"Here there is no talk of the world's affairs - those matters that make wild the hearts of men." Chia Tao (779-843); trans. Mike O'Connor

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Sept. 27, 2008 - Buddhism and Counseling Someone Who Fears Losing a Job

As a Buddhist, I would not counsel them. Instead, I would listen closely to their fears and be deeply present with them while they are suffering. Listening, at first, is best. It is far too easy to give a facile opinion or a phony pep talk. They certainly do not need to hear how I survived being fired nor how it is all some wonderful part of a deity's great plan.

If they ask my opinion or how a Buddhist would deal with this fear of possibly being cut from a job, then I would offer my perspective. We suffer because we create attachments to transitory things. Our bodies will age and fail, our relationships will change, and jobs will come and go despite our fervent wishes and best laid plans. This clinging to impermanent things creates the fear that it may all disappear. But it will all disappear, so perhaps we should rethink our perceptions and attachments.

Buddhism offers an eightfold path as a way to end suffering and our addiction to transitory attachments. It is based on looking at the world as it really is and not on our delusions of how we would like it to be. But, a person who is suffering from a deeply seated fear does not need to hear theology or philosophy. They need a friend who listens and will support them and who will be there to answer questions when the person is ready to ask.

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