The False Duality Between "Job" And "Service"
La falsa dualidad entre "trabajo" y "servicio"--por Zilong Wang
Alrededor de la época en que partí para Asia en julio, dos de mis amigos/profesores más queridos dejaron su dedicación al voluntariado a tiempo total para comenzar a trabajar a tiempo completo. Su decisión de volver al "sistema" realmente me sacudió, y me hizo revisar mis suposiciones en torno al trabajo y el servicio.
Hasta entonces, ni siquiera me había dado cuenta de que yo sostenía los siguientes supuestos: "Para servir plenamente, uno tiene que dejar su trabajo"; "Para ser el cambio, hay que desconectarse del sistema dominante"; "Cuanto más distante y opuesto al sistema dominante, más virtuoso se es". En mi mente, había creado una dualidad innecesaria entre "tener un trabajo" y "vivir para servir".
Tal vez por tener cerca a algunos activistas comprometidos, he sido influenciado por algún tipo de "fundamentalismo del servicio": Para crecer realmente en el servicio, debes dejar tu trabajo, perder su visado, quemar tu pasaporte, regalar todo tu dinero y posesiones, mudarte a un vecindario empobrecido y violento, hacerte vegano orgánico y consumidor estricto de productos locales - y tal vez dejarte crecer barba; menos que eso no tendría ningún sentido.
Poco noté el ego sutil y la "carrera armamentista del purismo" que implicaban estas suposiciones; tampoco era consciente de la violencia en mi monopolización "lo que el servicio debería ser".
En los últimos nueve meses de peregrinación, por casi por todos los sitios que voy, estoy siendo respaldado por la caridad de los propietarios de las casas, quienes satisfacen mis necesidades mundanas. ¿Quién soy yo para decir que mi camino es más virtuoso y puro? ¿Estoy subcontratando mi "trabajo sucio" a otros, mientras uso mi "desapego" como una insignia de honor?
Al abrir los ojos a las "mil maneras de arrodillarse y besar el suelo", lo siguiente ha quedado claro.
Primero, es imposible romper todos los lazos con el sistema dominante, a menos que nos retiremos totalmente de la sociedad. Sería hipócrita medir la propia virtud por el grado de desconexión con el sistema.
Segundo, se necesita más humildad y habilidad para servir desde dentro del sistema. La humildad, porque no hay ninguna instancia moral suprema que sostener, ninguna afirmación sutil derivada de la austeridad. La habilidad, porque un@ se ve obligad@ a aprender a tener paradojas, a escuchar las diferentes voces, a desarrollar recursos apropiados, y a encontrar los rincones y las grietas para "colarse" con semillas de cambio.
Yo solía sentirme halagado pensando que había renunciado a mi trabajo porque la industria no se dirigía a la causa raíz: "¡Qué recto soy!", Decía el ego. Pero ahora, me doy cuenta de que era yo quien no era capaz de "servir desde dondequiera que esté". Si es posible que un carnicero respete el Tao mientras despieza bueyes, entonces se podría esperar de nosotr@s que al menos intentemos cultivarlo en una oficina agradable :)
En tercer lugar, hay grandes beneficios en "tener un pie en ambos mundos". El trabajo convencional (trabajo remunerado en los sectores público / privado / ONG) nos ayuda a mantenernos en la realidad y desarrollar "herramientas de eficiencia". El servicio / trabajo voluntario nos ayuda a recordar el propósito último de la vida, y desarrollar "herramientas del corazón". Se complementan entre sí.
En última instancia, se trata de servir desde dondequiera que estemos. Ninguna forma de servicio es superior ni más santa que otra. Tod@s estamos en el gran plan por una razón.
Preguntas Semilla para la reflexión: ¿Cómo te relacionas con la noción de fundamentalismo de servicio? ¿Puedes compartir una historia personal de alguna vez que descubriste la santidad en una forma de trabajo que habías prejuzgado como carente de virtud? ¿Qué te ayuda a evitar la trampa del fundamentalismo del servicio?
Extraído de una entrada en el blog de Zilong Wang
Excerpted from Zilong Wang's blog post.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion of service fundamentalism? Can you share a personal story of a time you discovered sacredness in a form of work that you had earlier judged as lacking in virtue? What helps you avoid the trap of service fundamentalism?
Add Your Reflection
22 Past Reflections
On Jul 17, 2017 Lynne wrote :
Very meaningful piece. My late husband's life's work (dealing with mysticism and schizophrenia) was interrupted numerous time and he was forced to support me and the children while doing his research. His paid job as a cab-driver was, although difficult, another way he served people. He was exceptional, a truly altruistic person.
Post Your Reply
On Jul 17, 2017 James O'Donovan wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Jul 13, 2017 brinda wrote :
As so many folks commented last night, a lot of it is in the intent and attitude, and compassion/kindness that we bring to our work, in whatever form. "Serve from where you are" and "Find the nooks and crannies in the world to plant seeds"--that visual will stay with me and is very powerful. I am close to someone who has spent a lifetime as a "karma yogi" and has impacted so many people with kindness, selflessness, integrity and generosity....whether mentoring, finding just the right job for someone, creating opportunities for others to grow and flourish, leading with values and never ever thinking about the "fruits" of the labors. So this example reminds me all the time that if you "go deep", always stay true to your values, and don't worry about the "fruits", service is the natural flow.....
1 reply: S. | Post Your Reply
On Jul 12, 2017 Subhash Garg wrote :
Work in whatever form is needed for living but does not stop from the service.
Most important thing is the attitude.
Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 Rick wrote :
This is a wonderful "problem" to have and to engage with. It challenges all of us to serve from where we stand, not from where we think we ought to be. Where we stand is ever and always the present moment - we are never elsewhere, all superstitions and "occurrings" to the contrary! And so we will always serve from where we stand, be it in volunteerism, corporate America, politics, the world of NGOs, at home with our loved ones, alone on the trail, on the line, sharing in the Circle. As we live our lives as stewards of love and possibility, where would we not choose to serve? Every venue in life calls out to us and even the most "unlikely" (the boardroom, perhaps?) are openings for healing and workability. A world that works at every level and for all time is made from all of these!
Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 manoj wrote :
Agree now after few weeks of trying to console myself that only way is to run to other place and do my sadhna for purifying and sublimating mind desires.
Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 Sonia R Uttamchandani wrote :
All duality is here to serve us to move.... nothing is fixed or permanent. Hence the need to shift to serve in the manner best.
What holds true in this moment, will not be so, in the next. And hence drememuality serves the sacred purpose of helping us see that rootedness also has "limited" purpose. To be in one place, serve the purpose, find the ground beneath, untill we are ready to move on.
At times, the journey may be long, hard and also fraught with many msitakes, or long-turns..... but the learning is always useful so that the soul "sees" and remembers.
Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 Cal wrote :
Thanks so much for this piece. This is a topic that I think/talk/ponder about, quite often. Such an interesting balancing act between work/home, obligation/compassion, etc. I've experienced "regular" jobs characterized by selfless service, and "charities" characterized by turf and elitism, and of course, mostly those that are somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. All wonderful opportunities to be mindfully engaged in positive change. I'm reminded of the "embrace tiger/return to mountain" concept- I need both tigers and mountains in my life.
Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 Margaret wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 Pranita wrote :
My move from a corporate job (dominant system) to a startup job (soon-to-be dominant system!) to an NGO felt to me as my ideal way to gradual full-time service. But as a part of an NGO, we are always having to crowdfund money in the schools that we teach, which is when I realised we are being able to carry our "noble" work only because the others continue to serve in the dominant system. They support us with money because they don't have the time or sometime the willingness for hands activity. Basically, there is interdependence, and there is so much beauty in it too. This article gave me so much more clarity and insight into the topic. Very grateful! :)
1 reply: Brinda | Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 Mish wrote :
"To serve from wherever we are". Yes. Says it all.
1 reply: Kay | Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2017 vaibhav wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Jul 10, 2017 Pastor Liz wrote :
Work is absolutely an avenue to demonstrate our love for God. The apostle Paul sees all work as God's work. 'whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord'. Service requires humility and always a joy to make Christ known at the workplace.
Post Your Reply
On Jul 10, 2017 david doane wrote :
1 reply: Manoj | Post Your Reply