Difficulties with Practice

Hello---I was wondering if anyone can relate to the current situation that has arisen in my work experience. I have been working on practicing Zen Buddhism for about the past 8 years or so. I have recently run into a conflict with this at work and was wondering if anyone has run into anything similar in their varied practices.  I think for my supervisors they do not see how asking me to do these things goes against the way i am trying to live. The " things" are not huge such as encouragin underpriveleged people to lie to make collect calls, and me having to pay for material to kill ants in one of there apartments and having to put in a request for exterminating. As i said i know these things can sound small but they have an impact on me and i am having difficulty resolving this problem.---thnaks---kathy

Dear Kathy,
 
I can sympathize with you since I had run in situations where dishonesty was expected while I was still working in the public sector. When it comes to being asked to lie or encourage such, I would simply say that I could not do that. As a matter of fact, your employer ought to realize if you are willing to invite dishonesty, then perhaps YOU can't be trusted in your relationship to him/her!
When it comes to doing something beyond the call of duty, one has to decide how important it is to do so. If it becomes a frequent event, then some discussion is necessary as to what the employer's expectations are. While I was never asked to use money out of my pocket, there were occasions where I gave money for transporting a sick child to the hospital, or for picking up medication, etc. I also bought things that helped me to take better care of children, but no large expenses were involved.
 
I hope this helps a little!
 
Love,
Edda

Peace and joy!

Dear Kathy . . .
I read your post yesterday and have been thinking about it . . .
Edda has made a very good point in that by your employer encouraging you to be dishonest, that perhaps it might be seen that you could be dishonest with him.
As for being asked to spend your own money, well this kind of situation is the kind that can escalate rapidly into larger requests for money if you don't 'nip it in the bud'. But again, as Edda said, try to do what is in your heart to do . . . you will know when it is a request that doesn't feel good because you will not feel good.
If you have a problem specifically with exterminating ants, perhaps there is another solution where you are not killing them, but 'asking them to leave'.  There are ultra-sonic devices which are supposed to be good for getting rid of different kinds of pest problems. Could this be an alternative to extermination?
No problem is too small to pray about
with love . . .
sparrow
 

everything counts... ♥