To get a gist of what this series is about , please see the other installments :www.managementparadise.com/search_article.php
On making ways with persuasion >
While many think that Vedanta condemns violence wholly, it is far from true. Vedanta was a philosophy far ahead of its time. Even to date, many people have grown grey hair; examining its nuances throughout their lives. Yet a definite conclusion is far from our reach.
While ascetics have argued that Ahimsa – called the methodology to do anything and everything sans violence ; found engraved in the scriptures –bears testimony to the doctrine of non-violent measure and they are said to have attained enlightenment but again as the Bhagvada Gita[/b] puts it – vakyartha jnanamatrena na amrtam : enlightenment will elude those with only textual knowledge[/b].
What they did was in effect, seeing one page and skipping the other after what they were seeking for was found there. If we pause to think about it ; what will happen if farmers abstain from tilling the ground – in fear of harming the insects and uprooting the weeds and homes of like-rodents/pests ?
Vedanta is not as dogmatic as they presumed. It has stressed time and again in the karma yoga of Bhagvada gita that ones actions are of prime importance and no one should flinch in doing his work.
On the same note, even Mahabharata has it in block letters : jivo jivasya jivanam – Life is the food of life[/b].
Let us imagine for a moment that the world is in a delicate balance, with Violence and Non violence – weighing in on two different arms of the scales:
What Vedanta asks us to do is to keep adding weights on the non-violent side of the scales- to outweigh the consequences of violent actions that are necessary for our sustenance –yatnat alpatara bhavet.
Hence by our sincere efforts we should reduce the forceful measures and adhere to persuasion to get the job done. In our school, colleges and workplace we can find many people who take a delight in persuading others. This in turn induces a remembrance and compliance in case of any future conflicts. They are somewhat aligned to think:
Oh! He listened to me last time; I should not stall his plans this time , its only fair.
Again we see the aforementioned scales in action. They are both productive and counter productive. It is all about how we handle the chunks of actions on each side.
The sapling of persuasion is one that is to be regularly watered. It will one day grow into a big tree; whose shadow will provide solace to you, your friends, colleagues and such; when the sun is on song.
On making ways with persuasion >
While many think that Vedanta condemns violence wholly, it is far from true. Vedanta was a philosophy far ahead of its time. Even to date, many people have grown grey hair; examining its nuances throughout their lives. Yet a definite conclusion is far from our reach.
While ascetics have argued that Ahimsa – called the methodology to do anything and everything sans violence ; found engraved in the scriptures –bears testimony to the doctrine of non-violent measure and they are said to have attained enlightenment but again as the Bhagvada Gita[/b] puts it – vakyartha jnanamatrena na amrtam : enlightenment will elude those with only textual knowledge[/b].
What they did was in effect, seeing one page and skipping the other after what they were seeking for was found there. If we pause to think about it ; what will happen if farmers abstain from tilling the ground – in fear of harming the insects and uprooting the weeds and homes of like-rodents/pests ?
Vedanta is not as dogmatic as they presumed. It has stressed time and again in the karma yoga of Bhagvada gita that ones actions are of prime importance and no one should flinch in doing his work.
On the same note, even Mahabharata has it in block letters : jivo jivasya jivanam – Life is the food of life[/b].
Let us imagine for a moment that the world is in a delicate balance, with Violence and Non violence – weighing in on two different arms of the scales:
What Vedanta asks us to do is to keep adding weights on the non-violent side of the scales- to outweigh the consequences of violent actions that are necessary for our sustenance –yatnat alpatara bhavet.
Hence by our sincere efforts we should reduce the forceful measures and adhere to persuasion to get the job done. In our school, colleges and workplace we can find many people who take a delight in persuading others. This in turn induces a remembrance and compliance in case of any future conflicts. They are somewhat aligned to think:
Oh! He listened to me last time; I should not stall his plans this time , its only fair.
Again we see the aforementioned scales in action. They are both productive and counter productive. It is all about how we handle the chunks of actions on each side.
The sapling of persuasion is one that is to be regularly watered. It will one day grow into a big tree; whose shadow will provide solace to you, your friends, colleagues and such; when the sun is on song.