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Can buddhism help you find your career path?
This might sound like a naive question, but my experience is limited, and I know not how buddhism has affected the life of other laymen.
Finding a career path is the biggest problem in my life and only now do I understand that my dissatisfaction with the fact I haven't done anything for so long, and am wasting my intellectual potential, is the main cause of problems in other areas of my life. I want to do something I'm good at, and that motivates me.
Finding a career path is the biggest problem in my life and only now do I understand that my dissatisfaction with the fact I haven't done anything for so long, and am wasting my intellectual potential, is the main cause of problems in other areas of my life. I want to do something I'm good at, and that motivates me.
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One thing to keep in mind, In Buddhism there is the concept of "Right Livelyhood." Basiclly any job that would cause you to harm or kill Sentient Beings would be a difficult chioce. Of course you need to be able to have enough resources to live, money shelter etc. But it is something to keep in mind.
One of the people who attend the weekly teaching that I attend asked the Lama this same type of question as he has an oppurtunity to go into busness as an extermanator, but was concerned about the Karma he would gain due to the killing of Beings. In essance, the Lama , while clear that people need to have gainful employment in the west do need to take care about what work they do.
It sounds like you are in a very good place to make a job chioce that can fufill both needs at once.
I hope this helps a bit.
Dan
Seriously, yes it most definitely can.
I don't know which country you live in but why not see if you can speak to a careers adviser at your local employment offices? ..Or see what help is available online. You could write a CV or see if there are any courses available to further your present knowledge and experience and increase your employment prospects.
Don't wait for gradual changes to happen with Buddhist practice - be determined to find a job and and seize the moment now !
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I know my type. ENFP. But, the areas it points me towards are not in line with my interests, safe for psychology. But I don't want a life as a psychologist even though I know I'd probably be good at it. I'd want to help people, but I don't want to subconsciously analyze every conversation I have with people. I already do that more than I want to.
Lool. Well, how exactly?
Yeah career advising is almost non-existent here. I'm not worried about getting a job. I'm worried about getting a job I'll love.
I mean, all I have are my desires (movies, music and videogames are my areas of interest, but I haven't got much in terms of hardskills) but I wonder how buddhism would tell me to look at such desires.
I'm not worried about going against buddhism, since I'm not a buddhist. But, buddhism is for me a recipe for happiness in other areas of life...so I wonder if it would tell me to follow my dreams or not.
Oh and Doctor Donna : I'm already quite mindful quite moralistic. I'd never have a job that I knew was hurting others.
Don't put too much stock in the MB test. It's fun, but it shouldn't tell you anything you didn't already know about yourself. That is, unless you're totally oblivious to the obvious.
It can definitely tell you (as in my arms trafficker choice) what's NOT right for you as a Buddhist. That's the easy part. The harder part is to learn to sit and be still. Let the universe tell you what to do. I know that sounds silly, but it's absolutely true. If you'd told me ten years ago what I'd be doing right now, I'd have looked for your parked space ship, since you obviously had just flown in from Pluto. Nine years ago I decided to go back to school because it felt like the right thing to do. In retrospect, it was, but not in the way I had planned. That was a first step. It took three and a half more years before one day I was driving home from work (STRESSED out) and suddenly something from in the back of my brain said "maybe I should go to nursing school" - which I immediately dismissed as nonsense. Yet, when I examined it further, it seemed (for the first time in my life) like *exactly* the right thing to do. And once I took the first steps toward making it happen, things flowed like crap through a goose toward that end (nursing school, not the end of the goose). And now six years later I find myself back in school yet again, but getting trained to do *exactly* what I love doing, and what will allow me to make the most difference I can make in alleviating the pain and suffering of others (working on becoming a nurse anesthetist). This will allow me to travel abroad and work in places that have little or no access to this sort of specialty, as well as helping those in my community who need my services.
I really don't think this would have happened if I hadn't discovered Buddhism, because I could never be still and quiet enough to listen to what the universe was trying to tell me (for years and years an years).
So look around, make choices on what you're interested in and good at, and be open to opportunities.
I have a close friend who is a teacher, something she loves to do, and her job as a teacher is a huge source of suffering in her life instead of joy. The system won't let her actually teach in the way she knows will help the students.
Whatever you do for a living, even slinging hamburgers at the local fast food joint, Buddhism tells you to do it mindfully. People generally find satisfaction elsewhere in their lives.
I see a job as a source of money, yes. But the reason why I'm worried, is not because I might not have a job that will give me the money I need...no, that I can find easily.
Job might not be the best word. Occupation. The activities. I want something productive that gives me pleasure. I don't think that's much to ask at all.
I'm sorry, but Buddhism can't tell you what occupation will make you happy, and that's what you're asking. Buddhism tells you that the desire to have an occupation that makes you happy is capable of causing suffering.
"I don't think that is too much to ask at all" is the cry of anyone caught up in Dukkha. We ask of life, and when it doesn't deliver, we suffer. Why should life deliver an occupation that gives you pleasure? It might, or it might not. But, you expect it to. You seem on the verge of demanding life provide you with an occupation you love. It might. I hope it does. But what happens if it doesn't?
Buddhism can't guide you to happiness through anything but the Noble Truths. And if you penetrate those, you can be a doctor or a sewer cleaner, and get the same satisfaction from either.
I also believe I can get whatever I want if I try hard enough. But I'm not willing to sacrifice a whole lot for it. Not my principles or my well being or that of others etc....so I'm chill about the whole thing. I just need a way to contribute I think. Art is the best way I can think of.
Thanks for the insight. Yes, I wasn't expecting help from buddhism in this regard, but I wanted to ask nonetheless
Oh gosh, expecting something in this world to give you lasting pleasure doesn't turn out too well! I've been down that path many a time, here's a cool talk on it:
http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebdha201.htm
I just had to respond to that statement, however in response to the original dilemma:
I'm was in a similar situation. I couldn't seem to get the motivation to study for my classes, let alone pick a career path. However, my meditation practice has helped me greatly. Let's say the thought comes: 'I'm lazy, I can't do this, I hate this work, I'd rather be doing other work'.. It's viewed as a thought and I can carry on with my work. Similarly with your situation, instead of trying to divide the job market up in terms of your desires (which right now is a very bad idea, lol) try to cultivate an open mind. Talk to professionals from different fields, research all types of jobs that would match up with your technical skills and abilities.
.. And meditate! Through this practice one can see how thoughts and emotions are fleeting.
Perhaps over time you may even stumble upon who you really are! Tee hee
Good luck on your journey!
This is exactly the problem, and if we didn't 'cling' to certain illusions in life we would have chosen wisely. Or, there's more chance we would have chosen wisely. As a result found a livelihood that we enjoy and also contributes in a good way.
Hmm I wonder if buddhism "allows" me to get new skills to open up new doors. I don't have much in the way of skills. And I need some criteria to discriminate. How can I discriminate without desire?
I just got on the Buddhist path, and this is a huge area I'm sorting out. I totally get that wanting happiness from a career and wanting a certain salary to afford a certain measure of comfort is pretty un-Buddhist.
I feel a number of other things have already been dampened way down by meditation and Buddhist reading (a lot of irritation, impatience, negativity has really been washed away)... but the career/financial issues aren't easily defused for me.