The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling

284 Pages·2012·1.4 MB·English

by  Stephen Cope

Praise for The Great Work of Your Life
“I am moved and inspired by The Great Work of Your Life, the clarity and
beauty of the lives lived in it, and the timeless dharma it teaches.”
—J K , author of A Path with Heart
ACK ORNFIELD
“Stephen Cope has brought the full force of his brilliant mind and
expansive heart to capture the wisdom and spirit of one of history’s most
revered and insightful scriptures. The Great Work of Your Life is a
remarkable testament to the power of these teachings and the timeless
light they shed on how we each can craft our most glorious life. This is a
must-read for anyone aspiring to lasting happiness and real fulfillment.”
—R S , author of The Four Desires
OD TRYKER
“This book extends an impassioned, compelling promise: It is possible to
live this life as a direct expression of your heart and spirit. Through
masterful storytelling about extraordinary and ‘ordinary’ individuals,
Stephen Cope unfolds perennial wisdom teachings found in the
Bhagavad Gita that can illuminate your path. Not just inspiring, this
book is a fascinating read!”
—A C , author of Enlightenment for Idiots: A Novel
NNE USHMAN
“Stephen Cope’s brilliant re-interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita for
modern seekers is the next best thing to having the great god Krishna
himself appear in your chariot—or the front seat of your car—and give
you an inspirational pep talk as you commute to work. A master
storyteller, Cope examines the lives of ordinary and extraordinary
human beings through the lens of the Gita’s ancient wisdom to
illuminate how each of us can identify and manifest our unique calling—
leaving his readers both humbled and inspired.”
—T B , PhD, author of Radical Acceptance
ARA RACH
“Stephen Cope’s genius is to connect the ancient tale of Krishna, Arjuna,
and their mythic dilemmas to our very own lives through figures we not
only admire but can relate to. The Great Work Of Your Life fearlessly
bridges this gap, and its arc is incandescent.”
—C H , translator, The Yoga-Sutra of Patañjali
HIP ARTRANFT
“Who else could bring the ancient wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to bear
on the lives of such a diverse cast of seekers in such a captivating way?
Stephen Cope is a masterful storyteller who grabbed me from the first
chapter and held me until the very end. His friends became my friends,
his heroes my own, and their triumphs and sorrows touched me deeply.
And of course throughout, he gently reminds us all that these profound
teachings can help us show up for our own dharma and lead us to do
‘small things with great love.’ ”
—L S , editor in chief, Yoga International and author of The
INDA PARROWE
Woman’s Book of Yoga and Health
“The Great Work of Your Life is a timely and timeless must-read book.
Within its pages, Stephen Cope contemplates the profound meaning of
the Bhaghavad Gita, as it applies to our modern life. Exploring the call of
dharma, he shows Krishna’s step-by-step teaching in a way that will
uplift you from within. It’s essential for those new to yoga and inspiring
for the seasoned practitioner and yoga teacher.”
—P W , international yoga teacher and co-author of The
ATRICIA ALDEN
Woman’s Book of Yoga and Health
“Stephen Cope presents an insightful look at the role of dharma as
explained by Krishna to Arjuna in the timeless scripture, the Bhagavad
Gita. Skillfully interweaving Arjuna’s story of conflict and doubt with
stories of both great and ordinary men and women, Cope illustrates how
the rich wisdom of the Gita can transform our actions into spiritual
practice and guide us to ultimate freedom and fulfillment.”
—P R T , chairman and spiritual head, Himalayan
ANDIT AJMANI IGUNAIT
Institute
“The Great Work of Your Life masterfully unfolds the stories of everyday
people like you and me, as well as those whom we cherish as our heroes
and heroines, revealing the doubts, fears, trials, and passions we will all
face when we dare to live an authentic life of purpose and meaning. It
will deeply inspire your heart, soul, and mind and lead you ever more
deeply into finding and celebrating your own dharma.”
—R M , PhD, author of Yoga Nidra: A Meditative Practice for
ICHARD ILLER
Deep Relaxation and Healing, president, Integrative Restoration
Institute, and co-founder, International Association of Yoga Therapy
“This is a captivating and compassionate guide to the deepest questions
of our existence. Stephen Cope ingeniously helps us to ‘remember’ who
we really are, uncovering genuine happiness and expressing it through
our dharma, our authentic work in the world.”
—S P , author of Insight Yoga
ARAH OWERS
“Stephen Cope hands us the secret keys of understanding and wisdom
found in the sacred pages of the ancient Bhagavad Gita. He asks us the
right questions, provokes, and motivates us with courage not to retreat
from the world but to advance with profound enthusiasm.”
—L F , PBS host and author of Lilias! Yoga: Your Guide to
ILIAS OLAN
Enhancing Body, Mind, and Spirit in Midlife and Beyond
“Cope weaves together personal narratives of ordinary and extraordinary
lives within the framework of the Bhagavad Gita, making the timeless
scripture even more relevant to the intricacies of our twenty-first century
lifestyle. A pertinent book, for NOW!”
—N J D , teacher, author of The Healing Path of Yoga and The
ISCHALA OY EVI
Secret Power of Yoga
“The Great Work of Your Life is a portal into the soul of yoga. It reveals
how fresh and versatile the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita is for people of
any era or stage of life. This book is a must-read for anyone wishing to
penetrate the mystery of what the ancients called karma and dharma
and we moderns call living an authentic life.”
—S B , LAc, CAS
COTT LOSSOM

Copyright © 2012 by Stephen Cope
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Bantam Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing
Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
BANTAM BOOKS and the rooster colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
The Permissions constitute an extension of this copyright page.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cope, Stephen.
The great work of your life : a guide for the journey to your true calling / Stephen Cope. — 1st
ed.
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-0-34553568-9
1. Spiritual biography—Hinduism. 2. Vocation—Hinduism. 3. Bhagavadgita—Criticism,
interpretation, etc. I. Title.
BL1170.C67 2012
294.5′44—dc23
2012000863
www.bantamdell.com
Jacket design: Carlos Beltran
Jacket photograph: © Don Klumpp/Getty
v3.1
Every man has a vocation to be someone:
but he must understand clearly that in order to fulfill this
vocation he can only be one person: himself.
—Thomas Merton
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Epigraph
A Note to the Reader
Introduction
PART I
Krishna’s Counsel on the Field of Battle
ONE The Four Pillars of Dharma
PART II
The First Pillar: “Look to Your Dharma”
TWO Jane Goodall: Trust in the Gift
THREE Henry David Thoreau: Think of the Small as Large
FOUR Walt Whitman: Listen for the Call of the Times
PART III
The Second Pillar: “Do It Full Out!”
FIVE Robert Frost: Find Out Who You Are and Do It on Purpose
SIX Susan B. Anthony: Unify!
SEVEN Camille Corot: Practice Deliberately
PART IV
The Third Pillar: “Let Go of the Fruits”
EIGHT John Keats: Let Desire Give Birth to Aspiration
NINE Marion Woodman: When Difficulties Arise, See Them as Dharma
TEN Ludwig van Beethoven: Turn the Wound into Light
PART V
The Fourth Pillar: “Turn It Over to God”
ELEVEN Harriet Tubman: Walk by Faith
TWELVE Mohandas K. Gandhi: Take Yourself to Zero
Epilogue
Dedication
Notes
Permissions
Other Books by This Author
About the Author