Bhagavat Gita says:                ‘No one can remain actionless even for a moment,

                         Everyone is driven to action by the Gunas of nature

                         Action is indeed better than inaction’                -------- (Chapter 3).

            Nature’s call is safer to attend when it urges, instead of holding it back. Like-wise everyone’s daily life is filled with work (karma) that is (i) due to a demand by the nature or body, (ii) due to a demand by self or family, (iii) due to a demand by the profession or duty, (iv) by necessity or urge (v) demand by time or age, and so on.

Some works are routine, some works demand attention or skill and some works demand instant action. In all the above conditions, it is the balance of mind that is more important to perform the work in its true sense. Excess work, make you tired. Excess sleep, make you lazy. Excess free-time spoils your mind. A 24-hour day is cycles of rest - work- relax – work - free time – work - relaxes. The several occurrence of work in a day does not essentially have a relaxing gap in between. Sometimes, it may be like rest- work-relax- work- work- free time- work- work- relaxes. In most of the cases, the occurrence of work will not have a prescribed routine. To make it happen in routine, it needs lot of time management and self-management. Management needs knowledge, which comes from mind. Mind is most volatile and it may jump in omni-direction. To keep the mind in one direction, it needs concentration and focus.  If the response is only for one work, concentration is easier to attain. If performing multi-tasks, then mind has to do time-multiplexing or action or work-multiplexing. Sometimes, it needs proper diversion of resources or synthesis of resources.

            Alas! All the above efforts, deeds, actions, works, duties etc are performed by everyone, knowingly or unknowingly, willingly or unwillingly, with a hope or without it. Whatever it is, it requires proper management. Then, the problem of ego, culture, social status and beliefs comes in the way. Oh!! All these works are to be performed individually? No. No. Bodily you may be alone, but you have a close companion, that is your spirit. Take your spirit along with you, and then you will perform every deed (karma) spiritually. As one bends while traversing a curve, just to have balance, like-wise, the balance in daily life come from the weight of the spirituality. Spirituality is not a thing, not a poem, not a prose, not a song, not a ritual, but it is the imaginary self, closely inherent in everyone, which is inseparable.

            As was mentioned earlier, everyone will do some work (karma) and doing no work is also a work (akarma). Bhagavadgita says, ‘One whose even mind is under control and who does the work without any desire for its reward, he is superior. Do your duty (as prescribed by the scriptures), because it is better to work than to remain idle and without work you cannot even take care of your body’.  

 A prayer by Edward Hays:

May the work that I will soon begin, 
Be a shimmering mirror of Your handiwork
In the excellence of its execution,
In the joy of doing it for its own sake,
In my poverty of ownership over it,
In my openness to failure or success,
In my invitation to others to share in it
And in its bearing fruit for the world.
May I be aware that through this work I draw near You,
I come to You, Beloved, with ready hands.

            So, any work you do requires your self-attention and concentration. This mere dedication to your work doesn’t mean you are spiritual. Spirituality in work means do the work, for the sake of doing, without worrying about its outcome. First, as human beings, we have two kinds of duties: the duties related to our life in this world, as in our vocation or employment, and the duties of the spirit soul, in which we nurture our eternal relationship with God. Of the two, the second is more important. What the Gita does, in effect, is to show us how to use the former to accomplish the latter. When the mention of God comes, suddenly the religious factor comes into mind. But there is a distinct variation between religion and spirituality. The outer expression is what we call religion; the inner core and its practice are rightly called spirituality.  

The table below outlines some difference between the two:

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RELIGIONS                                -             SPIRITUALITY
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 1) Created                                           Beginning-less, eternal.
 2) Divisive                                          Unifying.
 3) External                                         Internal.
 4) Requires convincing                     Naturally attractive.
  5) Demanding respect                     Commanding respect.
 6) Based on hierarchy                      Based on relationships.
 7) Impersonal and formal                 Personal and natural.
 8) Narrow-minded                            Broadminded.
 9) Sentimental                                  Scientific.
 10) Common                                    Unique.
 11) Oppressive                                Compassionate.
 12) Dogmatic                                    Reasonable.

Whatever religion we belong, our mind is tuned to its teachings. "Spirit" as we are discussing is defined as "that part of a human being that is incorporeal and invisible and is characterized by intelligence, personality, self-consciousness, and will -- the immaterial nature or soul of man." Perhaps it is this "invisible" and "immaterial" aspect that has kept it from the very material world of work. We cant hold it or touch it---get our hands around it. However, its always there, even when every cell in our physical body is replaced every few years, the essence of which we are somehow remains.

            The religious practices have some limitations, while the spiritual thoughts are universal. It has no method except following the intuition. In Chapter 17, Verse 16, we come across the definition of austerity of mind,

"Mental satisfaction, gentleness, silence, self-control,

purification of thoughts, this is called the austerity of mind."

"When a person gives up all the desires in his thoughtful state and when his inner self is satisfied within itself, at that time he is said to be a sthithapragna (a master in the stability of mind).

            India is a cosmopolitan society. There are many celebrations and festivities pertaining different religions. In some work-places, even they celebrate some of the events, for example Vinaya chavithi, Dasara, Ayudha Puja, Onam, Christmas etc. So, in India, it is more than a requirement to isolate the religious practices from regular work processes.

            A person with spiritual inclination will not loose his temper that easily and also the concept of universal brotherhood will prevail. A spiritual mind will celebrate on any festive occasion and also keeps the work-place atmosphere congenial and peaceful. Spiritual thought will make you oblige whatever directions given to you, for the sake of dedication to work. In all respects, spirituality will certainly enhance the output of the work and also keeps the workforce tension-free. Identify the difference between religious, social and work obligations, and equally allocate your energy to all the needs and balance your life for better prosperity of you and society.