"Spiritual Aspirations While Being Involved In Business..."

 Shrimad Rajchandra, the self-realised soul (who was also a guide, helper & best friend to Mahatma Gandhi), was also a householder like you & I, & was involved in business dealings.  In HIS journal, HE wrote about how to behave & deal with business partners.

What He has written shows how it is possible to be plunged in business dealings while at the same time keep the aim of completely retired (detached) life.

This is an extract from “Shreemad Rajchandra Jeevankala” by Shri Brahmachariji, translated by Dinubhai Patel, p117-118.

“One with whom you have joined to work in worldly life, you declare to him your decision to work in your behaviour with him in a certain way. 


If he accepts it you carry on as per your decision. 


If he does not accept your decision, try to follow his way but at the same time you tell him that whatever work he entrusts you in business you will perform it with due care not to harm him or the business even though you would keep faith in your way of work.

You tell him that he should not think of you any time with a fear that you may bring him to any loss or disrespect. 


Regarding business life, you would never wish to go against him as your partner in business. 


Not only that but in case he finds your behaviour by thought, word or deed goes against his interest you express him sorrow & feel repentance for it & say that you will take care in advance not to repeat it, & that you will remain non-egoistic while carrying out his work entrusted to you. 


Say to him that you will gladly accept any harsh words for your mistaken behaviour from his point of view. 


So long as you can, you will not even in dream think of doing any harm to him, nor would you ever imagine any way of harming him.

In case he has anytime any adverse doubts about your thinking or behaviour, he should immediately tell you about it and for doing so you will feel always obliged to him, & that you will explain to him as to why did you behave that way. 


In case you have no explanation, you shall keep quiet but you will never tell a lie.

Please tell him that what you expect of him is only that keeping you as an instrument he should never start any harmful act; he is free to behave as he wishes & in so doing you have nothing more to say. 


Say to him that he should allow you to behave in your way of non-attachment & he should not restrict his heart in so doing, & in case he desires to stop you from behaving as a non-attached soul then he should forewarn you so that you can decide what to do in such a situation.

So long as it is in your power you would never trouble him in any way but in case he dislikes your behaviour as a non-attached soul, tell him that you will clear out of the joint business very carefully, quietly, informing him in advance & bringing him much profit in business & with no intention of doing any harm during the time you are in business with him or even for a long time after you clear out of it.”

What from here can you take & apply in your own everyday business dealings?