Gita Journal Day 4: Let the Work Be the Offering

in The Ink Well23 days ago

Week 1, Day 4 – Work as Worship
"Work done as a sacrifice for the Supreme must be performed, otherwise, work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O Arjuna, perform your duties for His satisfaction, and you will always remain free from bondage." — Bhagavad Gita 3.9

This verse really shifted my perspective on how I view my daily responsibilities.

Today, I thought about how often I work to "get it done" or to check something off my list. I chase deadlines, validation, or routine, but Krishna says work itself can become sacred when done in the right spirit.

It’s not about giving everything up and living in a cave. It’s about why I do what I do. If I cook for my family with love, that’s devotion. If I write or create or clean or care for others without selfish expectation, it becomes an offering—an act of yoga.

The bondage comes when I work only for reward, praise, or personal gain. That leads to frustration, restlessness, and always wanting more. But if I do my duty with sincerity, and let go of the "what will I get?" mindset… then even the simplest action becomes freeing.

Today, I want to do things with this spirit in mind. Not for applause, not for ego, but as a quiet offering to something higher—whatever that means to me.

Lessons from Today’s Reading:

  1. Work done with selfish motives creates stress and bondage.
  2. Offering our actions with devotion purifies the mind and brings inner peace.
  3. Even ordinary tasks can become spiritual when done with the right intention.

Actions for the Day:

  1. Choose one task today—big or small—and do it mindfully as an offering, not for reward.
  2. Pause before starting work and say mentally: “I offer this with love and sincerity.”
  3. Reflect at the end of the day: did I act out of service or out of ego?

Note: The images used in this blog are AI-generated And the writings are taken fromthe Hindu Holy boo,k The Bhagavad Gita.

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