What if a devotee’s simplicity is not respected in his work place?
A male devotee (Name hidden on request) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhuji, i like your counselling very much on different subjects..I also need to get guidance from you on a matter. My name is ……. and i am working in a MNC in …….
My seniors in office tell me that i need to become like the person i am not currently. Like i need to show off on certain matters and make my presence feel to people around, and talk to people around office so that i get recognition and this helps in changing a perception on how they look and think about you. Also it would help in growing in the field i am working currently. But i am not a person like that, i go to office, perform my duty whatever assigned to me and come back home
I do not possess car to show off, i travel in metro, although i use professional attire, like shirt, trouser, but i generally dont use coats, jackets to show off. I use them only during important meetings. I simply dont understand why are people amazed by all these fake things and just appreciate the work you are doing. On the other hand we are learning in KC that we need to be simple so that we dont get attached to much to material world. Kindly provide your guidance on how can i maintain a balance and if i am required to play a double role of show off in office and simplicity outside office..Or can there be any other way out, or is it at all required..
Thankyou so much Prabhuji for your suggestions..Pls do not mention my name..Your Servant”
REPLY:
This is the problem faced by many devotees now a days.
We should see the purpose of any act and decide our appearance accordingly.
The purpose of going to the job and temple are different.
We wear simple dress while going to temples because the purpose of going to temple is to learn renounce the materials and adopt Krishna.
(What are the recommended colours of clothes to wear in temples? READ HERE!)
But, we go to the job to show our skills and give our service according to the needs of the company that pays huge salary for us.
You are not going to the company to renounce the materials. But, to show skills.
So, you should wear a cloth that is expected by your company.
We should not go to the temple like a professional; Similarly, you should not go to the company like a sanyasi. That simplicity is not respected.
Being simple is recommended. However, we have to consider the professional dressings as uniforms recommended by the companies.
(What to do when my parents criticize me for my appearance and devotion? READ HERE!)
Be like a professional in the work spot; Be like a devotee in the temple.
Simple.
If a police man says that he will come only in dhoti, the department will not accept it.
If a worker says that he will not wear company recommended uniforms, he will be punished for that.
If a school student says that he will not wear uniforms, he will be terminated from school.
Every company or office or institution has a right to recommend uniforms for its employees. We can not find fault in them.
(Why the dress codes for women though even the girls of vedic period were wearing skirts only? KNOW HERE!)
Similarly, if an employee is a marketing professional, he has to wear professional dresses with tie. If not, company will find faults in the employee.
Whether we agree or not, wearing recommended dresses is in accordance with the rules of the companies.
Devotion is related to consciousness. If we keep our consciousness as spiritual and Krishna oriented, the professional dresses make no issues.
And, a marketer or project head or call center executive or customer service executive MUST SPEAK MORE ABOUT HIS PRODUCTS. Otherwise, they can not do their job properly. And, the people or customers will give ears to the employees only if they are in professional dress in this kaliyuga.
In Tamil, there is a saying: “The person is half and his dress is the other half. That means, dress makes him complete for job.
If you take spiritual service (for understanding, it can be called as’ spiritual concept marketing’), if you speak with karmic dress, it invites low responses. Whereas, if you speak in a vaishnava dressings, the people eagerly give ears to your words. Thus, even spiritual service needs proper uniforms for good response.
(Scientific reasons to wear Saffron Colour dress by the renounced sanyasis? READ HERE!)
When Sri Caitanya maha Prabhu thought that he needs to take sanyasa if others should hear his words, he took sanyasa. After wearing the saffron clothes, he called it as ‘VESHA’ to preach the Lord’s names to the mass.
So, VESHA too is important and it varies from place to place.
We are doing material jobs to earn and take care of ourselves. No one can protect us till end unless we earn for ourselves. However, if we spend a part of our earnings for Krishna’s service, we make our material job as meaningful and spiritual.
So, my advice to you is:
Work efficiently as advised by the company since your company is legally permitted and not anti social. If you need to speak excessively or if you need to make some show off, bear it for 8 hours as a duty. Remember, simplicity is not respected in jobs that requires rich clothes. For example, a receptionist should wear a nice clothes that please the visitors. She can not remain in saffron.
Doing duty and coming back means, doing duty efficiently according to the expectations of the employer. Some times we have to joke. Some times we have to bear the excessive talks of customers or even their misbehaving nature like scolding, raising many doubts, etc.
(Why should the devotees be Simple and Pure in their daily life? READ HERE!)
Do ALL THE REQUIRED as a duty in an efficient way. Earn well. Then, come home and wear vaishnava dressings and follow devotion sincerely. Whenever you get a break during office hours, chant silently. If your company permits vaishnava symbols during work, wear them. If not, wear tilaks using water during job.
Follow devotion in home perfectly. During office, manage as required for the job though it seems unfit for you.
We should not cheat or kill anyone. Otherwise, we can perform our jobs as required by the employers. Nothing wrong in this colourful and artificial looking kaliyuga.
Do not forget to spend the part of your earnings for the service of Krishna. This will give you enough consolation and strength.
I too am following what I advised you above. So, I too am getting consolation and strength.
All the best.
(What if my company objects Vaishnava Symbols like Tilak, Sikha and Kanthi mala (Tualsi mala)? READ HERE!)