting go.
How are we going to use our time at work? Can we give it meaning? And can our job add meaning to our life? Can our job (no matter what it is) be an expression of who we really are? Most of us may feel we don’t have the ideal job. So how do we work with this? Is there a way to transform the job internally while at the same time have the same external job we’ve always had? Yes there is. Most of us can internally transform our jobs to be aligned with the intention to practice loving-kindness. compassion, and letting go of greed, hatred and delusion. But we first must ask our self “What is it that I really do?
On a recent trip across northern India I had a Punjabi driver named Shri Ram. He was barely literate and while being a driver was far better than many jobs in India it was still quite low on the cultural scale of jobs in India. He liked his job because as he said to me “My job really is to keep you safe” He had inwardly transformed his job from a culturally outward menial job to inwardly being a job of keeping me safe. So I think we all can make this inquiry. “What is my job? What is it that I actually do? Does my job have as its result to allow people to have an enjoyable experience (i.e. waitress/waiter)? Does my job provide shelter to people (a builder or supplier)? Can you take a moment to make this inquiry?
Now let’s say you do have the ideal (or almost) ideal job. Have you found the trap in this scenario? The trap is that those who have the “ideal” job and especially those who are very proficient can be pulled into the trap of identifying with the job. “I am a _____” It’s a very slippery slope. We not only identify with the job but also with the rewards of the job. I deserve to be rewarded with — money, adulation, respect, etc. Our self worth then becomes intertwined with our job. This is a trap! It is an ego trap! And when we attach to anything we will suffer. Can we let go of the identification with our job. Can we simply do the job and appreciate and cherish its benefits without the ego making identification? This is our practice of Right Livelihood the fifth Path Factor of the Noble Eightfold Path. Ehi Pacceko (Pali for “come and see for yourself”).
May you be well, happy and peaceful, Floyd.
