Dharma or Religious Principles: Occupational Duty

Q. How should we understand that ultimately we are not the doer of our activity? How to keep this understanding always and work, because many times when we work we often get carried away thinking that actually I'm the doer (and it appears to be so)?

With some introspection, guided by spiritual intelligence from Bhagavad-Gita, we can recognize that we are not the ultimate doer. We discussed this in a previous digest (Digest78):

Q. Part 1: If at work, whether in business, education, or the military, etc., one is told to do something dishonest, is it the worker's responsibility to refuse an order or does the responsibility for that action fall upon the superior?

Q. "In short, sinful activity cannot be brought under the purview of 'offering everything to Krishna.'" (Narada Bhakti Sutra 35)

Could you please elaborate on the above? Because so many devotees say that whatever you do, you should offer it to Krishna. For example, suppose I am a software engineer, if I develop some software and it is used for something sinful in the first place, then how can I offer it to Krishna? But devotees recommend offering it.

Q. In BG As It Is chapter 3, Srila Prabhupada clarifies that the performance of sacrifices for Krishna (Vishnu) are required for spiritual elevation and for comfortable living in the material world. He goes on in verses 3.10, 3.12, 3.13 (and perhaps others) to elaborate that sacrifices are very difficult to perform in this age, but that the merciful Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has made the sankirtan sacrifice more available for this purpose.

Q. How to cope up with envy in this competitive world? I am working for a software company which is always full of competition and peer pressures. Even if I try to ignore the peer pressure, at times this attitude itself is leading me to inefficiency in work or stagnation. How to develop the right attitude at work place without yielding to envy and at the same time improving the efficiency? I need some practical tips that I can follow on a day to day basis.

Q. 1. Time-management is a big issue for students. While it is important to be responsible in our studies, there is also a desire to spend more time in spiritual activities. How can a neophyte with a very biased priority learn to balance time between sadhana, other spiritual activities and day-to-day work?

Q. I was living happily in this world getting good material opulence by the mercy of Lord. But in midst of this, I came across the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness and it opened my eyes as what I was doing with my life. But very often there have been times when I was working in ignorance trying to be happy in this world and put all my energy into mundane research. But sometimes I get glimpse of knowledge about this world and feel a great repentance and foolishness on my part.

Q. What should a common man like me (Teacher by profession) do in his life, i.e. what activities should he perform apart from chanting? I mean to say what should I do to serve God apart from chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra? Would you list some activities? Please give me some guidelines on decision making on mundane tasks.

If our purpose and goal of life are very clear, then it becomes easier to ascertain one's day-to-day activities and decisions in a manner that will bring one closer to that goal.

Q. In his purport to BG 2.27 Srila Prabhupada discusses that Arjuna had no reason to lament the results of discharging his Ksatriya duties because the Battle of Kuruksetra was inevitable and duties must be properly discharged even in such unfortunate circumstances. 

Q. In the Introduction to The Nectar of Devotion we find the following statement from Srila Prabhupada: "Described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam are nine different processes, besides which everything done is unfavorable to Krishna consciousness. Thus, one should always be guarding against falldowns."
What is/are the form(s) of devotional service that we can directly connect to our occupational duties, specifically in a workplace outside the home?