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buddhist jobs?
Hi guys
I was wondering what buddhist jobs are out there (with regards to earning a living). The only one i know of is Chaplin.
I was wondering what buddhist jobs are out there (with regards to earning a living). The only one i know of is Chaplin.
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there are a lot more.
you can work for a dharma center, or other sangha organization or you can train at a university and teach.
There are more and more opportunities out there for those of us who work for the dharma.
Outside of that, any job has the potential to be a 'Buddhist' job. The intention you have in performing that work, and being mindful of it, is at least as important as the work itself. For example, a supermarket shelf-filler may see their role as cherishing others by providing them with access to food, and the service they give to customers may be seen as a way of reducing the suffering of people like me who have a totally unreasonable dislike of shopping there.
I can see where you are coming from.
Do we refuse a job which is directly connected with slaughter, or do we refuse to work for the company altogether on the grounds that it is engaged in creating and satisfying a market which leads to slaughter?
I would say that as long as you are not personally supporting that slaughter through handling or selling the products, you are OK. As Shenpen Nagwa says, fruit and veg should be OK.
I have had a similar situation at work when I was asked to act as a management consultant for a meat supplier. I refused and lost my job.
So, in the scenario I created, I would refuse to stack shelves in any area which sold the products of slaughter, fishing etc.
Likely outcome - sacked! LOL
It was just a simple example - shelf stacking. Yet even here we can see moral dilemmas . I guess the best apporach is to avoid jobs which may lead to compromising any vows or even preferences we may hold as Buddhists.
There not much that can be done.
Just about everything in a supermarket, when you look at it involves the use of killing animals; even the transportation of goods since I believe in tyre rubber there's animal products in there.
And what about vegetables? With modern farming techniques a lot of animals and bugs will be killed growing them when you consider pesticides and machinery used. Paper? Well trees will be cut down to produce packaging and bugs will be killed in the process.
So, how do you guys get around that, or is it a pragmatic attitude that you adopt where you try to avoid hurting other creatures where-ever reasonably practical?
I mean, let's face it, it's going to be next to impossible to live without some indirect cause of harm to some living creature; even if the link is a bit tenuous.
Personally, I love animals; even the not so cute ones. I've been a vegetarian on moral grounds long before I had any thoughts of Buddhism.
Plenty here on other threads about the difference between accidental killing and intentional killing, but it's a bit off-topic here.
The topic is Buddhist 'jobs' so I cited the occupations that the 8FP advises us to avoid. Like you, I was vegetarian before I was a Buddhist. I just try to live by causing the least harm to other beings I can, whilst recognising that it is impossible to be alive and harm none.
Pretty much you cant walk without killing something...:(
Intention is a very important thing.
But it's more than what you do work a living, it's how your work can be an expression of your Buddhist practise.
For example, I try to be patient and compassionate when dealing with people who aren't as computer literate as myself.
I can recommend a good book called Mindfulness and Meaningful Work: Exporations in Rght Livelihood, published by Parallax Press. It's a collection of writings, with titles such as To Work is to Pray, Coping with Change and Right Living in a Consumer Society.
I'm actually studying psychology. Everyday I find more and more links to the Buddhist teachings. I specially recomend Ken Wilber. It's simply great!
I believe psychotherapy it's a fantastic way to help others.
Basically atm I am a course leader in a further education college, in which we teach Film and Media studies and production, and i planned to eventually work in a university teaching Film studies (hence why i am doing a PhD). But more and more I am asking myself - why is this subject important? My husband says it awakens people to the control methods of the film industry and makes people more active audiences members, and also that my helping them get a degree is helping them get a better future (ideally, but looking at the job market for graduates, I am worried).
I just dont feel like I am helping people enough in my job, and would like something a little more linked to the dharma. But yes you are right, its all about perspective. I could imagine all the students as the buddha and see me serving them... oh i dont know!
Much of IT is stunningly profligate with electricity. It depends what you're doing, though.
I guess you have to ask how you may best use those skills to benefit other beings. IMHO the media are incredibly powerful - and there's every chance to use them to inform others about humanitarian and ecological issues. You are also directly helping your students, who in themselves may be of great benefit.
I used to be Assistant Principal (Director of Marketing) for an FE College and often wodnered what the hell I was doing it for - until you see the young people blossom and become of benefit to society in all sorts of ways.
If you want something a little more direct, why not seek funding for some short films about issues which you feel may be in line with your Buddhism?
Maybe people like the British Council (for overseas links and joint projects with schools and colleges in, maybe, India) or DFID for funding of projects related to International Development. I've also taken groups of students to India on exchanges - great material there for film and for working together across the web!
Both organisations have regional reps who can direct you, and your County may have someone who does this for schools who you could talk to and maybe 'piggy back' on one of their projects. Such projects could be for you, or even better they could be for your students. If you have no time - ask your Marketing department to find out!
Failing all that, why not choose charities you would like to support and seek ways to work with them, or even for them. You don't have to quit your job to make it more 'Buddhist'.
There are moments when I second guess the job, like the fact so many people are always plugged into their tv's, the internet, etc but at the same time, I don't feel bad about myself when I go home at the end of the day. I've had customers tell me "sorry you had to come out in this snowstorm but you've made this old woman very happy". That makes it all worth it.
Emma, you might want to check publications like Tricycle or the Shambhala Sun. They do sometimes list jobs at Dharma centers and things like that, although as others have pointed out, there are lots of other options where you can do good for people (or animals). I know we're always looking for people to work out at our animal rescue facility, Tara's Babies, in Arizona (way out in the boonies). They pay is low, the work is hard, but it's a great place, and you'd be helping out some wonderful doggies! Probably a bit more than you're looking for though!
Palzang
Thanks Palzang:D
OH if I could actually INSIGHTFUL and AWESOME the same post...I'm not a vegetarian though, but I love the choice of being one and understanding that just in being alive we cause other beings to suffer. Great post @tosh.
Start with the list of jobs you can choose from. We are constrained somewhat by reality. In a one company town, you might not get a lot of choice. Not everyone gets to interview for a dozen jobs. Not everyone can change their human capital & skills upon becoming a Buddhist. So of those, pick the one that fits your Buddhist ethics the best.
If it doesn't fit Buddhist ethics very well, take a job that you suspect someone else is going to do anyhow and apply Buddhist practice and ethics in your job to minimize the harm you do to yourself and the rest of the world. An example would be jobs in national defense-- those jobs aren't going away.
The world economy is big, it can absorb another person in some virtuous field and that person will rack up the merit points. But some work has to be done by someone-- when the music stops and everyone takes a seat at their job, if you're in a typical morally mixed job, or some job is the only one you can get, apply Buddhist ethics in your job.
If the right livelihood is only a restriction on not doing a few jobs that no one wants to do anyhow, then the rule is stupid. (i.e. no dealing in poison comes down to how you feel about organic farming, no working in butchering animals comes down to how you feel about vegetarianism and karma by proxy, i.e. do you mind other people incurring bad karma on your behalf so you can enjoy meat, fruit without insect blemishes and national defense)
Three men cutting stone at a construction site were asked what they were doing. One very wearily said "I am cutting stone." The work was hard, and the impact it was having on him was visible. Another, who had a broader perspective, said "I am earning a living." And the third one proudly said "I am building a cathedral."
The story can be used to illustrate numerous principles.
Which man, or men, do you think were living Right Livelihood?
Are you a janitor? A school teacher? A cashier at a store? A nurse? Are you performing your job the best you can and with the full intent of making an honest living for yourself or others?
Then you have a "Buddhist job".
Google is your friend
A chaplain is a priest, some cater for a variety of religions . . .
The sangha who spend their time killing our delusions, advising us to practice till we drop dead and generally keeping us from caring for our responsibilities and families might lead to all kinds of social instability. Maybe we could find gainful employment for them? :crazy:
. . . and now back to the self employed . . . :wave:
according to Pali-Canon, the only job that is allowed, is teaching.
The original is the one of a begging munk.
anando
park ranger
working at an animal shelter
being a cook at a retreat center
"there are many ways to serve" as my teacher says
tap into something you are passionate about and fulfilled by. your balance is joy for yourself and everyone.
Palzang speaks truth. you will be great at whatever you do