Q & A with Robina

A rock painted with mantras near Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu. Photo: Ven. Katy Cole.

QUESTION

Dear Ven. Robina,

My new pursuit is going back to school for nursing. I've been contemplating this career shift for a while.

Although I'm 90% leaning toward making the decision to go to nursing school, my mother warns me about what a terrible decision it is and to stay in my current job, which I am very dissatisfied with.

My question is how do I know what to base my decision on? Are the things that hinder me more of avoiding the unpleasantness of the eight worldly dharmas?

Thank you for your time.

P

ANSWER

Dear P,

As for what direction to take your life in in terms of a career, why don’t you explain clear to me why you think that being a nurse is the best way to go?

Let’s discuss!

Robina

QUESTION

Dear Robina,

First of all, I admit that in being a nurse I will be making more money, better job opportunities, have more privileges (when making medical decisions) and earn more respect than my current job, which I know seem like worldly dharma.

But ultimately, the high income, flexible schedule will allow me to travel to Dharma teachings. Being a nurse will also provide me opportunities that will challenge my mind and practice as it can be a very stressful job. I also like the idea that with nursing I can help people in times of trauma, I also want a job where I interact with patients directly. 

But what hinders me (and once again I acknowledge this is worldly dharmas) is the “dirtiness” of the jobs, such as cleaning poop and vomit and inserting catheters into urinary tracts, the anticipated complaints from patients, family and doctors. I also think of the heavy loads I'll have to deal with.

Also going back to school will make me take out a huge loan and at the same time I'm paying a mortgage.

And those are my reasons for both pursing and not pursing. Thanks for your input!

Love,

P

ANSWER

Good, P. 

As His Holiness says, “Always aspire to do what is most beneficial – and, if we can, longterm better than short term.” So, if your main motivation is to have more time, more flexibility, more money so that you can spend more time on your Dharma activities, then it’s perfect. Don’t worry about the dirtiness; you’ll get used to it!

But, on the other hand, lots of jobs will bring those same advantages, so be really clear what you want. What are your main talents, skills? What do you like doing best?

You see, if you did a job for a Dharma center, let’s say, even if it’s a low job, it’d be infinitely more virtuous karma for you because a Dharma center is what the lamas refer to as a “powerful object.” That is to say, in most things we do, the motivation is the key factor that determines whether the action is positive or negative, which of course means that the seed it plants in the mind is positive or negative, which in turn determines whether the result it happiness or suffering.

On the other hand, any job we do in relation to a powerful object such as a Dharma center, our lamas, the buddha, the sangha, et., etc., creates so much positive karma, even without much of a good motivation.

In other words, let’s say you were an accountant, if you were to work for a dharma center the virtuous karma would be so powerful – because it’s for a powerful object. Even cleaning the toilets would create so much virtue!

As a nun, I’ve always done one kind of job or another, using the skills I learned beforehand. First I worked for ten years for Wisdom Publications, then edited Mandala, then ran the prison project. In themselves, these actions aren’t “Dharma” in their nature, but only because they were for my lamas, and the subject matter was Dharma, they created lots of virtue. One year I ran a little center on Paros, a Greek island. I did the shopping every day, cleaned the rooms, cleaned up the cat shit (as well as teaching, of course) - but what made me happy to do it was because it was for my lamas, and it was a Dharma center. 

The bottom line is, at the time of death we need to have accumulated lots of good virtuous seeds for our next life. That’s the longterm view – well, it’s the short term longterm view! Enlightenment is the real longterm.

So, think about what you really want.

Love,

Robina