S p i r i t ua l i t y S t u d i e s 3 - 1 S p r i n g 2 0 1 7 4 5 Swami Veda Bharati people who would not otherwise accept the ancient wisdom, the same reason that I maintain a research laboratory in our Ashram. We are seekers of svaatantrya. This word has no exact English equivalent. It may roughly be translated as free volition and conscience coming from the laws and voice of one’s own ātman, the spiritual self (not psychological conditionings nor as reactions to and from other factors external to us). This is the true meaning of freedom. This is the true non-dependence, independence, not arising as a reaction to external surroundings, situations or others’ reactions. We are not reactive but independently active. So, as soon as others’ emotional states begin to reflect into us, we dive into our inner resources of relaxation and tranquility and thereby change the tone of the conversation and discussion. The opposite party’s ‘mirror neurons’ then reflect our state of mind and we both become peaceful and not confrontational. Thus, we arrive at harmonious consensus with others and spread peace. • Solve the problem the other person has with you. • In all disagreements, first argue in your mind in a direction opposite to your view and in favor of the opposite person’s view. Present to your colleagues or participants in a meeting these two ends of the magnet: your justifications for the other person’s view and your own view. Then reconcile the two points of view and create a harmonious conclusion including the best elements of both. • Do not challenge or condemn a view, situation, act, decision without presenting a well-constructed alternative that also incorporates the positive points of what you have disagreed with. • Hold nothing in your mind against anyone. The moment one issue is completed (such as one interview or a session of “correcting” someone), let your mind go into “neutral” with a few breaths, remember the good qualities of that person, and then move on to the next positive step – about that person or about whatever needs to engage you. • Remember that you are not running management or administration. You are practicing sādhanā of self-pacification, self-purification, and finally self-perfection. The acts of “management” and “administration” are steps on that spiritual path; these are your self-tests. One should take constant pains to explain to all in the spiritual family the principles by which the family is being run and the habitual thinking brought from the outside world must be slowly changed by communication and sharing of these and such principles. These principles may not be possible to practice in the modern government structures or the habitual norms of the corporate world but they can be maintained as one’s internal principles, and be implemented in an organizational family of sādhakas where every breath taken and every word spoken is part of sādhanā. The principles that are habitual in the “outside” world, and experiences gained from them, do not apply in such a family. 4 Saintly CEO There are three principles of communication –hitam, that is to speak only what is beneficial, and only in a manner that would be beneficial to the listener to the purpose and mission of the speaker; mitam, that is measurement in intensity of emotion, tone of voice, and choice of words; priyam, that is pleasant in the sense to create pleasant-mindedness in yourself and in the listener(s). A new category of “saintly CEO”, following the above-mentioned principles, is to be promoted in spiritually oriented organizations. Dissentions are generated not as often by differences on policies but more often by modes of communication and tones used. People act, communicate and write habitually by the mode that is common worldwide. They think that is “normal” because they have been presented with no other model. Not having been raised in the current civilization, it may be useful to present a different model, not from Mars, but from Venus.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzgxMzI=