Simple Wisdom for the Not So Simple Business World

By Lynda Barbaccia

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

A human being is a part of a whole, called by us 'universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. —Albert Einstein

[Next we address] ways to formulate healthy, loving relationships with co-workers; it encourages viewing the workplace as an extended family. By planting the seeds of compassion and making a concerted effort to formulate loving relationships with our co-workers, you begin to share ideas with each other in a safe and nurturing environment. You then consciously create an "unconditional workplace," laced with traces of the sacred and steeped in love.

The illusion of separateness and feelings of isolation will vanish like a nightmare in the noonday sun! Fostering these relationships will lead to a complete dismissal of work related stress. How can it be possible to feel bogged down and overwhelmed when you are surrounded by loving and supportive co-workers?

In order to formulate healthy relationships, you must take the time to reflect, listen and "go within." To begin this process, we must learn to care for ourselves. This is why I have included easy meditations, which can be performed throughout the course of your day.

These meditations are designed to bring forth a balanced, peaceful and loving heart. When you nurture your spirit, you open your heart. After all, loving feelings begin within and then radiate out to those around you.

Once I began working at Naropa, I was amazed by the many things which I never had seen in a business setting. Among those which stand out in my mind are the meditation rooms. Each building had its own meditation space. These spaces contained sacred items and were created by the employees. Each of us was encouraged to take full advantage of these rooms. During business hours you could find any one of us sitting in a meditative state, relaxing, focusing, being present. It was glorious!

Instead of gossiping in the break room over a can of soda, we chose to develop our inner world, returning to work feeling rejuvenated, alive and centered. We could then accomplish our goals and tasks with light-hearted ease. These practices brought us together and formed a deep bond between us.

I had a prior background in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and meditation practices, therefore all of this was not new. No wonder I blossomed at Naropa; it was like coming "home." It was one of the most nourishing experiences I had ever had in the workplace. Humans are spiritual beings having human experiences. So, why hide from who and what we truly really are? Our inner worlds need to be honored in order for us to thrive and experience harmony. And what better place is there to do this than in the workplace? Consider this: the workplace is where we experience the most stress, the most chaos, and where we spend most of our waking hours. Those 40 years most work are equivalent to 10,000 days! How can I ever forget all the times my beautiful boss, who, during times of extreme stress, would lean over my desk and say in a soft whisper, "Why don't you take a walk outside and just relax? Don't worry, we'll cover for you."

Another significant aspect of working in this kind of setting is that complaints of headaches or stomach upsets become virtually non-existent. And there was never even a time when absenteeism was an issue. No one ever contracted any of the seasonal flu bugs; even the common cold was left out in the cold. We were all a healthy lot. I'm convinced it was because our love for our work and each other flowed so freely. How could our immune systems not thrive in such a healthy environment?

Naropa University is a spiritually based organization. Everyone there has values which are steeped in spiritual principles. My question—Why can't these be the principles for every organization, so that everyone employed will experience and benefit from a rich, harmonious and loving work environment? I ask you to ask yourself—what's stopping you from looking out over your cubicle and getting to know your neighbor? If you are already interacting with your coworkers in a loving fashion, I say "Halleluiah." Why not make it an ongoing priority?

I recently learned that when progressive corporations such as Motorola, AT&T and Levi-Stauss have their middle management teams on retreats, they have them sit in circles and drum together to foster connectivity and promote team-spirit building. The importance of fostering connectivity in the workplace now being acknowledged by many corporations is indeed exciting news!

The impersonal atmosphere of plodding through one's work day as if controlled by some kind of remote device, and then picking up a paycheck at the end of the week, no longer makes sense. Rather, it's the journey, filled with rich, soulful connections, which gives our paycheck its true value. Humans are all about color and vibrancy, not blank stares in pinstripes. This is what makes work worth showing up for; otherwise, it can even become difficult to get out of bed.

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