Merton - The Value of Essential Works , by Scott Horton

If the student desires to go forth and teach, he will be given a work to do—that is, if he will honestly, sincerely, and intelligently prepare himself for his labors.

More important is the realization that finding something worth doing indefinitely is more powerful and exciting than any type of security, comfort, stability, or respect a job might offer. Fighting for the opportunity to do this work is what matters, whether or not you make money from it in the short term.

his classic essay “Buddhist Economics,” Schumacher points out that work serves to feed our basic need for association with other people. In fact, work supplies several of our basic human needs:5 1. It gives people a chance to utilize and develop their faculties. 2. It enables people to overcome their ego-centeredness by joining with others in a com

Work done for a reward is much lower than work done in the Yoga of wisdom. Set thy heart upon thy work, but never on its reward. Work not for the reward; but never cease to do thy work. —THE BHAGAVAD GITA

When we do the work for itself alone, our pursuit of a career (or a living or fame or wealth or notoriety) turns into something else, something loftier and nobler, which we may never even have thought about or aspired to at the beginning. It turns into a practice.