I've met several people recently who have used their work environments toward meditative ends (most notably people getting security guard certifications). Some have achieved interesting attainments, like paths, from doing so.
Since I recently got a job useful for this very purpose, I thought I would report back about it here, and also open up a thread for others to share their meditation-friendly jobs. This seems like a burgeoning phenomenon. As a job is generally the main hindrance to going on retreat for as long and as often as I want, I find this approach pretty exciting.
My new job:
I just started working as a fireguard. This basically entails staying in an active construction site or other building with a disabled fire alarm system to watch for hazards. I have to do a quick 10-minute round (walking meditation) every hour, and have no responsibilities for the in-between periods. Shifts are 8 hours to much longer. This is the best way I have yet found to approximate a retreat setting in an urban environment.
The distractions are actually surprisingly few so far, despite the fact that I work in an active construction zone. The pay is low (12.50/hour) but, for doing essentially nothing, I think it is pretty good. It's easy to get overtime shifts. Obviously this could also be used for activities besides meditation - the friend who turned me into this job was using it to write symphonies.
In New York City, one has to cursorily look over this 35-page training book a few times (F01), take a $25 test, and then apply at an agency that does fireguard placement.
