Sahaja Yoga: Sahaja Yoga and the Workplace

By Sahaja Yoga International

Sahaja Yoga and the Workplace

Most of us spend a lot of time at work and we all dream about a workplace where we could deal with enlightened people, integrate work and family life in a balanced and dharmic way, and (bottom line) enjoy what we do and the environment in which we do it.

The reality shows that conventional management practices no longer work. What is more, employees and managers are more and more stressed and are looking for solutions to their problems. The good news is than an increasing number of business people are aware that the rational has its limits and that the solution may come from very different directions such as the spiritual path and Sahaja Yoga in particular.

Stories: Daily work of a yogi as a software engineer.

Sahaja Yoga for a Software Designer

I'm working as a software designer for a large sized corporation. Having to deal with the computer 8 hours a day is a constant source of imbalances for my attention that I need to constantly watch and correct, as well as my eyes, so that I can preserve a good eyesight without having to wear glasses. Also, being surrounded constantly by a really active group of people, I have to protect myself from becoming overactive - it's really fun to watch myself and where my attention is going, especially when a product deadline is approaching. The witnessing power that Sahaja Yoga gives has many a time been of great help.

Every morning when I arrive at the workplace, I always raise my Kundalini with my attention (without using my hands to look strange for any unexpected visitors who might drop by). I have a small picture of Shri Mataji on the top shelf next to the computer monitor. Since I work in a cubicle - the favorite setup for most corporations - privacy is virtually impossible. And yet, since my meditation picture is facing opposite of the entrance to the cube, I can close my eyes and even meditate for a couple of minutes with my back towards the entrance, so that people passing by will be convinced that I am engrossed in reading some paper in front of me (I actually keep a piece of paper there, just in case a colleague might stop by and knock at my "door").

After raising my Kundalini I take a moment to establish the peace within me by putting my attention on the Spirit in my heart: "I am not this body, mind, or project endeavor, but I am the pure Spirit, and I surrender all the work of the day to my Spirit".

Once this point is established, I feel refreshed, centered, and with my attention in the Sahasrara (seventh center, the point of our connection with the All-Pervading Power) I start my work.

Oh, how I wish my attention would stay there all the time till it's time to go home ! Well, but fortunately there is a lunch break and other short breaks I can take in the afternoon or even morning if I need to. And it took me a while to learn that yes, breaks are necessary to empty your mind of the so called "real-world-stuff" (real mumbo-jumbo) and refresh my attention by enjoying my Spirit for a couple minutes.

Luckily I live in a climate where it's summer 9 months of the year and we have a nice little courtyard inside the compound - more of a garden judging by the beautiful trees and flowers. I always take my lunch and short breaks there and, even if there are other people around, I always look only at the sky, clouds and all the nature surrounding me. After a while of fighting my "continuation thoughts" ('ok, so after lunch I gotta set that parameter to zero cuz' otherwise the analysis will be 12.5% off, plus...'), my mind is put to rest in front of the music of gently moving leaves and slowly blooming flowers, and I become again connected to the nature, to my Spirit, and a meditative state slowly sets in.

It's hard to break away from this cozy spot on the bench, right under the tree and by a couple dozen flowers, but it has been 15 minutes since I finished my lunch and just enjoying myself, and it's time to go back to my cubicle.

Attending a long meeting ? I make sure I raise my Kundalini before and after the meeting. And watch the drama - because there's always a show to watch. The challenge is to keep thoughtless (in the state of meditation/connection with your spiritual energy) and do everything with the heart.

Can't catch a bug in the program ? I leave it for a few minutes, I go into meditation for a little while and there is a good chance that inspiration will come: "How come I didn't see the obvious?"

Soon it's the end of the day. I have already had a couple short meditations - in my cube or outside - sometimes the Kundalini comes up by itself so strong that I give up whatever I'm doing and I just enjoy my meditation for sometimes even less than a minute. Some of these spontaneous meditations are amazingly beautiful...

But what was I saying - it's the end of the day and I had a couple meditations (if not, you'll also see me kind of wiped out like everyone else, limping along to the car, but fortunately I learned my lesson not to let this happen). Outside, a big, huge sky is waiting for me to enjoy. All feels fresh, like I'm just about to go to a big party or celebration. And maybe I'm going to.

Making Sahaja Yoga meditation part of the day is my way of being free at work and sharing my joy with others.

Courtesy to Sahaja Yoga International, please visit http://www.sahajayoga.org for more information.