IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MYSTIC = 26-03-2012 = SADHGURU with K.V.KAMATH = Post.2.

IN CONVERSATION 

WITH THE MYSTIC

26-03-2012

SADHGURU WITH K.V.KAMATH

(Continuation from previous Post at URL :)

http://wisespiritualideas.blogspot.in/2012/04/in-conversation-with-mystic-kvkamath.html

 

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

We can see from History that the gradual transfer of leadership was - Religious leadership – transited to military leadership – then to democratic leaders – and then, in last few decades and possibly, in coming decades – leadership should move to  economic leaders. Business leaders must take over and deliver results. Will they – is the question.

My comments : Sadhguru seems to be giving a clarion call – to business leaders – to come forward and take over leadership – and deliver results – rather than looking at Politicians helplessly.

GREED IN CORPORATE CONTEXT

 In a market economy – the concept of Greed is out of place. In communism, people propagated the idea of sharing. But, sharing was embraced by the poorest of poor who did not have anything to share. It was not embraced by the rich. Therefore it failed. If the rich had taken up this idea, it would have been a beautiful concept. 

Now we have taken this idea of capitalism. Capitalism was born when capital was in few hands. Now – many people can create or get capital easily. It  is market economy – and capital is not in just a few hands. In market economy, profit is the backbone. Without profit, market economy does not exist. The idea of avoiding greed – comes because we are operating market economy with communism in our minds.

Allow Business unfettered freedom, to create profits. Then, bring in right policies – to channelize these profits.

Greed is the driving force of the Society in the market economy. Law should manage this greed, so that everybody benefits from this Greed.

When the lion kills, everybody gets fed.(African proverb)

MY COMMENTS : Sadhguru’s call – “Be greedy for everything” (atthanaikkum aasaippadu – in Tamil)  is also in same / similar direction. Greed must also be inclusive. Nothing wrong in an all inclusive greed. It is glorious.

INTEGRITY IN CORPORATE WORLD :

We are not distinguishing Intellectual, financial and moral Integrity. These get merged in our mind.

What we must look for is INTEGRITY OF PERFORMANCE, in one’s chosen field.

Problem is – we have set up an obstacle course in all walks of life – not a success course – where millions of people can succeed. So, success is not evenly distributed in India. We must create a success course – and remove the obstacle course -  and judge people based on their success in their chosen fields of endeavour.

MY COMMENTS : In our country, the ordinary man is almost afraid of doing anything – for fear of violating some law, somewhere. Which law says what – No one knows. Can a wife and husband quarrel for some time and then make up with some sweet nothings? Is there some law prohibiting that also – God only knows. Can a father chide his son for indiscipline? No one knows any more. Everything in India is becoming more and more uncertain. Why does the Indian Law maker think, that he should step into every corner of our lives? I don’t think any other country in the world has so many laws. And, so many non-understandable laws at that!

GREY AREAS IN BUSINESS / ECONOMIC LIFE

We make our Laws, so complicated, that no one really understands our Laws. Shades of Gray are encountered by even the best and most knowledgeable among us. Yes. We can’t eliminate all Grey areas completely. But, we must not allow grey areas only to dominate our lives and actions.

Right now, that is the reality in India. So –we must reduce the grey areas; make laws in such a way that laws are simple and everybody understands them.

My comments : Shades of Grey everywhere. It is easier to understand God’s creation rather than the complexity of  Indian laws.

MAKING ECONOMIC LAWS

We are leaving law making to politicians completely. Business leaders must take a more active role in making economic laws in our country.

Without that - Budget becomes a political statement, with not much look at economic consequences. A booming economy can get systematically dismantled –when we don’t understand the economic consequences.

Business leader is unable to participate more effectively in economic law making, because, Business is seen as a vested interest. Business leaders must shed this tag of being a vested interest. If the Vested Interest tag can be manifestly shaken off – and if we can see business leaders participate- with manifest integrity - we can set up high ways to development – reduce grey areas – and remove all obstacle courses.

My Comments : Will this happen? It must happen. Someone with clear mind and understanding of People's real needs must step into the field of law making.

COMING – GOING – STAYING

In Corporates, now people come; but even before they come, they are already thinking of going. Staying in the Corporate is a little farther away from the mind of the person coming – said Sri Kamath.

Sadhguru interjected and said - even marriages are becoming like that.

Basically, Corporates are also thinking of short term goals – with no long term commitment. No human being can create anything wonderful – unless he is devoted to what is doing.

Consequence later is not an issue. What you are doing  and what you want to create – that focus is important.

People shift, shift, shift – they become commodities – they pick up and drop  - and they also get picked up and dropped.

If we want to rise above mediocrity in our life – we need commitment to create something valuable. Do not become a commodity.

My Comments : Well. Our times  were different. I and many others like me, stayed in a single organization for over four decades. It is a different thing whether we did anything beautiful there! But, there was a strong commitment to the organization.

GREATER GOOD

Will you act for Greater Good – where will you draw the fine line? Will you lie for the Greater Good.

Yes. We may lie when it is necessary – for the greater good. But this needs to be understood.

If a person like Kasab wants to know the most packed hall – to drop his Bomb – will you lie or not? We must lie to such people. That is the right thing to do. If you are ruled by your consciousness of inclusiveness – you can do all that is needed for such inclusiveness – including telling a lie. What must dominate the action is – the greater and larger sense of inclusiveness.

My Comments : I like this particular part especially. Lord Krishna urges Yudhishtir – to tell a half truth – to destroy a powerful warrior (Like Drona) working for a non-righteous enemy. The concept of Greater Good needs especial examination in India.

IN BUSINESS WORLD – DEBATE ON GENDER EQUALITY

Economics is a survival process. We cannot raise it to the level of heaven. When survival is the main question – the only goal is economic. When that is settled – the finer dimensions arise. But, the finer dimensions are slowly vanishing. To make survival really worthwhile, this feminine aspect of nature – like   love, gentleness, tenderness, dance, art, aesthetics, music, meditation – become relevant.

By assuming that economic success is the only success, we are destroying the feminine. In market economy – it is happening that women want to JUST DO IT. But, JUST DOING IT, is man’s way. Women must do it in the feminine way; in the beautiful way.

Women do not wear flowing clothes in west any more – it is the psyche – the man’s way. Just what is needed! Feminine working for mere utilitarian – is ugly.

But, in a business place, male or female, should not be a concern at all –  who is a man or woman  does not matter there. There should be no gender there  in our minds – not just gender equality. Everybody should be able exist as they are.

My comments : The beauty of the feminine is certainly getting lost in  pursuit of economic  progress. That need not be. Gender equality – or any equality for that matter- is a meaningless concept. No one is equal. But, everyone is unique. Every flower is beautiful. Every bird sings beautifully.  But the equation, but not equality, between the man and woman is especially beautiful. The pursuit of equality is already destroying that beauty in some parts of the world.

RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

We don’t want to connect with people sitting next to us – but only with people far away. We don’t know if the other person is a man or woman, how many faces (on face book)  he has. This is a kind of distraction; an entertainment.

People are beginning to live like islands. Not connecting with people near them. Connecting with People far away then is meaningless. Technology is of course an enabler. What we do with it is up to us – we must decide carefully.

MY COMMENTS :

Who can make us all meet periodically, talk sweet things to each other, support each other, tell each other that – Yes. I am there in your pleasure and Pain both? Who can smile at us reassuringly and say, I will always love you, my friend, with all of your weaknesses. There are so many people who want this. We all need this. Love is not something – we can do without. Friendship is not something we can do without.

And, to a certain extent – it must be from people who are near to us. We need a live Guru whom we can see, meet, ask questions, take guidance and get a little rebuke. We need a friend who helps, advices and chides when we make mistakes. We need a spouse who loves, cares, depends and supports. Then, beyond all this, the face book can be fun. Not without these. 

With all our profound gratefulness to Sadhguru; and our grateful thanks to Shri K.V.Kamath

=yours

v.vijayamohan

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MYSTIC - Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev with K.V.KAMATH

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Sri K.V.Kamath

IN CONVERSATION 

WITH THE MYSTIC

26-03-2012

SADHGURU WITH K.V.KAMATH

In the latest episode of  “In Conversation with the Mystic” with Shri K.V.Kamath, Sadhguru gives us FASCINATING and BRAND NEW approaches to  various Business and social problems. 

The idea in this Blog Post is not to give verbatim expression to this whole episode, which any way is not practricable, but to capture its essence.

In this Q-A session, Mr. Kamath puts forward excellent, topical questions, which really are racking the minds of many, thinking Indians. These questions are not spiritual. Therefore, the answers of Sadhguru are also DIFFERENT - from the usual spiritual dimensions his disciples are accustomed to. But their validity in the contemporary economic scenario – makes them refreshingly original and striking.

One feels compulsively reminded of – Lord Krishna, who urges Arjuna his disciple, to FIGHT the battle – against the non-righteous, unruly Kauravas. Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga etc are only weapons – to FIGHT this righteous war! I have tried to capture the essence but, in this small and brief narration, my own interpretation is unavoidable. All Sadhguru’s disciples, lovers and fans are therefore invited to read this – and also enjoy the original, lively conversation – at :

http://inconversations.com/sadhguru/in-conversation/k-v-kamath/live/

Readers may kindly bear with me – if they find any slight, unintentional deviations, from the essence of Sadhguru’s own exquisite expressions and thoughts. I give below, the topic and what Sadhguru says on that. You will also find simple comments of mine – on what I understand from the answer and question.

PURPOSE OF BUSINESS

The goal of Business is to expand constantly, which it can do in two ways – 1. By conquest; 2. By Embracing. Inclusion of others by conquest and expansion resulting from it, results in misery for both.

Many successful business people today - look like the epitome of misery; they keep long faces always. There is no happiness visible in them – born out of their success.

Success must be a sweet, beautiful, enjoyable thing – not a miserable thing. So succeed by embracing; not by conquest; Don’t include by conquest; do by embrace; expand by embracing. But now – wrong message that is going to all is – successful people are miserable.

In last 4 years, we have multiplied by over 20 times – by EMBRACE, NOT BY CONQUEST. You become joyful with expansion by embrace – not by conquest.

My Comment : Many Business leaders fail to enjoy what they create as huge business empires. They look and feel miserable even publicly. Evidently, the Embracing attitude did not rule their lives. But, some business leaders in India are a contrast. They do try to expand by embracing.

EUPHORIA to DEPRESSION

How do such mood swings happen ; and how to balance ? Especially in Business Environment.

Lot of people succeed by chance; They become euphoric with success and depressed with failure; because, success came like a lottery; not just out of one’s own serious efforts for a specific goal. So, when recession comes in Market, depression comes in them.

Recession (in market) is bad enough. Do you need depression (inside you) also? Recession is not the end of the world.

If your aim is to INCLUDE ALL  in your effort – success is not going to be euphoric. Recession is not going to be depressing. Business leaders must therefore shift attention from MORE  to ALL. More is expansion by conquest; ALL is expansion by embrace.

MY COMMENTS : Indian stock Market is a classic example of these mood swings. Many entrepreneurs display these mood swings at each turn of events. When the Goal is ALL  and not MORE – the leader can enjoy his work and its fruits all the way. 

Bill gates’ Microsoft’s wants to put a computer in every house in the world with a Microsoft software in it. This is expansion – by inclusiveness in some way. It benefited Microsoft and people in all countries too. He has now given away about a third of his wealth back to the world in charities. 

N.R.Narayana Murthy many times displayed a thinking that Infosys will like to make all Infosys men into millionaires. Infosys was one of the first in India to raise salaries, bonuses and issue of shares to its associates to international levels.

COLLECTIVE MOOD OF NEGATIVITY IN INDIA

We grossly exaggerate our achievements and our failures both. Media and Business people talk about India becoming super power. We don’t have legs. But, we want to climb Everest. For 1.2  billion people, we don’t have adequate food, clothing, shelter, roads, electricity, water or anything. The only thing in abundance is – our Population.

What then do we do – with the people we have? Transform them into an inspired people. Then, yes. We will be a super power- Every company in the world can possibly be led by an Indian. We see that in many companies.

Some people  become euphoric or morose when markets go up or down. In such moods – they tend to exaggerate success and failure both.

But, leaders must be able to see reality – not just imagine of being a SUPER POWER – or, on the negative side, going into a Depression, when recession hits.

Business leaders must have the COMMITMENT TO WALK THE DISTANCE. They must take people from POSSIBILITY to the REALITY. They must have this commitment and the focus. Otherwise, which way they will go, they will not know. It becomes a question mark. We are missing the real BIG STEPS that we need to be taking now - because of our tendency to exaggerate.

MY COMMENT : This analysis is especially FANTASTIC. Business and Political leaders must stop imagining India as a super Power – but must do all that is necessary to achieve such a goal. Mere dreams don’t transform.

DO WE UNDERSTAND & ADMIT WHAT – “WE DON’T KNOW

When we don’t  know – but are not willing to admit that we don’t know – the possibility for us to know shuts down. We will seek to know – only if we realize and admit that we don’t know. But, If  we think, or believe that we know what we really do not know – the possibility of REALLY KNOWING – just does not exist. 

MY COMMENTS : Isn’t this the cornerstone for every one’s life? I must know what I really know. I must also know what I really do not know. I must destroy all mere belief systems from the mind.   We must awaken to – what we know and what we need to know.

INABILITY TO HAVE CLEAR MIND & PERCEPTION CLARITY

Perception clarity is extremely important and relevant for leaders. You are a leader mainly because – you are able to see something which everybody else is unable to see. You have an insight which others don’t have. You are able to see the tomorrow TODAY itself. So you are the leader.

But, if a leader has no clarity – what happens is – instead of nourishing the roots of the mango tree, which automatically gives him the mango fruit eventually – he will do a meditation for mangoes. Leader is goal-driven and the goals are mangoes now. But, mango meditation does not give mangoes. Nourishing the roots will. So perception clarity is extremely important for leaders. 

If a leader cannot manage his own mind and has no clarity in his mind – how can he manage a thousand minds who want to follow him? A leader must manage himself well first. Then only – in his lap, others will feel safe. People must feel that your thinking is better.

My comments : Know Yourself – is the best prescription to all – before we try to know all others around us. Clarity of perception about our own goals and the paths to them  is especially important. People will feel safe in the hands of the leader whose mind is absolutely clear on where he is leading his followers.

EGO

Individual really means – he is indivisible. He is one and he is consistent. But, if we are sometimes nice and sometimes horrible to people – this horrible fellow who arises in us - is our EGO.

It is like - there are two of us inside one. Like a schizophrenic.

Many people in the world did the nastiest things – taking instructions from God. Others take instructions from Ego – their inside, local BOY. Both are leading to horrific results.

If we give up the ego, we find God arising in us.

My comments : As Sadhguru emphasized several times, inclusiveness, the spirit of Embrace and working for all and not for MORE – conquers this Ego Problem effectively. 

EGO to GOD – IS THERE A CONTINUUM :

We do realize without an iota of doubt that a mother or father or any human did not create all this cosmos around us. So, the simple childish answer we get is – the Creator, the God is up there, who does all this. 

In reality, there is neither up nor down. When you look up above you – someone else is also looking up – but exactly in the opposite direction, because he is on the other side of the earth. So, there is really no up or down; and forward or backward. All these are contextual. In reality, there is only Inward or outward. These are the only two directions  we can really take – to find anything within us or outside.

My Comments : Forget the God up there. Look inside deeply in your Meditation. When you look outside, be inclusive and  embrace all in your goals.  There is no need to look up or down for  God we cannot experience there.

NURTURE & BUTCHER (BUILD & DESTROY)

Some Business leaders (like Jack Welch) emphasize the need for building and then destroying Businesses at appropriate times, mercilessly.

A Guru’s task is especially so – to nurture and then Butcher. It is a thankless job.

Some leaders can’t easily do it – because they have too much of themselves in what they do.

A leader’s action must be an expression of what he already is. A leader must first become something – and then do what he needs to do. Then, he knows exactly whether he must build or destroy. But, many leaders do things, trying to become something in the process, putting the cart before the horse.

Leader must become what he needs to become first  and then do what is needed for his business. He then knows exactly what is needed. Else, he will be doing lot of unnecessary things. 

We develop attachments, like grandmothers – who say they are ready to die now – but, when the grandchild comes up, they are no more ready to die. So destruction, or butchering, is difficult even when it is needed - when we develop too much of such attachments to what we built earlier.

MY COMMENTS :  Many things (though not everything) in our journey of life are to be given up – at periodic intervals. Else, we cannot move forward in life. You can’t carry a boat in gratitude, because you traveled  in the Boat – says an old Indian proverb. Move ahead. Leave the Boat.

DHYAN,BHAKTHI, KARMA 

HOW TO SEQUENCE THEM & UNDERSTAND THEM

We must clearly understand that - we can only work with what we have – not with what we don’t have. We can of course work for - what we don’t have – but not WORK WITH, what we don’t have. 

We all have only four things that support our actions – Body, Mind, Emotions and Energy. That’s all. Rest of it is just imagination.

We are not ruling out God – because, belief in God offers huge solace to many people – and they sleep well because of this belief.

But, for a leader, the question is - are you looking for solace or solution?

Solace, which lies in believing, helps ordinary people. But, a leader needs solutions.

In our country – it is not people who seek and give solutions, that become leaders, but people who create problems. We are identifying and accepting someone who breaks, not someone who builds – as the leader.

Block a sea link or block one rail road. You will be a leader overnight.

But, you build ten sea links – you will not be considered a leader. Break one – you are an instant leader.

People who Stop things - become leaders; not people who move things. This mindset in us must change.

My comment : In an economic environment – the emphasis of Sadhguru seems to be on RIGHT ACTION by the leader. Bhakti and Dhyan arise in a different context.

****  Please do not Miss the CONTINUATION OF THIS FULL SESSION, which is covered  in next Blog post .at : 

http://wisespiritualideas.blogspot.in/2012/04/in-conversation-with-mystic-26-03-2012.html