Hi Ricshastra and All:
Thank you for chiming in here.
It has been nearly 7 years since the above introduction to the then new "Yoga, Career and Money" forum category was written. Since then, there have been many informative and often heart-felt discussions here about the challenges of making a living while on the spiritual path.
As you may have noticed, the aforementioned AYP book on "Yoga and Money" was not written. Instead, the "Bhakti and Karma Yoga" book came out in 2008, which is in line with the focus of the Enlightenment Series on spiritual practices and their practical benefits in daily living. Among other things, it covers our spiritual development in relation to work, family, and whatever role we find ourselves in the world. But it does not address the practical aspects of making money. I'm not sure any yoga book could and still be about yoga, though many have tried.
The mystery and seeming contradiction of making a living while on the spiritual path continues for many. It is as much a mystery to those of financial means (often over-committed in work) as it is for those who are challenged to pay the bills each month. What is the answer?
Yes, "dharma" means our most spiritually evolutionary activity. However, it occurs to me that "what we do for a living" is not primarily what dharma is about. Rather, it is our
relation to what we are doing that determines whether our means of making a living is compatible with our spiritual path or not.
If we stand in judgement of our work as being "spiritual" enough or not, it is not likely that we will be in dharma as long as we are identifying with our external circumstances in that way. On the other hand, if we are living in the flow as abiding inner silence, then any sort of work will be in dharma for us, even the same job we may have previously been judging as "non-spiritual." In other words, it is not the work that determines our dharma. It is our relationship to it, in stillness.
This is the whole point of meditation, to bring us to a level of abiding inner silence (witness), so our perception of the world (and our work) will be evolutionary rather than in discord. Simply changing our job or surroundings is not a permanent solution, because we take ourselves wherever we go.
On the other hand, we all have to make practical career decisions, and that we should continue to do for the betterment of our circumstances, and to fulfill our responsibilities to our family. But the yoga (and dharma) of it will always be in us, not in the job.
For example, consider washing dishes. If we wash the dishes after a family meal it can be a chore, or it can be yoga, depending on our point of view. If we do it as an obligation, expecting something in return, it is a chore. If we do it to help our spouse and family, expecting nothing in return, then it is yoga (karma yoga). Same act, different relationship to it. In Zen they would say, "Before enlightenment, wash dishes. After enlightenment, wash dishes."
Either way, the dishes must be done. Likewise, the bills have to be paid.
So it is the same with our job. We can view it as an unpleasant chore, or as a service we are doing. It all depends on our inner condition, and the degree to which we are identified with and judging the job.
Of course there are hundreds of variables in any job. Do our natural abilities fit in? It can be unpleasant if they don't, so it is good to do something we have some ability for. Are we able to have fun doing it? Does it pay enough to support us? Are the hours reasonable, leaving time for practices and other things we like to do? Are there opportunities to grow in the job according to our interests? There are many factors that may keep us on that job, or lead us away from it. All of that is more on the level of practical decision-making. While yoga cannot directly answer all of those questions, it can provide us the inner capacity to navigate through it better. The dharma is in the spiritual navigation, not in the job itself.
So, if we think working for a charity or living in an ashram would be better than working in the current job we have, maybe we should think again. There is no doubt that our path is where we are right now, and giving us exactly the nudges (and pokes) we need. What are we doing in our present situation? Hopefully looking for the next incremental step. Going from our present job and responsibilities straight to the Himalayas, while not impossible, is less likely to be dharma than finding the next incremental career step in stillness right here where we are.
On the other hand, it is normal to be casting about exploring diverse options early in our work career, and also on our spiritual path. Sooner or later we find our groove. Each step we take is a precious opening in dharma. It is all to be honored.
The guru is in you.