Divine Path: Teachers vs. Bartenders

I became a teacher and a mother around the same time. In truth, when I found out I was going to be a mother -- I panicked. I was 22 and a recent UCSC grad, spoken word artist, revolutionary poet-activitst -- with dreadlocks and a lip piercing. I was used to answering the question, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” with things like: I’m going to be a primatologist in Tanzania, astronaut, deep sea diver, rockstar, or writer. I was out of time to grow up, and now was the time to decide.

When I looked inward I knew for sure two things: I wanted to work with people and words. And I did not want to sell anything. At the time, I was in between communist and socialist -- and definitely anti-commerce. I knew. I knew before anyone told me -- that right livelihood -- for me meant: people and words.

I officially learned about “right livelihood” years later from the San Jose Dharma Punx. In essence, whatever it is you do, it should be ethically-sound and for the benefit of all beings. A “not-example” would be a bartender. This profession would be aiding in “self-harm” and considered “unclean.” Sorry bartenders! Right livelihood is one of the eight tenets of Buddha’s eightfold path. Remember Buddha was Hindu, which makes him a yogi -- which makes his idea not so original.

In yoga, karma yoga is the equivalent to “right livelihood.” The essence of yoga is to unite the individual self to the Divine. And not just when you are on the mat, but during the mundane and miraculous moments as well -- and especially through your chosen path, or career. When we meditate, one of the eight limbs of yoga, we meditate to practice calming the mind not just for the twenty minutes our eyes are closed, but ideally for the whole damn day. All things yoga -- should be practiced as often as possible, so that you stay aligned to yourself, others, and the universe as a whole. Alignment is more or less, the goal.

First, your career should be in alignment with you. If you wake up thinking… “I should be doing something else,” take note! And change! And as your path evolves, it should align you more and more with your community, the universe, and the Divine. Easier said than done. It’s more of a work in progress sort of thing.

I’ve personally had many evolutions in my career path. First I did follow my gut and taught English and Journalism for ten years. Then I started teaching/ supporting other teacher and became a mentor teacher. Now, I am leaving the classroom altogether to focus solely on the social-emotional needs of our students as an Intervention Specialist. And I have another evolution around the corner as I finish up my Yoga Teacher Training Certification.

Change is the only constant -- and yoga is about evolving into your highest self. So, it’s okay if your career path has some zig-zagging. Those are switchbacks -- they are how we get up the mountain!

When I advise teens on their future I tell them two things: pick something you love and follow it as far as you want or find a problem that needs solving. I’ve always loved the Howard Thurman quote: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Yoga practice is transformative -- the yogi, through practice, takes new shapes in the body, mind, and soul and evolves to the being’s highest self. All teaching is transformation. Yoga teaches the soul. Divine work is action done, not for the ego, but for the Universe. Guiding others towards their own personal evolution is Divine Work, indeed.

That being said: “As for the work one does, there is no higher or lower work [except bartending]; all work is the same provided it is offered to the [Universe] and done for the [Divine]” (145). It’s not what you do, but how you do it. Sri Aurobindo provides three steps to become a Divine Worker: First, work with an ethical and loving intention. Then, stay present to the work at hand-- just as you would during meditation. Finally, be grateful for the intention, the work, yourself, the Universe. If you do these three things, you too are a Divine Worker -- even if you are a bartender.

Aurobindo, Sri The Integral Yoga: Sri Aurobindo’s Teaching and Method of Practice Twin Lakes: Lotus Press, 1993.