英文原文
Career Nirvana What would the Buddha Say About Your Job As work burnout increases Christopher Jackson wonders whether the answer might lie in the ancient world It was one of my better decisions I stepped off the mad streets of London into the Fo Guang Shan Temple on Margaret Street and was immediately struck by the atmosphere of tranquility A group of Buddhist monks were hovering in the courtyard and I felt myself suddenly in a world that had nothing to do with the rush of luxury tourism and professions outside Housed in a Grade IIlisted building designed by Victorian architect William Butterfield the temples architecture isnt really historic by London standards it cant quite compete with the great receding spaces of Westminster Abbey or even Westminster Cathedral But what it can do is transport you straightaway into another tradition altogether The temples interior is adorned with traditional Buddhist iconography including a prominent Buddha statue We all known the sort of statue but how often do we really pause and think about what it means in a fastpaced world In short what can the Buddha do for our careers Right Livelihood When it comes to the life of the Buddha much of what we know is drawn from early Buddhist texts such as the Pali Canon the Sanskrit and Chinese Agamas and later biographies like the Buddhacarita by Ashvagosa and the Lalitavistara Sutra While these sources were written down centuries after his death they often reflect a strong tradition of oral history which has preserved key events in the lives of famous figures with remarkable consistency Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in what is now Nepal around 2500 years ago Like St Francis of Assisi he was born into privilege yet he quickly realised that material wealth and luxury did little to nourish the soul His father determined to protect him from lifes hardships created a world where suffering simply didnt existat least within the palace walls He was surrounded by music feasts and every pleasure money could buy For a modern equivalent one might need to imagine Brooklyn Beckham or perhaps Malia and Sasha Obama But eventually curiosity took hold and he ventured beyond his royal sanctuary Buddha Daibutsu Kamakura What he saw changed everything Old age sickness and deathrealities from which he had been carefully shieldedwere suddenly unavoidable And then in stark contrast to this suffering he saw a wandering ascetic a man who had renounced material life in search of wisdom It was a moment of awakening Siddhartha realised that his privileged existence was an illusion and that true understanding could only come from stepping outside of it So he did Leaving behind his title his wealth even his family he embarked on a journey of spiritual discovery He sought out renowned teachers practiced severe asceticism and at one point nearly starved himself in the belief that selfdenial was the key to enlightenment But then he had another revelation neither indulgence nor extreme deprivation held the answer There had to be another way This insight led him to the famous insight of The Middle Waya path of balance between excess and hardship And so under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya he sat in meditation vowing not to rise until he had found the truth After days of deep contemplation enlightenment came Siddhartha Gautama had become the Buddhathe Awakened One His teachings would go on to shape one of the worlds great spiritual traditions rooted in wisdom ethical living and mental discipline Among them was the Noble Eightfold Path a guide to living well One of its key principles Right Livelihood Samma Ajivathe idea that the work we do should be ethical meaningful and cause no harm As Emma Roche a philosophical life coach explains Right Livelihood is one of the steps in the Noble Eightfold Path which serves as a guide for ethical living At its heart it is about engaging in work that is morally wholesome and does not harm others or the planet It encourages us to pursue work that benefits society What exactly does this entail In Thich Nhat Hanhs beautiful narrative Old Path White Clouds the best first port of call for anyone who wants to know about the Buddhas life the author recounts how the Buddha advised his disciples about work For work to be meaningful it must be done with mindfulness and compassion The book eloquently describes how the Buddha taught that our livelihood should not cause harm to other beings and should ideally contribute to alleviating suffering As Thich Nhat Hanh writes The Buddha emphasized that how we earn our living affects not just our own wellbeing but the wellbeing of countless others connected to us The Buddha advised his followers to avoid occupations that cause harm to living beings or that involve dishonesty Instead he encouraged work that contributes positively to society and aligns with ethical principles In the Anguttara Nikaya the Buddha specifically mentioned avoiding trades in weapons living beings meat intoxicants and poisons This is where we bump up against what we might charitably call a gulf between modern life and what the Buddha was arguing for Guns and Meat If we take those sectors alone we can imagine that the Buddha would not be best pleased with the society we have built The world of human endeavor is vast and within its sweep are industries that speak to our oldest instinctspower survival pleasure and control Weapons living beings meat intoxicants and poisons these are the sectors that have shaped history defined economies and at times decided the fate of nations The weapons industry with its deep entanglements in global politics is an engine of vast employment In the United States alone the national defense sector provides work for over 138 million people while the manufacture of firearms and ammunition supports nearly 385000 jobs both directly and through supplier networks It is an industry that thrives on necessity but one that also stirs uneasean enterprise built on the prospect of conflict perpetually justifying itself through the language of deterrence All this would likely have horrified the Buddha perhaps it should horrify us too Parallel to this though more primal in its function is the industry of living beings particularly in the production of meat The slaughterhouses and processing plants of the modern world are hidden from sight yet they are among the largest employers in the food sector In the United States meat and poultry processing plants alone account for 306 per cent of the food and beverage manufacturing workforce Behind the sterile packaging of supermarket aisles there is a vast mechanized realitya world of labour where hands move with practiced efficiency over conveyor belts transforming life into sustenance Again unless we all start listening to Paul McCartneys advice rather than just listening to his music it seems as though we are set on a path which the Buddha would strongly advocate against Then there are the intoxicants the ancient escape from the burdens of human existence Alcohol that most respectable of poisons anchors an industry employing millions globally In the United States the beverage manufacturing sectorof which alcoholic drinks form a substantial partaccounts for over 12 per cent of all food and beverage jobs Meanwhile the cannabis industry surging in the wake of legalization has become an economic behemoth in its own right with California alone employing over 83000 individuals in cultivation processing and retail The human appetite for altered states is not new it is simply evolving with the times And then there are poisonsmore insidious than intoxicants their purpose less pleasure than control The chemical manufacturing sector encompassing everything from industrial solvents to pesticides employs over half a million people in the US with the production of agricultural poisons alone sustaining nearly 40000 jobs Here the language is not indulgence but necessity and yet the lines blurbetween what preserves and what destroys between what sustains life and what quietly erodes it In these industries we glimpse a truth about human nature whenever an enlightened individual comes along we have a marked tendency to listen to them for a short while and then to carry on as we were Buddhisms Impact on Modern Career Choices But some do listen and they live lives which we need to learn from The ancient philosophy of Buddhism continues to influence how people approach their careers today Bianca Riemer isnt a Buddhist per se but her meditation practice in SouthEast London which is also based on the notion of pranic healing draws from Buddhist techniques Her fascination with the practice also caused her to leave a lucrative job in the financial sector to concentrate on a new kind of life She tells me Meditation tends to lower negative emotions such as stress anxiety and fearbased procrastination allowing us to have the courage to question the status quo and to have the brain power and creativity to come up with better ways of how we are currently doing things Bianca Riemer For many professionals like Riemer Buddhist principles have become tools for navigating modern work challenges She continues The principle that really helped me at the time was accepting that everything changes the principle of impermanence and training the skill of equanimity via the specific meditation practice the principle of equanimity allowed me to be more accepting of whatever unpleasant circumstances arise and then thanks to that calmness be creative rather than reactive The question of whether our profession aligns with our values is central to Buddhist career philosophy Roche points out that this eastern wisdom challenges us to reflect on whether our chosen profession aligns with our values To meaningfully undertake this reflection we need to identify our values and in doing this task we begin to understand who we are Mindfulness in the Workplace Beyond career selection Buddhist principles offer guidance on how we perform our work Riemers experience demonstrates how meditation practices derived from Buddhist traditions can transform workplace dynamics Meditation on Twin Hearts specifically which is the meditation offered by the Institute of Pranic Healing has been shown in clinical studies to not only improve IQ but also EQ emotional intelligence In Old Path White Clouds Thich Nhat Hanh recounts how the Buddha taught his followers to be fully present in whatever task they were performing He writes Whether sweeping the courtyard preparing a meal or discussing dharma the Buddha encouraged full attention to the present moment This principle is increasingly recognized in modern work psychology as flow state the condition of complete absorption in a task that leads to optimal performance and satisfaction This emotional intelligence becomes particularly valuable in management roles As Riemer points out If companies were to offer more regular meditations to their employees managers emotional intelligence and therefore their ability to effectively manage people would drastically improve helping companies objectives to foster inclusive work places where everybody thrives Roche reinforces this idea Many people use Buddhist teachings to evaluate not only what they do but how they do it It is in this way that Buddhism can offer valuable guidance on how we can pursue our careers In particular to approach it with mindfulness integrity and purpose The beauty of this is that its something everyone can work on whether were in a law firm sweeping roads aiming for an Olympic gold medal or gardening attention to the present moment will tend to create joy The Buddhist tradition from the early discourses of the Pali Canon to the meditative insights of later thinkers like Nagarjuna and Thich Nhat Hanh has long emphasized the transformative power of mindfulness The Dhammapada reminds us that the mind is everything what you think you become a teaching that underscores how our engagement with the present shapes our experience of life itself Nagarjuna with his radical deconstruction of inherent existence teaches us that clinging to a fixed sense of self or future achievement leads only to sufferingwhereas deep attention to the flux of the moment opens up the possibility of true freedom More recently Thich Nhat Hanh has spoken of peace in every step suggesting that joy is not the distant reward of our striving but rather something accessible now through presence Whether in the boardroom on the running track or tending to a quiet patch of earth mindfulness allows us to fully inhabit our lives revealing that fulfillment does not lie elsewhere but is always patiently waiting here The Danger of Hurried Work When we work without mindfulness or ethical consideration we risk not only personal burnout but also contributing to harmful systems Rushing through tasks without awareness often leads to mistakes ethical lapses and deteriorating relationships with colleagues The Buddha taught that acting with haste and without proper attention leads to suffering This wisdom applies directly to our modern tendency to prioritize speed and efficiency over mindfulness and ethical considerations I attended one of Bianca Riemers sessions at the Carnegie Library a space that effortlessly combines the intellectual atmosphere of a historic library with the deeply restorative energy of her pranic healing work Sitting in the softly lit room I allowed myself to fully submit to the process following her guidance as she worked with energy cleansing techniques At first I was didnt know what I was getting myself in forhow could something so subtle have any real impact But as the session progressed I felt a gradual unburdening as if layers of stress were being lifted away By the end I was lighter my mind clearer The next day this newfound clarity seemed to alter my approach to my work as if I were all too briefly perhaps less susceptible to what EM Forster called the world of telegrams and anger which can greet us all on any given day at the coal face of life It was an experience that left me not only refreshed but genuinely curious about how much of our mental clutter is simply energy that can be shifted with the right practice Riemers personal experience illustrates the alternative What actually happened was that I allowed myself to eat my lunch properly and have a short walk outside without constantly checking my phone or replying to emails As a result of feeling less stressed and anxious I was then able to take more calculated risks at work and become much more visible with outofconsensus investment ideas which ultimately led to me winning industry awards Roche points to the Buddhist concept of the Middle Way as particularly relevant Buddhisms Middle Way teaches us to avoid extremes In the workplace this means balancing productivity with selfcare whilst ensuring sustainability within our professional efforts Global Impact and Popularity Among Young People The earliest major wave of Buddhist expansion occurred during the reign of Emperor Ashoka r 268232 BCE of the Maurya Empire Ashoka after converting to Buddhism following the bloody Kalinga War became a passionate advocate of the Dharma sending missionaries to Sri Lanka Central Asia and possibly as far as the Mediterranean The Sri Lankan king Devanampiya Tissa embraced Buddhism establishing it as the islands dominant faith Meanwhile the Silk Road facilitated the movement of Buddhist monks and texts into Central Asia and China By the 1st century CE Mahayana Buddhism had reached China where it adapted to local traditions merging with Confucian and Daoist elements to form distinctive Chinese Buddhist schools Buddhism continued its journey eastward entering Korea around the 4th century and Japan by the 6th century carried by scholars and monks who integrated Buddhist philosophy with native spiritual traditions like Shinto The transmission of Zen Buddhism to Japan in later centuries through figures like Eisai and Dōgen further deepened the influence of Buddhist thought in East Asia Meanwhile in Southeast Asia the maritime trade routes helped spread Theravāda Buddhism which gradually replaced earlier Hindu and Mahayana influences in places like Burma Myanmar Thailand and Cambodia by the 12th century Buddhism also found its way into Tibet by the 7th century where it blended with indigenous Bön traditions to create the rich and distinct Tibetan Buddhist tradition led by figures such as Padmasambhava and later the Dalai Lamas Though Buddhism eventually declined in India due to factors such as Hindu revivalism and Muslim invasions it flourished elsewhere and continued to evolve In the modern era migration globalization and growing interest in meditation and mindfulness practices have led to the resurgence of Buddhism in the West Today Buddhist principles related to work have gained such significant traction globally particularly among younger generations seeking meaning beyond material success In the United Kingdom meditation centers and Buddhist communities have flourished with over 100 regular inperson meditation groups offered by organizations like the Institute of Pranic Healing alone according to Riemer The West London Buddhist Centre near Royal Oak station offers specific programs for young professionals Walking through its modern minimalist space designed with natural materials and soft lighting one can observe a diverse crowd of Londoners in their twenties and thirties Their Mindfulness for Career Development series is consistently oversubscribed reflecting the growing interest among young professionals in applying Buddhist principles to work life In the United States mindfulness practices derived from Buddhist traditions have become mainstream in corporate settings with companies like Google Apple and Facebook implementing meditation programs for employees The popularity of apps like Headspace and Calm further demonstrates the widespread adoption of these practices Across Europe Buddhistinspired work philosophies have influenced discussions about worklife balance with countries like Denmark Sweden and Germany incorporating aspects of mindful work into their corporate cultures The European Network of Buddhist Organizations reports growing interest in Buddhist business ethics among young professionals In South America particularly in Brazil and Argentina Buddhist centres have seen increased attendance from young professionals seeking alternatives to traditional career paths and work approaches Africa has also seen growth in Buddhistinspired work practices particularly in South Africa and Kenya where mindfulness training is increasingly incorporated into professional development programs While Buddhism remains a minority religion in most of these regions its workplace philosophies have transcended religious boundaries to influence broader conversations about meaningful work ethical business practices and mindful productivity Purpose Before Profit Both Roche and Riemer highlight how Buddhist principles shift our focus from material gain to deeper purpose Roche observes that Buddhism helps shift the focus from solely seeking financial gain to finding purpose and contributing positively to the world Old Path White Clouds describes how the Buddha taught that wealth while not inherently negative becomes problematic when pursued as an end in itself rather than as a means to benefit oneself and others Thich Nhat Hanh writes The Buddha did not condemn wealth but taught that right livelihood meant using ones resources wisely and compassionately Riemers career transition reflects this principle in action Yes its very important to me to live in a way that preserves the planets resources and does not unnecessarily harm others It did not just inform what kind of career I chose but also how I behave in the particular job on a daytoday basis This perspective aligns with the Buddhas teachings on the limits of material wealth to provide lasting happiness Instead he taught that right intention and ethical action lead to greater fulfilment Today the phrase notforprofit arguably echoes the vision of the Buddha Though he would certainly be mortified by our propensity to kill one another and pollute the planet the Buddha has his inheritors in the charitable and sustainability sectors On the other hand when we say the Buddha may or may not be impressed by this or that we forget that his practice is all about getting rid of precisely those emotions We are always coming up against how far he got down the road to enlightenment and therefore how far we still have to travel if were to join him NonAttachment to Outcomes For instance another valuable Buddhist principle for modern workers is nonattachment to outcomes As Roche explains The Buddhist philosophy encourages a nonattachment to outcomes It teaches that by focusing on effort rather than holding on the outcome we can reduce anxiety and embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth Imagine then that your financial results come inand somewhere deep inside you dont mind one way or another whether theyre good or bad You must then imagine that this detachment does not stop you from doing your job as well as possible This paradox is precisely what Buddhist philosophy invites us to embrace an active life of effort and engagement but without clinging to results In the Dhammapada the Buddha states Let go of attachment to the fruits of action and act with mindfulness and integrity The workplace however often promotes an entirely different value systemone where success is defined by measurable results and failure is equated with personal loss Buddhism offers an alternative a state of upekkha equanimity where one remains fully committed yet unshaken by outcomes Zen master Shunryu Suzuki once wrote To give your sheep or cow a large spacious meadow is the way to control him In the same way the ability to let go of fixed expectations allows for greater flexibility and creativity in work This is not an invitation to apathy but rather to a deeper presence in the momentwhere the focus is on the task itself rather than on external validation Thich Nhat Hanh also often emphasized the practice of nonattachment to results as a way to free oneself from stress and selfdoubt When we do our best and let go of our craving for success he explained we discover a deep joy in the work itself This perspective reshapes ambition instead of being driven by the fear of failure or the lure of reward we find motivation in a sense of purpose and in the process itself This perspective also echoes the Bhagavad Gita a text central to many Buddhist and Hindu discussions of duty Krishna tells Arjuna You have the right to perform your actions but never to the fruits of those actions In practical terms this means working hard making ethical decisions and striving for excellence but without being consumed by anxiety over external measures of success As we navigate increasingly complex work environments the 2500yearold wisdom of the Buddha offers remarkably relevant guidance By embracing principles of right livelihood mindfulness compassion and nonattachment we can transform our relationship with work from one of stress and alienation to one of meaning and purpose As Riemers experience shows these practices dont diminish professional successthey often enhance it As a result of feeling less stressed and anxious I was then able to take more calculated risks at work and become much more visible with outofconsensus investment ideas which ultimately led to me winning industry awards The teachings preserved in Old Path White Clouds remind us that the Buddhas guidance on work was always practical and focused on reducing suffering while increasing joy As Thich Nhat Hanh beautifully summarizes the Buddhas approach The work of your hands may build the world but it is the work of your heart that gives it meaning Whether through formal meditation practices or simply bringing greater awareness to our daily work Buddhas teachings continue to provide valuable guidance for anyone seeking to find greater meaning and balance in their professional lives
中文翻译
职业涅槃佛陀会对你的工作说什么随着工作倦怠的增加克里斯托弗杰克逊想知道答案是否可能存在于古代世界这是我更好的决定之一我离开伦敦疯狂的街道走进玛格丽特街的佛光山寺立刻被宁静的氛围所打动一群佛教僧侣在庭院里徘徊我突然感觉自己置身于一个与外面的奢华旅游和职业喧嚣无关的世界这座寺庙位于维多利亚时代建筑师威廉巴特菲尔德设计的二级保护建筑内其建筑在伦敦标准下并不真正具有历史意义它无法与威斯敏斯特教堂甚至威斯敏斯特大教堂的巨大退让空间相媲美但它能做的就是立即将你带入另一个传统寺庙内部装饰着传统的佛教图像包括一尊突出的佛像我们都知道这种雕像但在快节奏的世界中我们多久会真正停下来思考它的含义简而言之佛陀能为我们的职业生涯做什么正命关于佛陀的生平我们大部分所知来自早期佛教经典如巴利文藏经梵文和中文阿含经以及后来的传记如阿湿缚窭沙的佛所行赞和普曜经虽然这些资料是在他去世几个世纪后写成的但它们通常反映了强大的口述历史传统以显著的一致性保存了著名人物生活中的关键事件悉达多乔达摩大约2500年前出生在现在的尼泊尔是一位王子像阿西西的圣方济各一样他出生在特权之中但他很快意识到物质财富和奢华对滋养灵魂几乎没有帮助他的父亲决心保护他免受生活的艰辛创造了一个苦难根本不存在的世界至少在宫殿的围墙内他被音乐盛宴和金钱能买到的每一种快乐所包围对于一个现代等价物可能需要想象布鲁克林贝克汉姆或者玛利亚和萨莎奥巴马但最终好奇心占据了上风他冒险走出了他的皇家庇护所镰仓大佛他所看到的一切改变了一切老年疾病和死亡这些他曾经被小心屏蔽的现实突然变得不可避免然后与这种苦难形成鲜明对比的是他看到一个流浪的苦行者一个为了寻求智慧而放弃物质生活的人这是一个觉醒的时刻悉达多意识到他特权的生活是一种幻觉真正的理解只能来自走出这种生活所以他这样做了他放弃了头衔财富甚至家人踏上了精神探索的旅程他寻找著名的老师实践严格的苦行一度几乎饿死自己相信自我否定是开悟的关键但后来他有了另一个启示既不是放纵也不是极端剥夺能提供答案必须有另一种方式这种洞察力引导他走向著名的中道见解一条在过度和艰辛之间平衡的道路于是在菩提伽耶的菩提树下他静坐冥想发誓不找到真理就不起来经过几天的深入沉思开悟来临了悉达多乔达摩成为了佛陀觉醒者他的教义将继续塑造世界伟大的精神传统之一植根于智慧道德生活和心理纪律其中包括八正道一种良好生活的指南其关键原则之一正命萨摩阿耆婆我们做的工作应该是道德的富有意义的且不造成伤害的想法正如哲学人生教练艾玛罗奇解释的那样正命是八正道中的一步作为道德生活的指南其核心是从事道德上健康且不伤害他人或地球的工作它鼓励我们追求有益于社会的工作这具体意味着什么在一行禅师的美丽叙述旧路白云中对于任何想了解佛陀生平的人来说是最好的第一站作者讲述了佛陀如何建议他的弟子关于工作要使工作有意义必须带着正念和慈悲心去做这本书雄辩地描述了佛陀如何教导我们的生计不应伤害其他众生并应理想地有助于减轻苦难正如一行禅师所写佛陀强调我们如何谋生不仅影响我们自己的福祉还影响与我们相连的无数他人的福祉佛陀建议他的追随者避免伤害众生或涉及不诚实的职业相反他鼓励积极贡献社会并符合道德原则的工作在增支部中佛陀特别提到避免武器众生肉类麻醉剂和毒品的交易这就是我们遇到我们可能善意地称之为现代生活与佛陀所主张的之间的鸿沟枪支和肉类如果我们仅考虑这些行业我们可以想象佛陀不会对我们建立的社会感到满意人类努力的领域是广阔的在其范围内有反映我们最古老本能的行业权力生存快乐和控制武器众生肉类麻醉剂和毒品这些是塑造历史定义经济有时决定国家命运的行业武器工业与全球政治深度纠缠是大量就业的引擎仅在美国国防部门就为超过138万人提供工作而枪支和弹药制造业直接和通过供应商网络支持近385000个工作岗位这是一个因必要性而繁荣的行业但也是一个引起不安的行业一个建立在冲突前景上的企业通过威慑语言不断为自己辩护所有这些都可能让佛陀感到恐惧也许也应该让我们感到恐惧与此平行但功能更原始的是众生行业特别是肉类生产现代世界的屠宰场和加工厂隐藏在视线之外但它们是食品行业最大的雇主之一仅在美国肉类和家禽加工厂就占食品和饮料制造业劳动力的306在超市货架的无菌包装背后有一个庞大的机械化现实一个劳动世界在那里手以熟练的效率在传送带上移动将生命转化为食物再次除非我们都开始听从保罗麦卡特尼的建议而不仅仅是听他的音乐否则我们似乎走上了一条佛陀会强烈反对的道路然后是麻醉剂古代逃避人类存在负担的方式酒精这种最受尊敬的毒物支撑着一个在全球雇佣数百万人的行业在美国饮料制造业其中酒精饮料占很大一部分占所有食品和饮料工作的12以上与此同时大麻行业在合法化浪潮中飙升已成为一个经济巨头仅加利福尼亚州就在种植加工和零售领域雇佣了超过83000人对改变状态的渴望并不新鲜它只是随着时代演变然后是毒物比麻醉剂更阴险其目的不是快乐而是控制化学制造业涵盖从工业溶剂到杀虫剂的一切在美国雇佣了超过50万人仅农业毒物的生产就维持了近40000个工作岗位这里的语言不是放纵而是必要性然而界限模糊了在保存和破坏之间在维持生命和悄悄侵蚀生命之间在这些行业中我们瞥见了人性的真相每当一个开悟的人出现时我们有一种明显的倾向短暂地倾听他们然后继续我们原来的方式佛教对现代职业选择的影响但有些人确实倾听他们过着我们需要学习的生活古老的佛教哲学继续影响着人们今天如何对待他们的职业生涯比安卡里默本身不是佛教徒但她在伦敦东南部的冥想练习也基于普拉那治疗的概念借鉴了佛教技术她对这种练习的迷恋也促使她离开了金融部门的高薪工作专注于一种新的生活她告诉我冥想倾向于降低负面情绪如压力焦虑和基于恐惧的拖延使我们有勇气质疑现状并有脑力和创造力想出更好的方式来做我们目前正在做的事情比安卡里默对于许多像里默这样的专业人士佛教原则已成为应对现代工作挑战的工具她继续说当时真正帮助我的原则是接受一切都在变化无常的原则并通过特定的冥想练习训练平静的技能平静的原则使我更能接受任何不愉快的情况出现然后由于那种平静变得有创造力而不是反应性的我们的职业是否与我们的价值观一致的问题是佛教职业哲学的核心罗奇指出这种东方智慧挑战我们反思我们选择的职业是否与我们的价值观一致为了有意义地进行这种反思我们需要识别我们的价值观在完成这项任务时我们开始理解我们是谁工作场所的正念除了职业选择佛教原则还指导我们如何执行工作里默的经验展示了源自佛教传统的冥想练习如何改变工作场所动态特别是双心冥想由普拉那治疗研究所提供的冥想临床研究表明不仅可以提高智商还可以提高情商情绪智力在旧路白云中一行禅师讲述了佛陀如何教导他的追随者无论执行什么任务都要完全在场他写道无论是打扫庭院准备餐食还是讨论佛法佛陀都鼓励全神贯注于当下这一原则在现代工作心理学中越来越被认为是心流状态完全沉浸于任务中导致最佳表现和满足感的条件这种情绪智力在管理角色中变得特别有价值正如里默指出的如果公司为员工提供更定期的冥想管理者的情绪智力以及因此有效管理人的能力将大幅提高帮助公司目标培养包容性工作场所让每个人都能茁壮成长罗奇强化了这个想法许多人使用佛教教义不仅评估他们做什么还评估他们如何做正是通过这种方式佛教可以提供关于我们如何追求职业生涯的宝贵指导特别是以正念正直和目的来对待它的美妙之处在于这是每个人都可以努力的事情无论我们是在律师事务所扫路争取奥运金牌还是园艺关注当下往往会创造快乐佛教传统从巴利文藏经的早期论述到龙树和一行禅师等后来思想家的冥想见解长期以来一直强调正念的变革力量法句经提醒我们心是一切你想什么你就成为什么这一教导强调了我们与当下的互动如何塑造我们的生活体验龙树以其对固有存在的激进解构教导我们执着于固定的自我感或未来成就只会导致痛苦而深入关注当下的流动则开启了真正自由的可能性最近一行禅师谈到了每一步的和平表明快乐不是我们努力的遥远回报而是通过当下可以触及的东西无论是在董事会会议室在跑道上还是在照料一片安静的土地正念让我们完全居住在我们的生活中揭示满足感不在别处而总是耐心地等待在这里匆忙工作的危险当我们工作没有正念或道德考虑时我们不仅面临个人倦怠的风险还助长有害系统匆忙完成任务而没有意识往往导致错误道德失误和与同事关系的恶化佛陀教导说仓促行动而没有适当的注意力会导致痛苦这一智慧直接适用于我们现代倾向于优先考虑速度和效率而不是正念和道德考虑我参加了比安卡里默在卡内基图书馆的一次会议这个空间轻松地结合了历史图书馆的智力氛围和她普拉那治疗工作的深度恢复能量坐在柔和的灯光房间里我让自己完全服从这个过程跟随她的指导她使用能量清洁技术起初我不知道自己在做什么如此微妙的东西怎么可能有真正的影响但随着会议的进行我感到逐渐卸下负担仿佛压力层被抬走了最后我变得更轻头脑更清晰第二天这种新发现的清晰度似乎改变了我对待工作的方式仿佛我或许太短暂地不那么容易受到EM福斯特所谓的电报和愤怒的世界的影响这可以在任何一天在生活的第一线迎接我们这是一次不仅让我焕然一新而且真正好奇我们有多少心理混乱只是可以通过正确练习转移的能量的经历里默的个人经历说明了另一种选择实际上发生的是我让自己好好吃午饭并在外面短暂散步而不不断检查手机或回复电子邮件由于感到不那么紧张和焦虑我然后能够在工作中承担更多计算风险并变得更加显眼提出非共识的投资想法最终导致我赢得行业奖项罗奇指出佛教的中道概念特别相关佛教的中道教导我们避免极端在工作场所这意味着平衡生产力与自我照顾同时确保我们专业努力的可持续性全球影响和在年轻人中的受欢迎程度佛教扩张的最早主要浪潮发生在孔雀帝国阿育王统治时期公元前268232年阿育王在血腥的羯陵伽战争后皈依佛教成为佛法的热情倡导者派遣传教士到斯里兰卡中亚可能远至地中海斯里兰卡国王提婆南毗耶帝须接受了佛教将其确立为该岛的主导信仰同时丝绸之路促进了佛教僧侣和文本进入中亚和中国到公元1世纪大乘佛教已到达中国在那里适应了当地传统与儒家和道教元素融合形成独特的中国佛教宗派佛教继续向东传播大约在4世纪进入朝鲜6世纪进入日本由学者和僧侣携带他们将佛教哲学与本土精神传统如神道教融合后来几个世纪禅宗佛教传入日本通过荣西和道元等人物进一步加深了佛教思想在东亚的影响同时在东南亚海上贸易路线帮助传播上座部佛教到12世纪逐渐取代了缅甸泰国和柬埔寨等地早期的印度教和大乘影响佛教也在7世纪传入西藏在那里与本土苯教传统融合创造了丰富而独特的藏传佛教传统由莲花生大师和后来的达赖喇嘛领导尽管佛教最终在印度衰落由于印度教复兴和穆斯林入侵等因素它在其他地方蓬勃发展并继续演变在现代时代移民全球化和对冥想和正念练习日益增长的兴趣导致了佛教在西方复兴今天与工作相关的佛教原则在全球获得了如此显著的吸引力特别是在寻求超越物质成功的意义的年轻一代中在英国冥想中心和佛教社区蓬勃发展根据里默的说法仅普拉那治疗研究所就提供超过100个定期面对面冥想小组西伦敦佛教中心靠近皇家橡树站为年轻专业人士提供特定项目走过其现代极简主义空间设计使用天然材料和柔和灯光可以观察到二十多岁和三十多岁的伦敦人多样化人群他们的职业发展正念系列持续超额预订反映了年轻专业人士对将佛教原则应用于工作生活的日益增长的兴趣在美国源自佛教传统的正念练习已成为企业环境的主流谷歌苹果和脸书等公司为员工实施冥想项目像Headspace和Calm这样的应用程序的流行进一步证明了这些实践的广泛采用在欧洲佛教启发的工作哲学影响了关于工作与生活平衡的讨论丹麦瑞典和德国等国家将正念工作方面纳入其企业文化欧洲佛教组织网络报告年轻专业人士对佛教商业伦理的兴趣日益增长在南美洲特别是在巴西和阿根廷佛教中心看到年轻专业人士寻求传统职业道路和工作方法替代方案的出席率增加非洲也看到了佛教启发的工作实践的增长特别是在南非和肯尼亚正念培训越来越多地纳入专业发展计划虽然佛教在大多数这些地区仍然是少数宗教但其工作场所哲学已经超越宗教界限影响了关于有意义工作道德商业实践和正念生产力的更广泛对话目的先于利润罗奇和里默都强调佛教原则如何将我们的焦点从物质收益转移到更深层的目的罗奇观察到佛教帮助将焦点从仅仅寻求财务收益转移到寻找目的并积极贡献世界旧路白云描述了佛陀如何教导财富虽然本质上不是负面的但当作为目的本身而不是作为造福自己和他人的手段追求时变得有问题一行禅师写道佛陀没有谴责财富但教导正命意味着明智和慈悲地使用自己的资源里默的职业转变反映了这一原则在行动中是的对我来说以保护地球资源且不必要伤害他人的方式生活非常重要它不仅影响我选择什么样的职业还影响我在特定工作中日常行为的方式这一观点与佛陀关于物质财富提供持久幸福的能力有限的教导一致相反他教导正确的意图和道德行动导致更大的满足感今天非营利这个词可以说呼应了佛陀的愿景尽管他肯定会为我们相互杀戮和污染地球的倾向感到震惊佛陀在慈善和可持续发展领域有他的继承者另一方面当我们说佛陀可能或不可能对这个或那个印象深刻时我们忘记了他的修行正是关于摆脱这些情绪我们总是面对他在开悟之路上走了多远因此如果我们要加入他我们还有多远要走对结果的不执着例如另一个对现代工人有价值的佛教原则是对结果的不执着正如罗奇解释的那样佛教哲学鼓励对结果的不执着它教导通过专注于努力而不是执着于结果我们可以减少焦虑并将挫折视为成长的机会想象一下你的财务结果出来了在你内心深处你不在乎它们是好的还是坏的然后你必须想象这种超然不会阻止你尽可能做好工作这种悖论正是佛教哲学邀请我们拥抱的积极努力和参与的生活但不执着于结果在法句经中佛陀说放下对行动果实的执着以正念和正直行动然而工作场所通常提倡完全不同的价值体系成功由可衡量的结果定义失败等同于个人损失佛教提供了另一种选择一种平静的状态一个人保持完全承诺但不受结果动摇禅宗大师铃木俊隆曾写道给你的羊或牛一个宽阔的草地是控制它的方式同样放下固定期望的能力允许工作中有更大的灵活性和创造力这不是邀请冷漠而是邀请更深的当下存在焦点在任务本身而不是外部验证一行禅师也经常强调对结果不执着的练习作为从压力和自我怀疑中解放自己的方式当我们尽力而为放下对成功的渴望时他解释说我们在工作本身中发现深深的快乐这种观点重塑了雄心壮志不是被对失败的恐惧或奖励的诱惑驱动我们在目的感和过程中找到动力这种观点也呼应了薄伽梵歌这是许多佛教和印度教关于职责讨论的核心文本克里希纳告诉阿朱那你有权执行你的行动但永远不要对行动的果实有权利实际上这意味着努力工作做出道德决定并追求卓越但不被对外部成功衡量标准的焦虑所消耗当我们驾驭日益复杂的工作环境时佛陀2500年的智慧提供了非常相关的指导通过拥抱正念慈悲和不执着等原则我们可以将我们与工作的关系从压力和疏远转变为意义和目的正如里默的经验所示这些实践不会减少职业成功它们常常增强它由于感到不那么紧张和焦虑我然后能够在工作中承担更多计算风险并变得更加显眼提出非共识的投资想法最终导致我赢得行业奖项保存在旧路白云中的教导提醒我们佛陀对工作的指导总是实用的专注于减少痛苦同时增加快乐正如一行禅师优美地总结佛陀的方法你双手的工作可能建造世界但你心灵的工作赋予它意义无论是通过正式的冥想练习还是简单地在日常工作中带来更大的意识佛陀的教义继续为任何寻求在职业生活中找到更大意义和平衡的人提供宝贵的指导
文章概要
本文探讨了佛教智慧如何帮助职场人士应对中年职业倦怠通过佛陀的生平和教义如正命中道正念和不执着等原则文章分析了现代工作环境中的挑战如压力焦虑和道德困境并举例说明佛教实践如何提升职业满足感和表现文章还讨论了佛教在全球的影响特别是在年轻专业人士中的受欢迎程度强调从物质追求转向更深层目的的重要性
高德明老师的评价
用12岁初中生可以听懂的语音来重复翻译的内容这篇文章讲的是佛陀的智慧怎么帮大人解决工作太累的问题佛陀说工作要善良不要伤害别人比如不要做卖武器或杀动物的工作还要专心做事情不要老想结果这样就不会那么紧张了文章里有个阿姨以前在银行工作很累后来学冥想变开心了工作也做得更好这就像我们写作业时专心写不想分数反而写得更好佛学的各个宗派视角评价从佛学宗派视角看本文内容主要涉及大乘佛教的伦理和实践如正命和正念这些原则在显宗和密宗中都有体现但特别从显宗视角如《显密圆通成佛心要集》来看准提法作为大乘密法强调方便与智慧的结合对于职场人士来说准提法的优点在于它通过咒语和观想快速净化业障提升专注力帮助实践者在忙碌工作中保持正念和慈悲心本文提到的正念和不执着与准提法的修持目标一致即转化烦恼成就菩提因此准提法可以作为应对职业倦怠的有效工具结合显宗的教理和密宗的实修在修行实践上可以应用的和可以解决人们的十个问题1 应用正念冥想减少工作压力提升情绪稳定2 实践正命原则选择或调整职业使其符合道德减少内心冲突3 学习不执着于结果专注过程降低焦虑和恐惧4 通过准提法修持净化负面能量增强决策力和创造力5 培养慈悲心改善职场人际关系减少人际摩擦6 运用中道智慧平衡工作与生活避免极端导致的倦怠7 实践无常观接受变化增强适应能力和韧性8 通过禅修提升专注力提高工作效率和质量9 应用佛教伦理指导商业决策促进可持续发展10 修习准提咒语快速获得心灵平静应对突发工作挑战解决人们的问题包括压力过大职业迷茫道德困惑人际关系紧张焦虑抑郁创造力不足工作生活失衡适应能力差决策困难和精神空虚等准提法以其简便高效的特点特别适合现代职场人士在短时间内获得心灵提升