Professional life forms a big part of one’s life and it must be considered and investigated in terms of one’s spiritual life because quite often the capacity of a person to succeed in spiritual pursuit is assumed to be directly proportional to one’s professional accomplishments. Ironically, we also even see spiritual teachers promoting themselves on the back of their professional accomplishments like having worked in prominent positions in reputed corporations, become wealthy etc. Also, on the other hand if one chooses a spiritual path ignoring professional accomplishment then it is frowned upon and viewed as a blunder. So, it is necessary to enquire into whether there is really any connection between spiritual progress and professional accomplishments at all.
Most of us are also raised with the idea that professional success is extremely important in one’s life. In fact, the modern education system is designed to push and motivate one towards professional success. To the extent that if one were not to do very well professionally then one is considered a failure and it becomes a blot on one’s self-worth or esteem. One’s upbringing plays such a crucial role here that even long after entering adulthood, the priorities inculcated in childhood and deeply ingrained in one’s psyche subconsciously influence one’s priorities and life decisions. One also concludes that career success is the most important thing in one’s life above everything else.
How significant or relevant is it in terms of one’s spiritual growth? Unfortunately, success in the external world does not really count for much in one’s spiritual growth. And it is a big challenge to overcome such indoctrination.
Success is measured in terms of wealth, popularity, status etc. This mindset is inculcated right from childhood because when one chooses the subject one wants to study it is often based on how well paying the jobs are for that discipline. One also chooses the University based on how good the placements are for its graduates. My main criterion for choosing a job is money. And one also decides subconsciously that a person is successful if he/she drives a fancy car, has a nice house, the social status of the area one lives in etc.
When that is so, success is also inevitably linked to comparison with other people too because if one must be considered successful then the success one has achieved must be better than what is achieved by all or at least most of one’s peers. Because that is how success is evaluated – in comparison with what others have achieved. Hence, drawing a line in terms of when/how long I need to hold on to or pursue success in the worldly sense becomes extremely critical.
Moreover, professional accomplishment also inevitably brings in competition and a competitive mindset which eventually leads to comparison, jealousy etc. all of which are fundamentally opposed and detrimental to spiritual growth and are really to be eradicated if one were to grow spiritually.
Ironically, many times it is also found that those who are extraordinarily successful in their careers find it exceedingly difficult to progress in spirituality because the ego success nurtures, becomes the impediment. One tends to think that the same intelligence that has brought success will give one an advantage in spiritual progress too but unfortunately it does not work that way.
While spiritual progress and professional success need not be totally opposed to each other but having a balanced view of professional success is very important for spiritual growth. It is advisable to not be trapped and sucked into the mindset of assuming professional accomplishment is the most important thing in one’s life. For example, some people continue to remain in their profession long after the need for earning money has passed and even much after retirement, even though one has already made enough to live a comfortable life and continues to work just because “there is nothing else to do to pass one’s time”! This is a sad situation because then one has completely lost sight of the bigger picture of life.
The other extreme of completely ignoring relative success is also not desirable because it leaves one demotivated and rudderless in one’s life journey, at least early on in life, until one becomes mature enough to appreciate the importance of spiritual knowledge. Once one has fulfilled one’s need to achieve success, like for gaining confidence and having a good self-esteem, to a reasonable extent, then one needs to also have the courage to leave it behind and move on. So, it becomes especially important to strike a balance between only success at all costs and complete negation of success.
In this context it is relevant to quote one of the well-respected Gurus in the Advaita lineage Swami Vidyaranya. He says in a book written by him called the Pañchadaśī - The sattvic thoughts leads to merit (Punya), and thoughts that are rajasic, to sin (Papa). Tamasic thoughts incurs neither Punya nor Papa. Sattva is responsible for desire lessness, forgiveness, magnanimity etc. Rajas is responsible for desire, ambition, greed, efforts, seeking power etc. Tamas is responsible for laziness, confusion, sleep etc. Rajasic thoughts, which include all that is needed for professional success, only incur papa. This effectively means that ambition and success bring in only papa, in terms of one’s spiritual progress and are best avoided. Sattvic mindset alone is conducive for spiritual growth.