You hear of people that love to work, and they wake up in the morning eager to work. But for many of us, we attempt to prolong our sleep, and dread going to work. Daily we look at our clocks, or our smart phones, and hope that the time comes where we are on our way home. Work becomes a bad four-letter word. But does work have to be so difficult?
In Japanese, work is hataraku. Hata is near by, and raku is defined as comfortable. Work is then an activity that makes people that are nearby comfortable. Have you noticed a coworker who is always on the phone, or talking to others when he or she should be working? Does this make you comfortable? Does it make his or her supervisor comfortable? How about the person who takes advantage of government programs, and sustains him or herself by not working? It does not make the rest of us comfortable.
We can see how working hard makes others comfortable, but how does it help us? If the law of causality was effective, making others comfortable or happy brings forth joy in our own future. This is cause and effect; what one sows, one reaps. Working can become a process of guaranteeing a better future. Working hard will usually lead to a better position in the company, but more important it will enhance your happiness due to the law of causality.
In today’s world, look at the fate of the people who do not want to work. They seek happiness in the form of drugs, gangs, gambling, and sex. These are only temporary fixes, which lead to further depression and suffering. These activities do not bring happiness to those who are nearby; then by the law of cause and effect, these activities only bring upon suffering to themselves.
Work does not have to be a four-letter word. It may be a blessing from God. A blessing that has the potential to bring upon comfort to others; but more important, happiness and joy for oneself.
OFUDESAKI-GOD'S TEACHINGS 