Monday, September 4, we will meet online.
Optional Newcomers Orientation Monday, September 4.
Dear Friends,
This Monday is Labor Day, an annual celebration of American workers. The holiday has been around since the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the contributions of workers.
We will meet online Monday evening, 7-8:30PM, Wednesday morning 7-8AM in person at 3812 Northampton Street, and Friday 12-1PM online.
On Monday evening, we will meditate together and then reflect on how we might consider our own labor – our work, using the lens of mindfulness.
We will listen to part of a talk by the monastic Sister True Dedication on Mindfulness and business and then reflect together on what we heard and how we might apply this to our lives.
Sister True Dedication reminds us that in our practice, the ends of our work - our work “product” is not the only aspect that matters. How we accomplish our work is also important. What we leave behind from our work is much more than our output. What is the quality of our impact?
Thay writes in his book, Work:
THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES and the way we earn our living is crucial to our joy and happiness. Almost half of our life is spent at work, but just how do we spend this time? The work we do is an expression of our entire being. Our work can be a wonderful means for us to express our deepest aspirations, and can be a source of great nourishment, peace, joy, transformation, and healing. Conversely, the work we do and the way we do it can also cause a lot of suffering. What we do with our lives and whether we are mindful or not determines how much peace and joy we create. If we bring our awareness to every moment, if we practice mindfulness in everything we do, our work can help us realize our ideal of living in harmony with others and of cultivating understanding and compassion.
We live in a time and place where it is not easy to find a job. We know, however, that our well-being depends not on having a source of income, but on having a job in which we can cultivate joy and happiness, a job which is not harmful to humans, animals, plants, or the Earth. Ideally, we are able to find a job and work in such a way that our work is of benefit to the Earth and to all living beings.
No matter what your job is, there is a lot you can do toward helping others and creating a happy work environment, a place where you can work in joy and harmony, without stress and tension. The practices of mindful breathing, mindful sitting, mindful eating, and mindful walking can all contribute to a positive and stress-free environment at work. Learning the art of stopping, of releasing tension, of using loving speech and deep listening, and sharing this practice with others can have a huge impact on our own enjoyment at work and on our company's culture. When we know how to take care of our strong emotions and to establish good relationships at work, communication improves, stress is reduced, and our work becomes much more pleasant. This is a huge benefit not only to ourselves, but also to those we work with, to our loved ones, our families, and the whole of society.