Being a Modern-Day Warkari: Finding Divinity in the Everyday
Discover how Sant Tukaram's timeless wisdom can guide us in finding divinity in daily work. Embrace mindfulness, devotion, and purpose to transform your routine into a path of joy and self-discovery.
As I sip my morning chai and prepare for the day ahead, a thought nudges me gently. What would Sant Tukaram say if he saw us now—racing deadlines, lost in pings, and tangled in a web of ambitions? Would he see us as wanderers, not of the Pandharpur pilgrimage but of a corporate jungle, seeking something we cannot name? Could he teach us how to find God—not in distant temples, but right here, in the monotony and chaos of our daily grind?
I often wonder if I can be a modern-day warkari, walking my own dindi (pilgrimage) to Pandharpur—not with bare feet but with an open heart. Warkaris like Sant Tukaram carried God not just on their lips but in their hearts, chanting his name while they sowed fields or traded goods. Their lives were a testament that devotion and duty could be one. And I ask myself, “Can I too find God, not despite my work but through it?”
Finding God in the Mundane
The warkari life is not about renouncing the world but embracing it. Sant Tukaram believed that the essence of life lay in karma yoga—the union of action and devotion. When we pour our full selves into our work, doing it with honesty, integrity, and the steadfast focus of a prayer, we transform it into worship.
A homemaker preparing meals, for instance, can channel Sant Tukaram’s wisdom by seeing the act of cooking as nurturing life, infusing it with care and love. A teacher guiding restless students can find godliness by seeing their work as shaping minds and futures. Even a coder debugging lines of code can turn frustration into meditation by focusing on the problem-solving process as a path to clarity.
Sant Tukaram reminds us:
"The name of God is the key to joy,
Carry it with you, wherever you go."
In those words lies the secret to living fully and finding joy in the simplest of tasks.
Godliness in the Modern Age
But let’s be honest. In today’s times, where distractions come disguised as notifications and comparison is an uninvited guest, how do we keep Sant Tukaram’s spirit alive?
Mindfulness at Work:
When we anchor ourselves in the present moment, we imbibe Sant Tukaram’s teachings. Before opening your laptop, take a moment to center yourself. Breathe. Offer your effort as if it were a hymn.Seeing Work as a Gift:
Sant Tukaram often said, "One who does his work with devotion serves God." Every challenge we face at work—the difficult conversation, the tiresome routine—is an opportunity to grow spiritually.Remembering the Divine:
A simple namasmarana (chanting the divine name) in the mind, even amidst a packed schedule, can turn the mundane into something sacred. For example, a daily commuter stuck in traffic can use that time to reflect on gratitude or chant a silent prayer instead of succumbing to frustration.Finding Your Pandharpur:
For the warkari, Pandharpur was not just a place; it was an inner state of blissful connection. What is your Pandharpur? Perhaps it’s the joy of completing a task well, the peace in a meaningful conversation, or the stillness of the night after a hard day’s work.
The Journey Within
As I write this, I realize this isn’t just an intellectual exercise; it’s a call to live differently. To find God, not outside but within. To embrace life with all its messiness, its joys and struggles, and to see the divine thread running through it all.
When we integrate Sant Tukaram’s teachings, we don’t just become better at work; we become more human. We find a deeper connection with ourselves, with others, and with the universe.
So, I urge you, dear reader—pick up the proverbial tambura of devotion. Walk your own dindi through your office, your home, your life. Chant your own abhangas in the quiet of your heart. Discover that you are never alone; the divine walks with you, in you, as you.
And in this journey of steadfast work and mindful devotion, may you find not just God but yourself.
As Sant Tukaram sang,
"The name of God is the key to joy,
Carry it with you, wherever you go."
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Interesting point of view bhai