Karma Yoga & Dream Big Concepts – Which is suitable to succeed?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhu, There are multiple perspectives in this world:
(1) The modern positive mindset philosophy says that one should be very positive and set his mind on his duties and goals and not get worried/fearful seeing the obstacles on the way, instead one should put faith, effort and hard work in achieving towards the target.
(2) The eastern philosophies , Hinduism, Buddhism etc. say that desire is the cause for suffering, so don’t desire too much in this world beyond the need to maintain the body and soul
(3) Srimad Bhagawat Geeta says if you are doing Krishna’s service then it is worth taking the efforts and sufferings on the path, it will purify you.
Actually all 3 philosophies seem to be correct. 3rd being the topmost. But in our day to day life decisions it becomes confusing as in which one to apply at which context. Because we don’t have Lord Shri Krishna with us to confirm what our service is and what is not, so sometimes we may over endeavor towards goals which are not my actual service, sometimes I may be lazy and not active in areas where I am supposed to put in more effort.
So how to resolve this confusion? (ideally a Guru can help, but with so many disciples, personal one to one guidance may be difficult these days). Please post it as anonymous”
REPLY:
You are confusing between the materialistic advices and spiritual advices about working.
Karma Yoga & Dream Big Concepts – both may look attractive, but Karma yoga is safe and elevating.
Serving Krishna does not mean deity service or temple service alone that are the direct services.
If all the people go for the direct service to Krishna, there will be no one to do other duties and hence the people can’t get food, shelter, etc.
Any permissible work or job can be done, but we should connect that work/ job to Krishna. That’s all.
(Remembering Krishna in a sensitive job. Alternative way! Tips! READ HERE!)
Connecting to Krishna does not require Krishna to be in person.
Krishna’s words are there in Bhagavad Gita. Just do according to His words in Gita. Enough.
Krishna advises us to dedicate the results of our actions to Him.
Dedicating the results can be done in many ways:
(i) Till I became a full time servant/ preacher, I was doing a business and was spending part of the earning for this preaching service. You too can do any permissible job or business and dedicate part of that earning for preaching or any other service for Krishna.
(ii) I was distributing Bhagavad Gita As It is and other books of Srila Prabhupada to the customers who visited my office when I was doing the business. You too can buy a set of Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatham, etc and distribute free of cost or for a subsidized price to the needy people.
(Managing devotion with the difficult jobs that occupy more time! READ HERE!)
(iii) You can donate part of your earning for the nearby temples, or those who are doing devotional services. For example, if you donate to ISKCON temple, that money will be used for preaching to hundreds of devotees and also for feeding them. You can also support the genuine devotional services done by the devotees like our preaching service.
(iv) You can donate for the construction of the new temples or renovations.
(v) You can also help the visually and mentally challenged persons because they can’t involve in sinful acts and also talk to them about following the worship of Krishna.
Thus, you can use part of your earning for Krishna in many ways.
If you sincerely like to serve Krishna, Krishna Himself will direct you properly in a subtle way and He Himself will show the sources to support using your earning, because He is within your heart only.
Next, about “Dream Big Concepts”:.
Both are the same.
Everyone should have a target to work and achieve. Otherwise, he can’t work at all.
(What are the jobs suitable to follow devotion also? READ HERE!)
If one is working in an I.T Company, he has the target of finishing a project within a particular period.
If one constructs a house he has to finish it within a certain period for stability.
Even bathing, brushing, eating, etc have targets of finishing within a certain period.
So, nothing can be done without a target.
So, fixing a target is not wrong. But, we should not expect that it should become successful at any cost.
(How to serve Krishna through our job or business of earning money? READ HERE!)
Aim for a target. Or, Dream big. No expenses to dream. Let it be just an option. If it is achieved, take it as the blessing of Krishna. If it is not achieved, take it as if Krishna has some other options.
Krishna also says that one should be stable in both the success and failures.
This means, expectation, ie, having a target is not wrong, but expecting only the success is wrong.
Attachment means expecting only the positives and getting broken during the negatives.
My parents, wife, children, etc should always be alive.
My business should always give profits only. Profit should keep on increasing, but should never decrease.
My children should score top rank only.
(Why a devotee needs a job or business though Krishna protects all? READ HERE!)
I should never face any problems in life.
These are a few examples for attachments. Just avoid these attachments and perform your naturally assigned duties as effectively as possible.
Apply your maximum skill in your job. Have an achievable target or dream.
For example, if you are a tailor, there will be a limit for the maximum number of pants and shirts that can be stitched in a particular day. Keep that optimum level of target.
If you set too much of targets, it may affect your physical and mental health.
Allot sufficient time for devotional practices and then plan for assigned duties to be done to maintain yourself.
While performing material assigned duties, chant in between and think Krishna.
As said above, use part of the earning for the service of Krishna.
That’s all we can do as a working devotee.
Hope you are clear about Karma Yoga & Dream Big Concepts and which is suitable to succeed in life.
More posts are there under the category “Devotion & Career”. A few links have been given in this Post itself.
(SERVING KRISHNA USING YOUR JOB/ CAREER – USEFUL TIPS! READ HERE!)