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The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling
An inspiring guide to finding your life’s purpose—what spiritual teachers call dharma—through mindfulness and self-exploration.
Stephen Cope says that in order to have a fulfilling life you must discover the deep purpose hidden at the very core of your self. The secret to unlocking this mystery, he asserts, can be found in the pages of a two-thousand-year-old spiritual classic called the Bhagavad Gita —an ancient allegory about the path to dharma, told through a timeless dialogue between the fabled archer, Arjuna, and his divine mentor, Krishna. Cope takes readers on a step-by-step tour of this revered tale and highlights well-known Western lives that embody its central principles—including such luminaries as Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony, John Keats, and Harriet Tubman, along with stories of ordinary people as well. If you’re feeling lost in your own life’s journey, The Great Work of Your Life may help you to find and to embrace your true calling.
Praise for The Great Work of Your Life
“Keep a pen and paper handy as you read this remarkable It’s like an owner’s manual for the soul.” —Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion
“A masterwork . . . You’ll find inspiration in these pages. You’ll gain a better appreciation of divine guidance and perhaps even understand how you might better hear it in your own life.” — Yoga Journal
“I am moved and inspired by this book, the clarity and beauty of the lives lived in it, and the timeless dharma it teaches.” —Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart
“A rich source of contemplation and inspiration [that] encourages readers . . . to discover and fully pursue their inner self’s calling.” — Publishers Weekly
“Fabulous . . . If you have ever wondered what your purpose is, this book is a great guide to help you on your path.” —YogaHara
Stephen Cope says that in order to have a fulfilling life you must discover the deep purpose hidden at the very core of your self. The secret to unlocking this mystery, he asserts, can be found in the pages of a two-thousand-year-old spiritual classic called the Bhagavad Gita —an ancient allegory about the path to dharma, told through a timeless dialogue between the fabled archer, Arjuna, and his divine mentor, Krishna. Cope takes readers on a step-by-step tour of this revered tale and highlights well-known Western lives that embody its central principles—including such luminaries as Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony, John Keats, and Harriet Tubman, along with stories of ordinary people as well. If you’re feeling lost in your own life’s journey, The Great Work of Your Life may help you to find and to embrace your true calling.
Praise for The Great Work of Your Life
“Keep a pen and paper handy as you read this remarkable It’s like an owner’s manual for the soul.” —Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion
“A masterwork . . . You’ll find inspiration in these pages. You’ll gain a better appreciation of divine guidance and perhaps even understand how you might better hear it in your own life.” — Yoga Journal
“I am moved and inspired by this book, the clarity and beauty of the lives lived in it, and the timeless dharma it teaches.” —Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart
“A rich source of contemplation and inspiration [that] encourages readers . . . to discover and fully pursue their inner self’s calling.” — Publishers Weekly
“Fabulous . . . If you have ever wondered what your purpose is, this book is a great guide to help you on your path.” —YogaHara
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2012
777 people are currently reading
5592 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Cope
33 books186 followersStephen Cope is the director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, the largest yoga research institute in the Western world—with a team of scientists affiliated with major medical schools on the East coast, primarily Harvard Medical School. He has been for many years the senior scholar in residence at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, and is the author of four best-selling books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
December 21, 2013
Finding this book was very crucial for me. For years, I've been trying to fit myself into an expected mold. My parents were born during the Great Depression. They came from very poor families, and to them, success was a job that didn't involve physical labor or coming home covered in dirt. My dad wore a suit and tie to work. That was a measure of success.
I was raised to want to work in an office. Actually, my parents wanted me to become a pharmacist, but I couldn't imagine anything more boring. I was artsy. I majored in music. And then I ended up working in an office. This is what I was supposed to do.
But it wasn't. And for twenty years, I forced it to work. But I was never completely happy. And over the years, I became ill. From the recycled air in building where you couldn't open the windows. From sitting 8+ hours per day, 5 or more days per week.
We weren't made to do that. Our bodies were never meant to be so stagnant. Now that I'm finally healthy again, I don't ever want to go back to corporate. I don't want to sit for 8 hours per day. I want something that allows me to be active and yes, even to get dirty.
Stephen Cope had a similar journey. Trained as a psychotherapist, he went to the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health for a four month retreat...and never left. He found his dharma, his calling, there as the Director of the Institute for Extraordinary Living.
Cope has written several books, but this was the first of his that I've read. I plan on reading the rest, too. This book focuses on the Bhagavad Gita and the lessons Krishna taught to Arjuna:
1. Look to your dharma. Discern, name, and then embrace your own dharma.
2. Do it full out! Do it with every fiber of your being. Commit yourself utterly.
3. Let go of the fruits. Relinquish the fruits of your actions. Success and failure in the eyes of the world are not your concern. "It is better to fail at your own dharma than to succeed at the dharma of someone else."
4. Turn it over to God. All true vocation arises in the stream of love that flows between the individual soul and the divine soul.
Cope uses the stories of Jane Goodall, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Ghandi and man others, as well as his own friends to illustrate what happens when dharma is embraced or pushed aside.
There are so many great points in this book, I can't share them all, but here are a few favorites:
•"Dharma," he says,"is the essential nature of a being, comprising the sum of its particular qualities or characteristics, and determining, by virtue of the tendencies or dispositions it implies, the manner in which this being with conduct itself, either in a general way or in relation to each particular circumstance." The word dharma in this teaching, then refers to the peculiar and idiosyncratic qualities of each being.
•Remember Krishna's teaching: We cannot be anyone we want to be. We can only authentically be who we are. If you bring forth what is within you it will save you. If you do not, it will destroy you. And what, precisely is destroyed? Energy is destroyed first. Those shining eyes. And then faith. And then hope. And then life itself.
•The false self is a collection of ideas we have in our minds about who we should be.
•Furthermore, at a certain age it finally dawns on us that, shockingly, no one really cares what we're doing with our life. This is a most unsettling discovery to those of us who have lived someone else's dream and eschewed our own: No one really cares except us. When you scratch the surface, you finally discover that it doesn't really matter a whit who else you disappoint if you're disappointing yourself. The only question that makes sense to ask is: Is your life working for you?
•With the name came a flood of regret. It was not the tidal wave of hope and relief he had counted on. Learning to embrace The Gift at midlife is complicated. Because naming The Gift and celebrating it also means grieving for lost opportunities. They mean facing squarely the suffering of self-betrayal.
•We in twenty-first-century American have strange dreams and fantasies about retirement. We imagine a life of leisure. The Golden Years. But what is this leisure in the service of?
•The fear of leaping is, of course, the fear of death. It is precisely the fear of being used up. And dharma does use us up, to be sure. But why not be used up giving everything we've got to the world? This is precisely what Krishna teaches Arjuna: You cannot hold on to your life. You don't need to. You are immortal.
•"Like Henry James' obscure hurt and Dostoevsky's holy disease, even Beethoven's loss of hearing was in some sense necessary or at least useful, to the fulfillment of his creative quest." Mysteriously, The Gift issues forth out of The Wound. It does not quite heal The Wound, but it makes sense of it. It gives it meaning. And meaning is everything.
•He teaches that our decisions about our actions flow inexorably from our understanding of who we are. And if we do not know who we are, we will make poor choices.
•Ghandi was discovering the power of simplification and renunciation. He stumbled onto a truth widely known by yogis: Every time we discerningly renounce a possession, we free up energy that can be channeled into the pursuit of dharma.
•"If you don't find your work in the world and throw yourself wholeheartedly into it, you will inevitably make your self your work. There's no way around it: You will take your self as your primary project. You will, in the very best case, dedicate your life to the perfection of your self. To the perfection of your health, intelligence, beauty, home or even spiritual prowess. And the problem is simply this: This self-dedication is too small a work. It inevitably becomes a prison."
Even before I started this book, I had already begun to pare my lifestyle down. I had the lifestyle of someone who could buy many Kate Spade handbags and lots of pretty toys. But I don't want to do the work that brings that anymore. So, I have adopted a lifestyle that allows me to stay away from the corporate world (for now at least.) My goal is to live as simply yet comfortably as I can. And I no longer measure myself against other people's definition of success. It's okay if your definition of success means having a certain car, home, or lifestyle. It's okay, too, for me to define success as being able to breathe in fresh air, to go to the Yoga classes I want to, and to not be chained to an office.
Highly recommend.
I was raised to want to work in an office. Actually, my parents wanted me to become a pharmacist, but I couldn't imagine anything more boring. I was artsy. I majored in music. And then I ended up working in an office. This is what I was supposed to do.
But it wasn't. And for twenty years, I forced it to work. But I was never completely happy. And over the years, I became ill. From the recycled air in building where you couldn't open the windows. From sitting 8+ hours per day, 5 or more days per week.
We weren't made to do that. Our bodies were never meant to be so stagnant. Now that I'm finally healthy again, I don't ever want to go back to corporate. I don't want to sit for 8 hours per day. I want something that allows me to be active and yes, even to get dirty.
Stephen Cope had a similar journey. Trained as a psychotherapist, he went to the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health for a four month retreat...and never left. He found his dharma, his calling, there as the Director of the Institute for Extraordinary Living.
Cope has written several books, but this was the first of his that I've read. I plan on reading the rest, too. This book focuses on the Bhagavad Gita and the lessons Krishna taught to Arjuna:
1. Look to your dharma. Discern, name, and then embrace your own dharma.
2. Do it full out! Do it with every fiber of your being. Commit yourself utterly.
3. Let go of the fruits. Relinquish the fruits of your actions. Success and failure in the eyes of the world are not your concern. "It is better to fail at your own dharma than to succeed at the dharma of someone else."
4. Turn it over to God. All true vocation arises in the stream of love that flows between the individual soul and the divine soul.
Cope uses the stories of Jane Goodall, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Ghandi and man others, as well as his own friends to illustrate what happens when dharma is embraced or pushed aside.
There are so many great points in this book, I can't share them all, but here are a few favorites:
•"Dharma," he says,"is the essential nature of a being, comprising the sum of its particular qualities or characteristics, and determining, by virtue of the tendencies or dispositions it implies, the manner in which this being with conduct itself, either in a general way or in relation to each particular circumstance." The word dharma in this teaching, then refers to the peculiar and idiosyncratic qualities of each being.
•Remember Krishna's teaching: We cannot be anyone we want to be. We can only authentically be who we are. If you bring forth what is within you it will save you. If you do not, it will destroy you. And what, precisely is destroyed? Energy is destroyed first. Those shining eyes. And then faith. And then hope. And then life itself.
•The false self is a collection of ideas we have in our minds about who we should be.
•Furthermore, at a certain age it finally dawns on us that, shockingly, no one really cares what we're doing with our life. This is a most unsettling discovery to those of us who have lived someone else's dream and eschewed our own: No one really cares except us. When you scratch the surface, you finally discover that it doesn't really matter a whit who else you disappoint if you're disappointing yourself. The only question that makes sense to ask is: Is your life working for you?
•With the name came a flood of regret. It was not the tidal wave of hope and relief he had counted on. Learning to embrace The Gift at midlife is complicated. Because naming The Gift and celebrating it also means grieving for lost opportunities. They mean facing squarely the suffering of self-betrayal.
•We in twenty-first-century American have strange dreams and fantasies about retirement. We imagine a life of leisure. The Golden Years. But what is this leisure in the service of?
•The fear of leaping is, of course, the fear of death. It is precisely the fear of being used up. And dharma does use us up, to be sure. But why not be used up giving everything we've got to the world? This is precisely what Krishna teaches Arjuna: You cannot hold on to your life. You don't need to. You are immortal.
•"Like Henry James' obscure hurt and Dostoevsky's holy disease, even Beethoven's loss of hearing was in some sense necessary or at least useful, to the fulfillment of his creative quest." Mysteriously, The Gift issues forth out of The Wound. It does not quite heal The Wound, but it makes sense of it. It gives it meaning. And meaning is everything.
•He teaches that our decisions about our actions flow inexorably from our understanding of who we are. And if we do not know who we are, we will make poor choices.
•Ghandi was discovering the power of simplification and renunciation. He stumbled onto a truth widely known by yogis: Every time we discerningly renounce a possession, we free up energy that can be channeled into the pursuit of dharma.
•"If you don't find your work in the world and throw yourself wholeheartedly into it, you will inevitably make your self your work. There's no way around it: You will take your self as your primary project. You will, in the very best case, dedicate your life to the perfection of your self. To the perfection of your health, intelligence, beauty, home or even spiritual prowess. And the problem is simply this: This self-dedication is too small a work. It inevitably becomes a prison."
Even before I started this book, I had already begun to pare my lifestyle down. I had the lifestyle of someone who could buy many Kate Spade handbags and lots of pretty toys. But I don't want to do the work that brings that anymore. So, I have adopted a lifestyle that allows me to stay away from the corporate world (for now at least.) My goal is to live as simply yet comfortably as I can. And I no longer measure myself against other people's definition of success. It's okay if your definition of success means having a certain car, home, or lifestyle. It's okay, too, for me to define success as being able to breathe in fresh air, to go to the Yoga classes I want to, and to not be chained to an office.
Highly recommend.
December 8, 2012
This book centers around the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Hindu text, and the concept of dharma, one's true calling in life. Cope uses the story and characters in the Gita to frame 11 different biographical chapters about famous people who have followed their dharma and serve as perfect examples of how to find one's own and why it is important to do so.
I found this book very interesting in terms of the history of the famous figures (such as Keats, Frost, and Goodall) and the study of how each discovered and nurtured their true callings. I also learned a lot about dharma itself and what it means. I was disappointed with the lack of inclusion of "ordinary" figures. Cope does cover them, but compared to the amount of content on the famous figures it is slight. He stressed a few times that even if it's "stamp collecting, no matter what your dharma is, it is important and you should consider it your great work. However, I found it interesting and a bit insulting to be honest that he did not focus much on these "stamp collectors". If your dharma truly was that, how seriously can you take yourself when most of Cope's focus is on brilliant musicians, poets, writers, and the like? He tells us not to worry, that no matter what we do it is important but you wouldn't really know that based on where he spends most of his time in this book. I actually skipped the last 2 chapters of the book and only skimmed through Beethoven because by that point things were getting a little monotonous.
Despite all that, I was inspired by the book. I know a life in books (reviewing them, reading them, recommending (or not recommending) them, encouraging children to read them) is my dharma but I also wonder is motherhood my dharma also? Can you have two dharmas? Cope doesn't address that at all from what I remember. Overall, this was the first book I've read in the yoga genre and I find it fascinating that the term "yoga" encompasses so much more than the physical poses. Cope has written other books in the genre and I think I'll read them to learn more about the yoga tradition.
I found this book very interesting in terms of the history of the famous figures (such as Keats, Frost, and Goodall) and the study of how each discovered and nurtured their true callings. I also learned a lot about dharma itself and what it means. I was disappointed with the lack of inclusion of "ordinary" figures. Cope does cover them, but compared to the amount of content on the famous figures it is slight. He stressed a few times that even if it's "stamp collecting, no matter what your dharma is, it is important and you should consider it your great work. However, I found it interesting and a bit insulting to be honest that he did not focus much on these "stamp collectors". If your dharma truly was that, how seriously can you take yourself when most of Cope's focus is on brilliant musicians, poets, writers, and the like? He tells us not to worry, that no matter what we do it is important but you wouldn't really know that based on where he spends most of his time in this book. I actually skipped the last 2 chapters of the book and only skimmed through Beethoven because by that point things were getting a little monotonous.
Despite all that, I was inspired by the book. I know a life in books (reviewing them, reading them, recommending (or not recommending) them, encouraging children to read them) is my dharma but I also wonder is motherhood my dharma also? Can you have two dharmas? Cope doesn't address that at all from what I remember. Overall, this was the first book I've read in the yoga genre and I find it fascinating that the term "yoga" encompasses so much more than the physical poses. Cope has written other books in the genre and I think I'll read them to learn more about the yoga tradition.
February 16, 2013
I enjoyed this book, although there's nothing terribly deep about it. For me it functioned more as an emotional boost, a pat on the back for having chosen an impractical pursuit that means a great deal to me over a more predictable work life. Sometimes you gotta get those props. The book's message is: You have to find your dharma (life path) and commit to it... hard to argue with, but if you're someone who has no idea what that path is, or runs into serious obstacles (like the need to put food on the table) in attempting to pursue it, I'm not sure what this book could do for you. The anecdotal passages on figures like Keats, Robert Frost, and Beethoven are all interesting, and Cope's writing style is competent and easygoing.
The main reason I'm glad to have read this book is that it has introduced me to the Baghavad Gita--and sent me to the original. Bought Eknath Easwaran's translation and am looking forward to exploring.
The main reason I'm glad to have read this book is that it has introduced me to the Baghavad Gita--and sent me to the original. Bought Eknath Easwaran's translation and am looking forward to exploring.
April 14, 2021
This was an interesting read for me! I love reading yoga books, and I had just recently read the Bhagavad Gita for my yoga teacher training which helped me understand this book better as it refers to the teachings of the Gita. This book had a lot of great messages about not only finding your dharma (life’s purpose) but also living it everyday. The book used many famous historical figures as examples of how they lived their lives according to their dharma. I felt I learned a lot from this book, and it inspired me to continue exploring my dharma.
There were so many great quotes. I wish I had highlighted them all. Here is one I liked from the 19th century French saint, Teresa “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” 💕
There were so many great quotes. I wish I had highlighted them all. Here is one I liked from the 19th century French saint, Teresa “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” 💕
December 29, 2012
This is a feel good book about finding your inner dharma (purpose in your life, or "what lights you up.") It's practical wisdom...bring forth what lights you up and it will save you, or deny it and be unhappy. It cannot be successfully denied. It's totally accessible and doesn't require any knowledge of eastern philosophy, although it's obvious that's what he's basing the book on. The best part of this book for me, was it's interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita, which is extensive. I reread the Bhagavad Gita side by side with it (I highly suggest this) and I saw it in a whole new light. The chapters are examples of people who found their dharma and lived it...Susan B. Anthony, Beethoven, Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost among others. It's very inspiring. Especially if you're an aspiring writer. Really 4 3/4 stars. I grew a little weary of all the examples he gave. I pretty much knew what he was getting at along about Walt Whitman. But they are all interesting biographies. It's well written. 1/4 star off for what is in my opinion, a cheesy title and cover.
November 3, 2012
I'm embarrassed to read his books in public because the titles are so cheesy, but I really enjoy his writing about yoga and psychology. In this book, Cope tells the story of the Bhagavad Gita and cites the lives of many famous and "ordinary" people to illustrate how people can live out Krishna's advice.
This book does not so much serve as a "guide," though. Its "help" comes more as a revelation... like Svadhyaya, the study of self reveals ... it's all so familiar. You know this already. You just have to remind yourself that you know.
Cope writes, "we are not called to everything. We are just called to what we're called to. It is inevitable that authentically good parts of ourselves will not be fulfilled. What a relief."
Indeed.
This book does not so much serve as a "guide," though. Its "help" comes more as a revelation... like Svadhyaya, the study of self reveals ... it's all so familiar. You know this already. You just have to remind yourself that you know.
Cope writes, "we are not called to everything. We are just called to what we're called to. It is inevitable that authentically good parts of ourselves will not be fulfilled. What a relief."
Indeed.
December 6, 2019
Wow, what an amazing read this was!
This book was recommended to me during a time where I am actually at a crossroads in my life by a yoga teacher I greatly admire. I didn't really realise I was at this crossroads until I read the book.
The power of Stephen Cope's writing is that he takes his own exploration as a starting point to guide you as the reader on a journey of some of the most incredible dharma stories. He blends great philosophical concepts, interpretations of old scriptures in a modern-day society, and practical examples, which makes this not only a pleasure to read, but also an incredibly insightful book. Cope's writing is concise and very accessible, making this book suitable for a large audience. And that's a good thing, as I believe everyone should read this book.
As for me, I have highlighted a couple of quotes that seem to point me to my dharma. Stephen Cope, I'd say your mission is accomplished.
This book was recommended to me during a time where I am actually at a crossroads in my life by a yoga teacher I greatly admire. I didn't really realise I was at this crossroads until I read the book.
The power of Stephen Cope's writing is that he takes his own exploration as a starting point to guide you as the reader on a journey of some of the most incredible dharma stories. He blends great philosophical concepts, interpretations of old scriptures in a modern-day society, and practical examples, which makes this not only a pleasure to read, but also an incredibly insightful book. Cope's writing is concise and very accessible, making this book suitable for a large audience. And that's a good thing, as I believe everyone should read this book.
As for me, I have highlighted a couple of quotes that seem to point me to my dharma. Stephen Cope, I'd say your mission is accomplished.
February 21, 2013
"We work first because we have to work. Then because we want to work. Then because we love to work. Then the work simply does us. Difficult at the beginning. Inevitable at the end."
June 22, 2016
Loved this book!
It was recommended by someone on my book club (https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...) and my interest was piqued by their mention that it was based on the Bhagavad Gita. Although the book itself wasn't about the Gita, Stephen Cope used the Gita as the framework to showcase 11 great lives, including my favorites - Thoreau and Gandhi. And also a few others I knew a little about (Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, John Keats and Beethoven), and a few I didn't know much about (Marion Woodman, Harriet Tubman, Susan B Anthony and Camille Corot).
I also appreciated that he weaved in some stories of ordinary people finding and following their Dharma, like a poet friend from college, a priest, and a dean.
I could find a lot of parallels between the journeys of the people mentioned in this book and my own journey of finding and following my Dharma. My Dharma is in helping older souls discover their Dharma (http://www.nestintheforest.com/discov...), so I was surprised that I hadn't run into this book earlier, but now it has me looking up other books by Stephen Cope :)
It was recommended by someone on my book club (https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...) and my interest was piqued by their mention that it was based on the Bhagavad Gita. Although the book itself wasn't about the Gita, Stephen Cope used the Gita as the framework to showcase 11 great lives, including my favorites - Thoreau and Gandhi. And also a few others I knew a little about (Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, John Keats and Beethoven), and a few I didn't know much about (Marion Woodman, Harriet Tubman, Susan B Anthony and Camille Corot).
I also appreciated that he weaved in some stories of ordinary people finding and following their Dharma, like a poet friend from college, a priest, and a dean.
I could find a lot of parallels between the journeys of the people mentioned in this book and my own journey of finding and following my Dharma. My Dharma is in helping older souls discover their Dharma (http://www.nestintheforest.com/discov...), so I was surprised that I hadn't run into this book earlier, but now it has me looking up other books by Stephen Cope :)
September 19, 2012
half way through Stephen's brilliant new book and I know I will a) be quoting it and using it extensively in my own teaching and b) that it is changing how I see my own life. The timing, for me, to be reading this feels like a tap from God.
January 20, 2013
This book was an incredible read. Cope has gone great lengths to share his research of influential people of our present and past and how they found and lived their true callings.
This is a book I will read again and know each time I will find new insight into myself.
This is a book I will read again and know each time I will find new insight into myself.
August 4, 2024
You know how sometimes you read a book and even before you’re finished you’ve bought three other copies to give to the people you love… This is that book for me xx
October 15, 2020
I purchased this book from Amazon after hearing Brooke Castillo mention it on one of her 2016 podcasts. It's not exactly what I expected, but it was still helpful to me. It's full of examples of people in their process of finding their "true calling" more than a list of steps any individual could take. Even so, there is definitely power in example.
The guiding aspect of the book is embedded in the stories that show "the four pillars of dharma." Cope goes through the pillars one by one. Throughout the book he retells the story of Krishna and Arjuna from the Bhagavad Gita in a very simple, understandable way as Arjuna learns how to deal with himself in the face of battle. Cope gives examples from famous people's lives, from composites of people he has known, as well as from his own life. He does some explaining of each principle.
For my own reference. These are the four pillars Cope mentions:
"*Look to your dharma
*Do it full out!
*Let go of the fruits
*Turn it over to God"
I've been thinking a lot about my own life's purpose. I like how Cope mentions some people may already be living their dharma but not recognize it. They might not be choosing it or doing it deliberately. Perhaps I've been one of those people. Choosing the small, simple life one is already living might be enough of a dharma. This book definitely has led me to introspection.
Again, for my benefit, I'm going to write about some things this book helped me consider:
I was thinking about the definition of dharma. Apparently, it has complex meaning. Cope puts individual quotes around these separate groups of words but says it can be translated as "religious and moral law, right conduct, sacred duty, path of righteousness, true nature, and divine order." I was thinking I could translate it to my own faith as meaning God's plan for me, keeping the commandments, stewardship, talents, and righteous desires.
"Doing it full out" could be translated into my own faith as being truly converted; behaving with all my heart, mind and strength; covenant keeping; faith in action; and daily discipleship.
"Let go of the fruits" makes me think about process rather than product. I recently read another book about practicing and living the journey rather than focusing on end results. For most of my life I've been a perfectionist and that hasn't served me. I have looked to success and longed for it without always putting in the work. I haven't always enjoyed the journey. It's so much better to learn step by step, "line upon line, from grace to grace." Accepting reality and our circumstances and working with them can lead us to our great work. Resisting or denying reality "adds pain to pain." I like Cope's example of his mother's reaction when his father learned of his Alzheimer's verses Marion Woodman's response to her cancer diagnosis. They are examples of denial verses acceptance. I also liked learning more about Beethoven and his struggle with deafness which he learned to accept and then thrived.
"Turn it over to God" translates easily into my own faith. Cope tells of the Bhagavad Gita story, "Arjuna, you do not know how to act because you do not know who you are." He talks about our divine nature. He says, "In the yogic view, as in Wordsworth's, it's through remembering who we really are that we are liberated." Of course, that yogic view presented in this book is a little more complicated than my personal view. "The whole world is in each one of us," Cope says. I believe in that connection, but not necessarily literally. "Becoming one" is part of my own faith, but it's a oneness in "spirit, mind, and purpose." I'm still learning about this idea.
In this fourth pillar he also mentions the lessons to "walk by faith" and "take yourself to zero." Again, walking by faith is something clear and obvious to me. Sometimes we have to step into the darkness or just follow the small area of lantern light we have. I'm okay with trusting and action despite not knowing everything all at once. I pay attention to results (evidence) in my life while I'm walking in faith.
Cope uses Gandhi as the example for "take yourself to zero." Gandhi exemplified getting oneself out of the way and "letting God do the work."
I'm glad I own the book. It's thought provoking. I like the examples and the truths. It has reminded me that I need to take time to consider my gifts, my desires, my work, as well as to choose to deliberately and truly live my life.
The guiding aspect of the book is embedded in the stories that show "the four pillars of dharma." Cope goes through the pillars one by one. Throughout the book he retells the story of Krishna and Arjuna from the Bhagavad Gita in a very simple, understandable way as Arjuna learns how to deal with himself in the face of battle. Cope gives examples from famous people's lives, from composites of people he has known, as well as from his own life. He does some explaining of each principle.
For my own reference. These are the four pillars Cope mentions:
"*Look to your dharma
*Do it full out!
*Let go of the fruits
*Turn it over to God"
I've been thinking a lot about my own life's purpose. I like how Cope mentions some people may already be living their dharma but not recognize it. They might not be choosing it or doing it deliberately. Perhaps I've been one of those people. Choosing the small, simple life one is already living might be enough of a dharma. This book definitely has led me to introspection.
Again, for my benefit, I'm going to write about some things this book helped me consider:
I was thinking about the definition of dharma. Apparently, it has complex meaning. Cope puts individual quotes around these separate groups of words but says it can be translated as "religious and moral law, right conduct, sacred duty, path of righteousness, true nature, and divine order." I was thinking I could translate it to my own faith as meaning God's plan for me, keeping the commandments, stewardship, talents, and righteous desires.
"Doing it full out" could be translated into my own faith as being truly converted; behaving with all my heart, mind and strength; covenant keeping; faith in action; and daily discipleship.
"Let go of the fruits" makes me think about process rather than product. I recently read another book about practicing and living the journey rather than focusing on end results. For most of my life I've been a perfectionist and that hasn't served me. I have looked to success and longed for it without always putting in the work. I haven't always enjoyed the journey. It's so much better to learn step by step, "line upon line, from grace to grace." Accepting reality and our circumstances and working with them can lead us to our great work. Resisting or denying reality "adds pain to pain." I like Cope's example of his mother's reaction when his father learned of his Alzheimer's verses Marion Woodman's response to her cancer diagnosis. They are examples of denial verses acceptance. I also liked learning more about Beethoven and his struggle with deafness which he learned to accept and then thrived.
"Turn it over to God" translates easily into my own faith. Cope tells of the Bhagavad Gita story, "Arjuna, you do not know how to act because you do not know who you are." He talks about our divine nature. He says, "In the yogic view, as in Wordsworth's, it's through remembering who we really are that we are liberated." Of course, that yogic view presented in this book is a little more complicated than my personal view. "The whole world is in each one of us," Cope says. I believe in that connection, but not necessarily literally. "Becoming one" is part of my own faith, but it's a oneness in "spirit, mind, and purpose." I'm still learning about this idea.
In this fourth pillar he also mentions the lessons to "walk by faith" and "take yourself to zero." Again, walking by faith is something clear and obvious to me. Sometimes we have to step into the darkness or just follow the small area of lantern light we have. I'm okay with trusting and action despite not knowing everything all at once. I pay attention to results (evidence) in my life while I'm walking in faith.
Cope uses Gandhi as the example for "take yourself to zero." Gandhi exemplified getting oneself out of the way and "letting God do the work."
I'm glad I own the book. It's thought provoking. I like the examples and the truths. It has reminded me that I need to take time to consider my gifts, my desires, my work, as well as to choose to deliberately and truly live my life.
January 27, 2021
I found part of the message of this book very unsettling. I couldn't help but feeling that I could never be like most of the heroes of the book. His examples were famous people who found their life's calling -- at times I felt like it sounded a little like a self-help book advising readers to "find their passion." I could never find my dharma as the author describes it; I have never felt a "calling" to my life's sacred duty,. And I couldn't help feel that most people are like me.
(To be fair, Cope also uses a few examples of how some regular people he has known have followed their "dharma." Unfortunately, with a few notable exceptions, I didn't find those to be compelling examples. Thus I was left with a bunch of famous people, most of whose examples I will never be able to emulate.)
That said, a few of the heroes he described were good examples of following their dharma (i.e., Walt Whitman and Harriet Tubman). This discrepancy between them and many of the other examples he used caused me to think about what 'dharma" should mean -- i.e., what it means to me. The fundamental problem, as I came to see it, was the difference between a "calling, and "being called to a "sacred duty."
A calling is a talent or a an irresistible urge one (a "calling") one has for a particular profession or way of life; it is something, as I think many of his examples demonstrated, that is largely beyond their control, and is/was enabled by a having the means to follow their "passion." I have never had either that exceptional talent or passion for something; my life circumstances didn't allow me that luxury. I suspect that is true of most of us.
To be called to do a sacred duty, on the other hand, is triggered by duty and/or conscience. It is situation dependent; it involves making a commitment; and it is not necessarily a life-decision, i.e., it is not a choice that necessarily lasts a lifetime or involves every ounce of your fiber. It has to be confined to choices anybody can make, or it is worthless, it is for the elite.
It is a situation where you are confronted with a situation that begs for a response, that begs for help -- and you are the one present who can respond. It is an obligation or duty that conflicts with your existing lifestyle, habits, comfort, wealth, etc. -- you are called to duty in the service of others, to make a commitment and sacrifice on behalf of something bigger than you. It doesn't have to be some grand, lifelong commitment that saves humankind -- it can be something small and close to home and time-limited. You have a choice -- are you going to commit yourself, or not? That is your dharma, at least for the time being. We are all confronted with this on occasion. It may not require a lifelong commitment, and there may be other dharmas that call to you in the future.
I think Cope focused to much on the prior, on dharma as a "calling," rather than on dharma as being called to perform a (scared) duty.
(To be fair, Cope also uses a few examples of how some regular people he has known have followed their "dharma." Unfortunately, with a few notable exceptions, I didn't find those to be compelling examples. Thus I was left with a bunch of famous people, most of whose examples I will never be able to emulate.)
That said, a few of the heroes he described were good examples of following their dharma (i.e., Walt Whitman and Harriet Tubman). This discrepancy between them and many of the other examples he used caused me to think about what 'dharma" should mean -- i.e., what it means to me. The fundamental problem, as I came to see it, was the difference between a "calling, and "being called to a "sacred duty."
A calling is a talent or a an irresistible urge one (a "calling") one has for a particular profession or way of life; it is something, as I think many of his examples demonstrated, that is largely beyond their control, and is/was enabled by a having the means to follow their "passion." I have never had either that exceptional talent or passion for something; my life circumstances didn't allow me that luxury. I suspect that is true of most of us.
To be called to do a sacred duty, on the other hand, is triggered by duty and/or conscience. It is situation dependent; it involves making a commitment; and it is not necessarily a life-decision, i.e., it is not a choice that necessarily lasts a lifetime or involves every ounce of your fiber. It has to be confined to choices anybody can make, or it is worthless, it is for the elite.
It is a situation where you are confronted with a situation that begs for a response, that begs for help -- and you are the one present who can respond. It is an obligation or duty that conflicts with your existing lifestyle, habits, comfort, wealth, etc. -- you are called to duty in the service of others, to make a commitment and sacrifice on behalf of something bigger than you. It doesn't have to be some grand, lifelong commitment that saves humankind -- it can be something small and close to home and time-limited. You have a choice -- are you going to commit yourself, or not? That is your dharma, at least for the time being. We are all confronted with this on occasion. It may not require a lifelong commitment, and there may be other dharmas that call to you in the future.
I think Cope focused to much on the prior, on dharma as a "calling," rather than on dharma as being called to perform a (scared) duty.
January 7, 2013
I was excited to begin reading this book for a couple of reasons. I had just finished reading the Bhagavad Gita again, and Cope's previous works have been pretty decent reads. Also, seeing the mostly positive reviews here, had sparked my interest. It is a nice read. However, in my view the book falls short of it's potential for a few reasons.
The tie-in to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita is done well, however, save for the one story of Brian, the rest of the lives of the individuals in the book are almost exclusively of exemplars. While it is understandable that we must study the lives of extraordinary beings in order to mirror them. Most of these individuals had been fortunate enough to have either
a) a mentor, or
b) someone who noticed their Gift at a very early age and was able to steer them along.
Most of them, had both!
What is the unfulfilled, forty year old taxi driver to do with no mentor in sight? How about the extraordinary twenty five year old actor who is waiting tables at Denny's and just hasn't been "discovered" yet? How are they to be helped? I would have liked to have seen more examples of the ordinary individuals that made it, or found their Gift, and the book is lacking in that department.
A further gripe is that almost all of the exemplars in the book are of a small general subset of occupation - artists. And if that wasn't bad enough, three were writers. I have nothing against writers or artists, but it would have been nice to have a greater diversity of occupations as examples. While some of this is understandable to an extent - because Cope is a writer, and this is his passion and what he likes to read about - it still makes the overall feel of the book is geared to a more narrow set of people.
Which isn't to say that there isn't a lot to like in the book. There are many gems to be found within which hit you at just the right moments. Take for example; "If you don't find your work in the world and throw yourself wholeheartedly into it, you will inevitably make yourself (small "s") your work." A good point, and one of the many excellent phrases that are available to jar your mind out of its conditioned thinking.
I also enjoyed the mini-biographies of most of the individuals. Namely, Jane Goodall's story, as well as Ghandi's, are two that stood out in my mind.
The subtitle for the book is called "A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling". Sadly, I feel that, in the end, the book will guide only a very few number of people to that True Calling.
The tie-in to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita is done well, however, save for the one story of Brian, the rest of the lives of the individuals in the book are almost exclusively of exemplars. While it is understandable that we must study the lives of extraordinary beings in order to mirror them. Most of these individuals had been fortunate enough to have either
a) a mentor, or
b) someone who noticed their Gift at a very early age and was able to steer them along.
Most of them, had both!
What is the unfulfilled, forty year old taxi driver to do with no mentor in sight? How about the extraordinary twenty five year old actor who is waiting tables at Denny's and just hasn't been "discovered" yet? How are they to be helped? I would have liked to have seen more examples of the ordinary individuals that made it, or found their Gift, and the book is lacking in that department.
A further gripe is that almost all of the exemplars in the book are of a small general subset of occupation - artists. And if that wasn't bad enough, three were writers. I have nothing against writers or artists, but it would have been nice to have a greater diversity of occupations as examples. While some of this is understandable to an extent - because Cope is a writer, and this is his passion and what he likes to read about - it still makes the overall feel of the book is geared to a more narrow set of people.
Which isn't to say that there isn't a lot to like in the book. There are many gems to be found within which hit you at just the right moments. Take for example; "If you don't find your work in the world and throw yourself wholeheartedly into it, you will inevitably make yourself (small "s") your work." A good point, and one of the many excellent phrases that are available to jar your mind out of its conditioned thinking.
I also enjoyed the mini-biographies of most of the individuals. Namely, Jane Goodall's story, as well as Ghandi's, are two that stood out in my mind.
The subtitle for the book is called "A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling". Sadly, I feel that, in the end, the book will guide only a very few number of people to that True Calling.
March 24, 2021
This book was required reading for my Yoga Teacher Training. While I understand what the book intended to do, I had a really hard time relating to the subjects he chose for the ancedotes. It was also very glaring to me that only 3 women were chosen out of about 12 different people and all of there stories were about finding their dharma in oppression. While the men, all but one white, came into their in various other ways that played into their humanity instead of suffering.
The concept was really interesting, trying to find a way to softly introduce the Gita without having to actually read the text but for me, it was a miss.
In my opinion, it was not a read for a the common person. And maybe the common person was not Cope's audience. I get what he was trying to do, but it was just so hard to relate.
The concept was really interesting, trying to find a way to softly introduce the Gita without having to actually read the text but for me, it was a miss.
In my opinion, it was not a read for a the common person. And maybe the common person was not Cope's audience. I get what he was trying to do, but it was just so hard to relate.
February 20, 2013
Good book, love Stephen Cope. Anything that is an examination of the Gita would interest me. Great inspirational true life stories. With that said, I feel like he could have gone even deeper. Not just to listen to the call of our dharma in the world but the inner dharma we are all called to do as well. Our dharma of going into the scary battle of seeing the ego do it's work (especially in those difficult situations of life and difficult people) and switching from it's autopilot reactions to more beneficial responses. This is where we really win the battle.
August 1, 2019
DNF. Got half way through before I had to put it down. All I can say is, if you want to read the Bhagavad Gita, the are plenty of good translations out there. Do not read anyone's watered down 3rd hand interpretation for suburbanites.
April 4, 2013
Absolutely loved this book.
July 2, 2020
An amazing companion to the Bhagavad Gita. It’ll definitely be Gita-Great Works, Gita-Great Works every quarter year for the rest of my life.
November 14, 2020
This is a deeply inspiring book. Its one I will read over and over again. Highly recommend!
December 29, 2020
I found this to be an amazing book! I have gone back and re-read sections frequently.
August 22, 2020
Most books I’ve read on spiritual awakening have focused on how to “Be” in this Life. I felt like I got excellent input and perspective about “Being” but felt a bit daunted by the question “but what do I do to become this enlightened (“woke”) Being?” I am delighted to have found this book by Stephen Cope on what to Do in this Life in order to achieve our highest Being. The foundation of Cope’s explanation of Doing is the story of Arjuna and Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Layered on top of this foundation are numerous examples of people who have Become their greatest selves through Doing what their own heart or inner voice implored them to do (Jane Goodall, Robert Frost, Thoreau, Whitman, Susan B Anthony, Harriet Tubman, just time name a few.) The book is part history, part biography, part spiritual teaching, part memoir. I listened to it on Audible and when the last sentence was read, I immediately went back to the beginning and started listening again.
May 23, 2019
Recommended by my yoga instructor, I initially began reading to follow along with concepts she was talking about during the discussion sessions of our class. I really enjoyed the examples of Keats, Jane Goodall, Robert Frost, Beethoven, Harriet Tubman and Mahatma Gandhi along with examples of more ordinary folks finding and following their Dharmic path. So much thought-provoking advice, I will likely re-read and transcribe notes. I liked the generalized intro to the Bhagavad Gita, as well, as I was not familiar with the text. Cope’s writing was clear and easy to follow. Good for those seeking greater understanding of self, and for learning about what Dharma is and isn’t.
June 14, 2020
This book took me a long time to read - not because it was dense or boring - but I had to sit with each chapter, reflect as I went. It was a morning devotional of sorts. It has left me with hope and a belief in dharma. An awareness of the need to let go of the self. It was a big step on a journey I didn’t know I was on.
July 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book and reading about all of the different people’s individual dharma stories. I learned a lot I didn’t know about many historic figures. The book was certainly inspirational and Cope’s writing was elevated, while still being approachable. I only wish I’d finished this book knowing what my own dharma is.
November 16, 2024
a transformative book that found me at the right time and has genuinely changed the way I will approach my whole entire life!!!
But at the same time, it’s clear that this book was written for western whites, and there are bigger questions to be asked about whether this author has respectfully and successfully distilled the Bhagavad Gita into this quintessentially American self-helpey format (and whether or not he should?). I can’t answer this, and it’s a thin line to tread no matter what, but at the very least it serves as another reminder to always be wary of some white guy proselytizing eastern thought to the masses.
Although, perhaps in service of this inevitable tension, this book has also taught me about the importance of withstanding the discomfort of holding two truths in mind. so I guess what I’m saying is that I’m grateful either way
But at the same time, it’s clear that this book was written for western whites, and there are bigger questions to be asked about whether this author has respectfully and successfully distilled the Bhagavad Gita into this quintessentially American self-helpey format (and whether or not he should?). I can’t answer this, and it’s a thin line to tread no matter what, but at the very least it serves as another reminder to always be wary of some white guy proselytizing eastern thought to the masses.
Although, perhaps in service of this inevitable tension, this book has also taught me about the importance of withstanding the discomfort of holding two truths in mind. so I guess what I’m saying is that I’m grateful either way
December 11, 2024
A thoughtful and inspiring guide to discovering and living your life’s purpose, The Great Work of Your Life weaves together timeless spiritual wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita with modern examples of individuals who embraced their unique paths. Stephen Cope offers practical insights on commitment, self-awareness, and navigating challenges with grace. A must-read for anyone seeking to align their life with their calling.
October 30, 2023
If you’re looking to discover the great work of YOUR life, I think you’ll really enjoy it!
“The yoga tradition is very, very interested in the idea of an inner possibility harbored within every human soul. Yogis insist that every single human being has a unique vocation. They call this dharma. Dharma is a potent Sanskrit word that is packed tight with meaning, like one of those little sponge animals that expands to six times its original size when you add water. Dharma means, variously, ‘path,’ ‘teaching,’ or ‘law.’ For our purposes in this book it will mean primarily, ‘vocation,’ or ‘sacred duty.’ It means, most of all—and in all cases—truth. Yogis believe that our greatest responsibility in life is to this inner possibility—this dharma—and they believe that every human being’s duty is to utterly, fully, and completely embody his own idiosyncratic dharma…
Come with me, then, and with my fellow students of fulfillment as we tell the story of Krishna and Arjuna, and as we tell stories of great lives that vividly reflect the principles of living as they are laid out in the Bhagavad Gita. Bring your fears and neuroses and doubts; do not leave that excellent fodder behind. Bring your desperation and your most ardent wishes for a full life. Gather ’round the fire with the rest of us ordinary human beings, as we investigate the not-so-far-fetched possibility of becoming fully alive.”
~ Stephen Cope from The Great Work of Your Life
Stephen Cope is the director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living—the largest yoga research institute in the Western world. As the Senior Scholar in Residence at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, he has been integrating Eastern contemplative traditions and Western philosophy and psychology for years.
In this great book, Stephen brings the Bhagavad Gita to life and helps us apply this ancient wisdom to our modern lives as he shares the key aspects of discovering and living our dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita is set on an ancient battlefield and features the great warrior Arjuna receiving wisdom from his divine mentor (and charioteer), Krishna. Arjuna is paralyzed with doubt. Krishna instructs him on how to live his dharma and honor his sacred duty.
Of course, the wisdom offered applies to ALL of us and Stephen shows us precisely how while sharing the dharmic journeys of extraordinary people including Jane Goodall, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, and Gandhi.
It’s a beautiful, super inspiring book. If you’re looking to discover the great work of YOUR life, I think you’ll really enjoy it—especially if you’re a practitioner of yoga! (Get the book here.)
Some of my favorite big ideas from this book include:
1. What Is Dharma? - In short: Your sacred duty.
2. The Path of Action - Four keys.
3. Decide - Cut off all other options.
4. The Right Conditions - Create them.
5. When Difficulties Arise - See them as dharma.
6. Training Elephants - Mantras and focus.
7. Reduce Yourself to Zero - Enter: Soul Force.
I’ve summarized those Big Ideas in a video review that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/PUCo8ApIt_o?si=pZs67...
And I’ve added The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
“The yoga tradition is very, very interested in the idea of an inner possibility harbored within every human soul. Yogis insist that every single human being has a unique vocation. They call this dharma. Dharma is a potent Sanskrit word that is packed tight with meaning, like one of those little sponge animals that expands to six times its original size when you add water. Dharma means, variously, ‘path,’ ‘teaching,’ or ‘law.’ For our purposes in this book it will mean primarily, ‘vocation,’ or ‘sacred duty.’ It means, most of all—and in all cases—truth. Yogis believe that our greatest responsibility in life is to this inner possibility—this dharma—and they believe that every human being’s duty is to utterly, fully, and completely embody his own idiosyncratic dharma…
Come with me, then, and with my fellow students of fulfillment as we tell the story of Krishna and Arjuna, and as we tell stories of great lives that vividly reflect the principles of living as they are laid out in the Bhagavad Gita. Bring your fears and neuroses and doubts; do not leave that excellent fodder behind. Bring your desperation and your most ardent wishes for a full life. Gather ’round the fire with the rest of us ordinary human beings, as we investigate the not-so-far-fetched possibility of becoming fully alive.”
~ Stephen Cope from The Great Work of Your Life
Stephen Cope is the director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living—the largest yoga research institute in the Western world. As the Senior Scholar in Residence at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, he has been integrating Eastern contemplative traditions and Western philosophy and psychology for years.
In this great book, Stephen brings the Bhagavad Gita to life and helps us apply this ancient wisdom to our modern lives as he shares the key aspects of discovering and living our dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita is set on an ancient battlefield and features the great warrior Arjuna receiving wisdom from his divine mentor (and charioteer), Krishna. Arjuna is paralyzed with doubt. Krishna instructs him on how to live his dharma and honor his sacred duty.
Of course, the wisdom offered applies to ALL of us and Stephen shows us precisely how while sharing the dharmic journeys of extraordinary people including Jane Goodall, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, and Gandhi.
It’s a beautiful, super inspiring book. If you’re looking to discover the great work of YOUR life, I think you’ll really enjoy it—especially if you’re a practitioner of yoga! (Get the book here.)
Some of my favorite big ideas from this book include:
1. What Is Dharma? - In short: Your sacred duty.
2. The Path of Action - Four keys.
3. Decide - Cut off all other options.
4. The Right Conditions - Create them.
5. When Difficulties Arise - See them as dharma.
6. Training Elephants - Mantras and focus.
7. Reduce Yourself to Zero - Enter: Soul Force.
I’ve summarized those Big Ideas in a video review that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/PUCo8ApIt_o?si=pZs67...
And I’ve added The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
January 29, 2018
Will continue to read this...
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