Free The Lotus Still Blooms by Joan Gattuso Page A

affects others, just as a toxin in water or in our food or in the air affects all who partake of it. Wrong livelihood can be for some alluring, because some see it as a means of getting rich. But in the greater picture it is a path to suffering, lack and poverty, rather than riches. From the Dhammapada : “Don’t try to build your happiness on the unhappiness of others. You will be enmeshed in a net of hatred.”
    Right Livelihood Exercise
    If you are examining your life and feel you are not living in accord with Right Livelihood, you have pinpointed the first of six steps helpful in correcting the situation:
    1. Recognition.
    2. Open yourself to new possibilities. Release any belief that what your work is now is all of which you are capable. Most folks think and live their lives in very narrow channels.
    The partner of Elizabeth, a lifelong friend of mine, had a back injury at work (a job that required a great deal of physical labor) that laid him up for nearly a year. One evening on the phone
    Elizabeth was very stressed over the situation, telling me Leo had just returned from yet another medical evaluation and was told he had to remain off for another five to six months. He was also told he could never do work again involving any physical labor.
    When I called back a few days later to check on them, Leo answered the phone. I did something quite uncustomary for me and said to him, “If I were your therapist, which I am not, or your minister, which I am not, I would say, ‘Leo, the Universe is banging on your hood trying to get your attention. Find another non-physical occupation.’”
    Leo was somewhat open to explore new possibilities, because his body simply could not support him returning to his former work as a housepainter. He is bright, artistic and talented, and he had been stuck in the idea that house painting was the only job he could do. He had to open to new possibilities.
    3. Pray to be guided to your true career path, to be inspired. Quickly follow up on any inspiration that comes to you.
    4. Lift your consciousness and vibrations to be a match for your new line of work.
    5. Network with everyone you know. Let them know you are looking for a change.
    6. Keep praying, meditating and visualizing and walk through the doors that are open. Recognize when the doors are closed, and walk through the new ones that open.
     
 
    When we are committed to living in Right Livelihood, our very commitment will draw to us the manifestation of our pure intention.

All the effort must be made by you;
Buddha only shows the way.
     
— THE DHAMMAPADA, VERSE 276
    RIGHT EFFORT

    RIGHT EFFORT, SIMPLY STATED, is not dissipating your energy on the meaningless. Although all Buddhists (and I) believe in reincarnation, which they usually call “rebirth,” we do not believe in wasting our energy in frivolous pursuits and mindless activity.
    Once, a young acquaintance of mine complained bitterly how her live-in partner would spend endless hours at the computer playing games. They really had no relationship to speak of and did nothing together but split the rent and feed the cats. There was no glue to connect them physically or spiritually. Their relationship was shallow, and no amount of fussing with it was going to be beneficial.
    Right Effort is thought of as Right Discipline or Right Diligence. There are four practices associated with Right Effort:
    1. Preventing unwholesome seeds to arise in us . This is when we become so mentally aware that we can prevent unwholesome seeds in us to arise. They no longer have any place to live in our consciousness. This means we use our effort wisely, and we do not give our attention to that which is nonbeneficial, meaningless or the nonsense of life. We are actively engaging in the basic spiritual law: “What we focus on expands.” We are wise enough to guide our focus away from anything that would be unwholesome and no longer water seeds of ignorance, realizing that when we do, we are