By Zile Singh 

Work and Worship – both are art pieces. Our work can be viewed as a form of Worship. One example of work being as Worship is the labor we offer explicitly in line with bringing about God’s Kingdom. It would include preaching at church, doing administrative work to run a ministry, or studying the word of God. “Work is the open sesame of every portal, the great equalizer in the world, the true philosopher’s stone which transmutes all the base metal of humanity into gold.” – Sir William Osler

Work is a magic word. The dictionary meaning of work is ‘an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or a result.’ The purpose can be earning an income, a status, or a name. Work can be termed as labor, toll,exertion, industry, and service. Worship means giving reverence to some apparent, notional, or hidden power to seek blessings to achieve our desired results. It comes from the old English word ‘worth-ship,’ which means giving worth to something. All achievements, happiness, developments, and bright futures emanate from this magic word’ work.’ Thus, work is the very essence and elixir of life. From the stone age to modern times, the great inventions and discoveries of development in all fields are by dint of hard work. When the wise ones said, “work is worship’, they meant doing what we do with a sense of worthiness and respect. When we understand that any work – big or small – is valuable and done with reverence, then our work becomes Worship. 

In 19th century Britain, Thomas Carlyle, one of the bright stars, wrote eight simple words that express his lifelong philosophy: “Blessed is he who has found his work.” Today Carlyle’s words have a deeper significance than ever, “Get your happiness out of your work, or you will never know what real happiness is.” Thomas Carlyle knew better than most men. He struggled against poverty, illness, uncertainty, and despair all his life. He took up several jobs: minister in a Church, teaching, and other professions, but gave up when he could not accept the bigotry, stupidity, and narrow creed and found no joy in his work. Finally, he turned to writing, which he enjoyed throughout his life. In finding the work he loved, he found purpose, direction, and inner satisfaction. 

Khalil Gibran, another eminent philosopher, is worth mentioning here pertaining to the dictum’ Work is Worship’. He said, “If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you leave your work, and sit at the gate of the temple, and take alms of those who work with joy.” 

Only when our work is useful, productive, and wholesome for society can we say that ‘work is worship.’ Otherwise, it will become monotonous and boring. Many people believe that luck plays the most important part in their lives; they avoid work waiting for some miracle. They forget the phrase ‘God helps those who help themselves. The paramount role of action, ‘ karma’ in Hindi, has been admitted and given significant importance by all religions. There is no alternative to hard work done in earnest and with full devotion, even without expectation of any result from work. Because, very emphatically and religiously, it is said in the Gita, the holy scripture of the Hindus by Lord Krishna, “karmanyeadekarastu, ma phalesukadachnna” – which means that your duty is to work without expecting any reward for it. The work itself is the reward, giving you happiness and satisfaction provided the work has been done as Worship. The work done in compulsion without putting your heart into it is a sort of punishment. Slavery or bonded labor is nothing, but work done under pressure and with fear of punishment. 

One of the most important teachings in Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, is “kirat karo, naam japo and vandchhako” (do your work, remember God, and eat the fruit of your work by sharing it with your fellow man). Priority must be given to work. All other worldly affairs come afterward. Let us see what the Holy Bible tells us about work, “Honest hard work, this is something God seeks from all of us. Working hard but with faith in mind can lead to the great things God has planned for us. A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the needs of the diligent are fully satisfied. Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense that only hard work brings profit. Mere talks lead to poverty”. In Islam, work is given special importance to the extent that it is considered an act of Worship. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was a hardworking person even before he was chosen as a messenger of God. In Buddhism, the ‘right efforts’ is a central teaching of the Eightfold Path. I remember the following words while undergoing a ten-day Vipassana meditation course taught by the late Shri S.N. Goenka, “Work. Work. Work. Work diligently, work ardently, work intelligently, and work patiently and persistently. You will be successful.” 

It is necessary to understand that only hard work brings greatness in life with aim and purpose. Work is real Worship. Without work, our life is a waste. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. ‘Work like a Trojan’ means work extremely hard. Work done as Worship works wonders. So let us work like an eager beaver. 

Zile Singh is a well respected Columnist, Writer and a Vipassana Meditater. He has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights.  He can be reached at zsnirwal@yahoo.ca