JOB v/s WORK

Most people (I have interacted till now) confuse and interchangeably use these words. When I say most, it means most of the people whom I have talked to. Even if we know the meaning of these words, do we really understand and are able to correlate it to our lives? Hopefully Yes but mostly No. According to purists, Job is the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money and the principal activity in other words is also a Work. On the other hand, Work is an activity directed toward making or doing something, so is work something we do out of interest without the expectation of any result? Now I guess it more evident why it is always a Job Description and not a Work Description when it comes to Companies and firms. But does the difference end here or it’s just the tip of the iceberg?

I have never liked my Job I am doing (according to many, it’s a good job), somehow I don’t feel connected. On the contrary, I cannot afford to relax and in turn loose the job. Like most of us that’s my sole source of income. Very few of us like our job or atleast dislike how the job is being done. Everyone wants a change, a change for better. So how about doing some work, something where effort and dedication is valued and treasured and results are not the decisive parameter? Will that generate interest and more importantly what work will that be? Can we afford to do something which takes out time of our hectic lives and return nothing? Why do we do these if we are not paid? In these times of socio-financial competition, where share markets are booming with public issues, where new firms are launched to generate more investments, where plans for retirements are big hits in young people, where offers are decided on basis of the zeros isn’t it a way of loosing the track, loosing focus and faltering when its times to move ahead?

During Bhagawad Gita days, it was
“Karmaneva Adikarasthe Mapaleshu Kadachana makarma phalehetubhoo masangostu akramani”
means “you have the power to act only, you do not have the power to influence the result, so work without anticipation of the result and without succumbing to inaction”

But how much do we care for these, and how much does this stand true in today’s world? What is the word “Karma” referred here or used in Karma Yoga prescribed by the Vedas relate to? Is it our job which though we don’t like but we do to and get paid to arrange means of life, or is it the work which interests us but doesn’t guarantee monetary benefits? If it is the Job we are doing in our daily monotonous life, then why are we all for better packages and bonuses, designations and positions?

Karma is the Work, we do (or don’t do) to revive our inner self. Too much simplified? I guess it is. It’s hard to put it into my words as many great preachers and real teachers have talked extensively about it and still left lot to ponder upon. Reviving ourselves or rejuvenating our senses or recharging our souls is as important as it is to live. Without that we would just survive through and die before our deaths. Bottomline is, we are not doing any work, and our job is only feeding out body. Our souls are starving!! Have you ever tried giving alms to a beggar? Many of us do and feel good about it. I remember when I was a kid, my grandma used to put a coin in my hand to give it to the beggar. Now I realize the reason behind. Certain small things give more pleasure than some big achievements.

That’s the crux which has given birth to so many spiritual leaders and subsequent institutions. They preach and teach the age old stuffs which we read but never learn which we listen but never practice. And we, till date who were only focused on achieving and conquering whatever came our way, busy in pushing our way to the top, engrossed in dissolving ourselves in earthly social things to become so-called successful, suddenly feel relaxed. We feel content and our senses start sensing more and we start smelling the flowers, enjoying the colors and feeling the air.

Focused in achieving and making life bigger we are missing the basic ingredients that can make our life better. Striving for earthly and materialistic success we are blinding us from the simple and pure beauty of life. Sometimes we are so much into achievements that anything less becomes a failure. Every time we fail, we aim again for higher goals and we are getting habituated to this achieve-all funda of life. In today’s world, success is judged by ones credentials, assets and achievements but not happiness. Interestingly, both are right, nothing is wrong, it just a perception to lead a happy life and to which every one of us have a right. However, having said all these, there is a bigger truth; happiness, self-content rises from bottom. So if the stomach is happy then only the heart can smile and mind can think to work.