Well, I don't presume to preach at you Steve or "counsel" you as if I am some wise guy. But I do want to say that work
is meditation if it is done with awareness. I say this from my own experience and supported by the advice of sages. Often what people call meditation
isn't meditation. Anything one does from one's center is meditation. I think it is important to stress the fact that meditation and activity does not need to be divided. This is a false division. But one has to do activity with the right quality of consciousness. People work with a rajasic, or overactive, mindset. Outwardly, we may be very amiable with others - being good sports - and yet have no inner calmness. We may do herculean deeds, save the world, but if done from a restlessness consciousness it doesn't lead to yoga. As I have said on other forums, real karma yoga is not as much about the deed done as the consciousness with which the deed is done. This is not some "goody goody" consciousness, but a calmness and peace which is naturally uplifting. As sages have said, true karma yoga is action done without the sense of "doership", a less pronounced concept that "I am doing something".
Sometimes it is good to slow down ones actions to almost a ridiculous degree (although your employer may take issue with this). This is good for counteracting the rajas quality of the mind, I have found. If you are picking up a stapler, pick up the stapler in slow motion, as if watching yourself do it in slow motion. Are you present in the act of picking up a stapler, or are you entertaining 1000 thoughts? You know what I mean. As you practice this, you can speed up your activity without losing your presence of mind as easily.
I apologize if I am telling you something you already know.
