IN CONVERSATION
WITH THE MYSTIC
26-03-2012
SADHGURU WITH K.V.KAMATH
(Continuation from previous Post at URL :)
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
No comments:
Post a Comment