Spirituality

The issues

The subject of Spirituality at the office has gained increasing prominence and is part of the quest to find fulfillment in what we do. Of the many billions of workers in the world, how many people look for a reward in their work that reaches beyond money or material wealth to something less tangible? Some may argue that they find recompense through job satisfaction or perhaps the power and authority they yield at work, but beyond this lies a deeper level of fulfilment, that of spirituality.

The reply to the innocuous question "what do you do?" is invariably from a work angle and tells nothing about you as a person at all. This is probably because, whether we like it or not, we spend most of our time at work. However, when work becomes an end in itself - living to work and not working to live - the legitimate activity of earning a living can be transformed into idolatrous behaviour from a Jewish standpoint.

The Jewish Perspective

Spirituality and Values

So what is Spirituality? According to Jewish Law, the difference between a spiritual and emotional experience is that emotions are sudden and awesome but have a temporary effect. A spiritual experience, on the other hand, is subtle, perhaps only a small change, but it remains for a much longer time - in some cases permanently. To many spirituality implies an other-worldliness, an inner life relative to an outer life. But the underlying ethos that binds everything we do, are pervading values; guiding principles that ought to permeate the workplace and bring a sense of corporate culture. Values represent the journey, the means to an end, whereas goals we set are that end.

The Jewish perspective on spirituality can identify those values that bring a purpose to work. The Talmud has always recognized that ambition is the substance to life, but drive can also be expressed in personal relationships and service to G-d as well as in monetary terms. And success can be measured in personal growth as well as financial well being, the two do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Practical Steps

Theoretical discussions are all well and good, but how can they be translated into daily worklife to give a more meaningful reality?

Self-improvement

"Rebuke a wise person and he will love you" [Mishlei Chp 10]

Knowing one ought to change is the pre-requisite of any change. With this attitude a person accepts rebuke as constructive criticism. In a meeting with a senior manager, Tom Watson, Chief Executive of IBM, never mentioned the multi-million dollar mistake that the manager had just made. On leaving the office the perplexed manager asked why he had not been sacked, to which Watson replied "how can I fire you, I've just spend a $100 million educating you."

That is the type of rebuke that the Torah considers constructive, it provides direction, gives empowerment and most of all teaches.

The value of subtlety

"Said Rabbi Yochanan, Hashem was not in the wind, and after the wind was thunder, but Hashem was not in the thunder, and after the thunder was fire but Hashem was not in the fire, and after the fire was a quiet still voice, and behold Hashem was passing." [Talmud Bavli, Chagigah 17a]

In todays brash society it seems that the only things that matter in the mass media are the intricate details of people's lives. It's the sensation that counts, the big noises that stir everything up. But G-d's spirituality is not found there. That exists in the little changes we make in our lives, the subtle, quiet improvements that are not measured by the waves we make but by who we are and how we change. How many times have you heard the idiom that it is the small things that count? This always implies a satisfaction with less, but within the context of spirituality, it means 'small steps.'

A Goal of Sanctifying G-d's name.

The uniqueness of Jewish spirituality is the immediacy of G-d's presence; an underlying fear, knowledge and awareness of G-d. All too often we hear about scandals that reflect badly on Jews in relation to questionable business practices. Having a constant awareness of the Divine presence in work means that each of us individually can counteract this by creating a kiddush Hashem. Some small practical pointers that can change our relationships within work, include:

• Being consistent in personal behaviour
• Treating others with respect and think about them.
• Try to excel in everything you do. The drive for excellence contains spirituality
• Be positive and content so your colleagues find you pleasant to be around. We are told in Pirkei Avot: "Greet everyone with a pleasant countenance."
• Add value to the community by being part of communal activity. This provides the opportunity for personal growth - this only happens when you have people to share it with, so that you can learn from others.