I hate this trend where things that exist to help us grow as humans (meditation, arts and humanities, exercise) are repurposed by corporate HR to make us into better (i.e., more efficient) workers.

IMO - Any corporate policy or program aimed at changing employees themselves, rather than the work environment and corporate ethos is doomed to failure. I'm all for incentives, but what you really want are engaged employees in the right seat.

That takes a lot of work on the part of management. If your employees know what's expected of them, have the right tools, have a job that fits their skills, knows their employer cares for them and is invested in their professional development, THAT is what makes productive employees. You won't get that from retreats, meditation programs, etc. As a manager, you get this by changing yourself, not those you manage.

Those 2 things are not mutually exclusive.

I just don't see how spiritual awakening suddenly makes a person working 9-5 in a cubicle more happy. For all it is, it probably makes him wonder if living in a forest outside civilization is actually a way more reasonable choice.

Exactly - spiritual awakening might do just the opposite of making someone a contented worker.

Contentment is a state of mind.

Still it's easier and more pleasant to maintain that state of mind not sitting inside a cubicle with a boss yelling at you to work harder.

I'm now picturing a boss telling an employee "Contentment is a state of mind" and that we also need to that hundredth "TPS" report done today

The IT Crowd's take on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZTvMYQSl_w

Correct, but if the goal is to make workers more productive, motivated, etc, then meditation may not be the right tool to use. There are other, more effective methods.

Maybe the goul is to make them happier.

If this is a portmanteau of ghoul and goal you did a very good job.

They are. Not all forms of living are equally valid according to (and compatible with) any religion/spiritual tradition one choses.

The trend is to take a practice completely out of context, and completely out of the spirit of what it was introduced and intended for, and use it a cheap prop to be more efficient in an ill world.

I wish more people talked about this

You and I should swap out filter bubble because I wish less people talked about this.

Have you checked out https://www.reddit.com/r/streamentry/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMindIlluminated/ ? There seen to be more online and physical meetups now (compared to even five years ago) that are attended by people who view practice with awakening and spiritual development as goals.

Not really. I think I am an SBNR investigating Christianity mostly at this point. But, for example, someone told me I should recite the Jesus prayer at work to boost my productivity, I'd probably think there was something wrong with him (even if in some sense it might be beneficial)