Short Note on Philosophy and Action
By Dinesh Kumar Kapila
We spend a long time on gauging what is the right way, the correct way, the economic way, the logical way, maybe the ethical way to reaching a decision. Manuals and Policy Prescriptions abound across Universities, Colleges of Management, Formal Organisations and the Government. Now we need to searching for what is the essence of the whole process. Maybe a short story would help. There was a Rishi (a holy man, a seer) who, when not meditating and interpreting the scriptures, also oversaw the functioning of his Ashram(young monks etc were taught the fundamentals of education at such Ashrams). Some disciples would tread only the spiritual path and forsake the temporal path and maybe evolve as the Rishis of the future. Anyway, this particular Rishi, an evolved soul, one day had a rather tough bout of self realisation. He felt he had been too proximate to the real world and perhaps now required to retreat to The Himalayas for introspection and rejuvenating himself. This thought gathered up a storm of thoughts and emotions within him as he calmly and dispassionately went about administering the Ashram and his disciples. They had no inkling about the storm within their Rishi. Then one day the Rishi called over the disciple he had assessed as to be the best to attend to the affairs of the Ashram and the disciples when he would be away meditating in the remote Himalayas. The Disciple was simply informed about the decision and advised to gather his thoughts and mental faculties to take up the assignment. Plus basic instructions and information on some administrative aspects. This was all done in the late evening. Thereafter the Disciple was informed that on the Day After the Rishi would depart for maybe three months to could be six months Atleast. If the young disciple had any doubts or required clarifications, he could request the Rishi the next day. But since tomorrow the Rishi would be on a vow of silence, the answers or responses would be written down. The disciple nodded and left. All night he thought of the myriad problems which could arise and trouble him. He did not even know the intricacies of running an Ashram. He approached the Rishi early in the morning the next day and shared this thought with him. He was full of Anxiety and Doubt. The Rishi heard him out fully while nodding along sagely. Then he simply turned to his scroll. Wrote something and folded the scroll. Then indicated to the young disciple to leave. As soon as the Disciple left the room, he sat on a cot and opened the scroll. The scroll simply contained a word - or rather three words. Awareness- Be Aware. The Disciple thought it over under the shade of a banyan tree. It made sense to him. He was to be aware straightaway by meeting the staff and disciples and young monks. He needed to know with their cooperation the how’s and why’s of running the Ashram. He thought about it and was convinced that this was the line of thought of the Rishi.
Now he was jolted by Another thought. A rather harsh one. What if the other disciples refused to listen to his advise or instructions. What if they became rebellious or went away. What if the young monks stopped meditating. The more he thought the more self doubt entered into the deepest recesses of his mind. He was paralysed by this line of thought. He had no option but to disturb the Rishi and discuss this with him. With heavy steps he opened the door to the Rishi’s room and shared all his doubts and the varied scenarios with him. The Rishi nodded along. Listened attentively. His eyes looking deep into the young disciple and all the while sitting in a most calm manner. Then he turned to his scroll. He wrote three words. Folded it. Handed it over and quietly indicated this being his meditation time, he needed to meditate. The young disciple rushed out. Went to his spartanly furnished room and quietly opened the scroll. It simply stated - Awareness- Be Aware. The more he thought, the more it made sense and quite logical to him. To understand his team, their emotions and thoughts and processes, their insecurities and hopes and aspirations was his task now. He had to inner-stand and lead the way. How he handled this crucial element would determine their attitude and response. He had to balance with a light touch the leadership and management roles, yet be fair and firm, while representing the Rishi in his absence. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was. His confidence slowly returned. He then started attending to his other tasks.
Towards the late afternoon another major bout of under confidence attacked his mind. How would he attend the court of the Raja. How would the other Rishis view him. Would he be accepted in view of his young age. Would the citizens of the nearby settlements accept him and reach out with alms and offerings as hitherto. Would they attend his readings of the scriptures and his interpretations. What about the disciples seeking roles in administrative positions. Would they imbibe his teachings. He sat with his head hung down and he felt the heavy weight of the responsibility. He had no option but to again approach the Rishi. The Rishi showed no irritation at being disturbed during his meditation and beckoned him most kindly to share and unburden his thoughts and concerns. As the young disciple spoke he also felt lighter and a bit stronger as his own mind was offering certain solutions. The Rishi, after hearing him out, and he had been watching him intently, placed his hand on the head of the disciple and blessed him. Then he turned to the scroll. He wrote a few words. Then folded the scroll as always and handed it over.?As soon as the disciple was out of the door, he opened the scroll. It was simple- Awareness- Be Aware.
For long did the Disciple walk and ruminate in the gardens and orchards of the Ashram. He actually understood this. If he was to read and deeply understand the scriptures, know the temporal world and the application of ethics and dharma to decision making, this would give him a large measure of self confidence. This would enable him to sit with confidence at the court and amongst the other Rishis. And this would enable the positive response and respect of the citizens in the settlements. But first he had to understand that he had consistently learn and relearn and seek out knowledge, both the practices and the theory or precepts. This would be his guiding light for self confidence as it would always be a bit alone as he substituted for his Rishi.
This is the path to the actualisation of your potential and fulfilling your ambitions. However it also requires action. Without action it is purely abstract and a debate. A debate or discussion may open ideas but does not lead to anything concrete unless acted upon. An illustration would certainly help.
A middle aged Rishi was moving to a large village to stay the night. The night was approaching and just the dusk was raising doubts as the path lay through a forest. The jungle was dense and the trees cast long shadows in the dusk. Just two unarmed disciples escorted the Rishi. They were equally concerned and while not speaking, the insecurities of each affected the other. Just then they saw a villager in the distance. They shouted to him to let them catch up so that they could walk together. Once they were together, a degree of self assurance came in. Then a degree of doubt. After all the villager was alone and just had an axe. Plus could be be trusted. So the Rishi asked him. Is this the path to the village. How far away is it. Kindly let us know. The villager simply answered that it was some distance away. A couple of hours or maybe some more time of walking would be the distance. He was also going there only. They were always welcome at his house plus the headman would be most welcoming too. Now doubt and fear assail the calmest of people, even if a Rishi or young monks. After some time the Rishi asked him again the path to the bill and the distance. The middle aged villager again answered succinctly that they needed to keep walking at a good pace and would be in bed, after s good meal well before midnight. The dread and fear however slowed down the Rishi and his disciples and they raised the query again a couple of times, only to be answered similarly. And calmly and in a straight forward manner. However on repeated queries the unflappable villager got a little irritated. He stopped and so did the trip. The moonlight shone on them. He said simply, I am quite unlettered and do not know the world you live in. But I know one thing for sure and always. The distance is always crossed and bridged by the concrete action of walking and walking consistently at that and not by frequently asking the way and frequently halting and asking the distance left to traverse. Or discussing again and again the fact it is dark or a forest or wild beasts are about or that who I really am. I have answered you honestly and you know my antecedents. That it is dark and the atmosphere one of darkness and foreboding is a fact and cannot be changed. But if we walk and walk consistently, then why should fear or lack of confidence overcome us, there are four of us, let us act and the action is to walk. The long distance shall reduce and as we near my home, we shall only walk faster. Come OvWise Rishi and let us keep walking. Consistently and on the path I know for sure. You may not know this path but I do.
This is a life lesson by itself. I doubt more needs to be said on this. A balanced mix of the two illustrations would be the ideal pathway.
DKK
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By Dinesh Kumar Kapila
We spend a long time on gauging what is the right way, the correct way, the economic way, the logical way, maybe the ethical way to reaching a decision. Manuals and Policy Prescriptions abound across Universities, Colleges of Management, Formal Organisations and the Government. Now we need to searching for what is the essence of the whole process. Maybe a short story would help. There was a Rishi (a holy man, a seer) who, when not meditating and interpreting the scriptures, also oversaw the functioning of his Ashram(young monks etc were taught the fundamentals of education at such Ashrams). Some disciples would tread only the spiritual path and forsake the temporal path and maybe evolve as the Rishis of the future. Anyway, this particular Rishi, an evolved soul, one day had a rather tough bout of self realisation. He felt he had been too proximate to the real world and perhaps now required to retreat to The Himalayas for introspection and rejuvenating himself. This thought gathered up a storm of thoughts and emotions within him as he calmly and dispassionately went about administering the Ashram and his disciples. They had no inkling about the storm within their Rishi. Then one day the Rishi called over the disciple he had assessed as to be the best to attend to the affairs of the Ashram and the disciples when he would be away meditating in the remote Himalayas. The Disciple was simply informed about the decision and advised to gather his thoughts and mental faculties to take up the assignment. Plus basic instructions and information on some administrative aspects. This was all done in the late evening. Thereafter the Disciple was informed that on the Day After the Rishi would depart for maybe three months to could be six months Atleast. If the young disciple had any doubts or required clarifications, he could request the Rishi the next day. But since tomorrow the Rishi would be on a vow of silence, the answers or responses would be written down. The disciple nodded and left. All night he thought of the myriad problems which could arise and trouble him. He did not even know the intricacies of running an Ashram. He approached the Rishi early in the morning the next day and shared this thought with him. He was full of Anxiety and Doubt. The Rishi heard him out fully while nodding along sagely. Then he simply turned to his scroll. Wrote something and folded the scroll. Then indicated to the young disciple to leave. As soon as the Disciple left the room, he sat on a cot and opened the scroll. The scroll simply contained a word - or rather three words. Awareness- Be Aware. The Disciple thought it over under the shade of a banyan tree. It made sense to him. He was to be aware straightaway by meeting the staff and disciples and young monks. He needed to know with their cooperation the how’s and why’s of running the Ashram. He thought about it and was convinced that this was the line of thought of the Rishi.
Now he was jolted by Another thought. A rather harsh one. What if the other disciples refused to listen to his advise or instructions. What if they became rebellious or went away. What if the young monks stopped meditating. The more he thought the more self doubt entered into the deepest recesses of his mind. He was paralysed by this line of thought. He had no option but to disturb the Rishi and discuss this with him. With heavy steps he opened the door to the Rishi’s room and shared all his doubts and the varied scenarios with him. The Rishi nodded along. Listened attentively. His eyes looking deep into the young disciple and all the while sitting in a most calm manner. Then he turned to his scroll. He wrote three words. Folded it. Handed it over and quietly indicated this being his meditation time, he needed to meditate. The young disciple rushed out. Went to his spartanly furnished room and quietly opened the scroll. It simply stated - Awareness- Be Aware. The more he thought, the more it made sense and quite logical to him. To understand his team, their emotions and thoughts and processes, their insecurities and hopes and aspirations was his task now. He had to inner-stand and lead the way. How he handled this crucial element would determine their attitude and response. He had to balance with a light touch the leadership and management roles, yet be fair and firm, while representing the Rishi in his absence. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was. His confidence slowly returned. He then started attending to his other tasks.
Towards the late afternoon another major bout of under confidence attacked his mind. How would he attend the court of the Raja. How would the other Rishis view him. Would he be accepted in view of his young age. Would the citizens of the nearby settlements accept him and reach out with alms and offerings as hitherto. Would they attend his readings of the scriptures and his interpretations. What about the disciples seeking roles in administrative positions. Would they imbibe his teachings. He sat with his head hung down and he felt the heavy weight of the responsibility. He had no option but to again approach the Rishi. The Rishi showed no irritation at being disturbed during his meditation and beckoned him most kindly to share and unburden his thoughts and concerns. As the young disciple spoke he also felt lighter and a bit stronger as his own mind was offering certain solutions. The Rishi, after hearing him out, and he had been watching him intently, placed his hand on the head of the disciple and blessed him. Then he turned to the scroll. He wrote a few words. Then folded the scroll as always and handed it over.?As soon as the disciple was out of the door, he opened the scroll. It was simple- Awareness- Be Aware.
For long did the Disciple walk and ruminate in the gardens and orchards of the Ashram. He actually understood this. If he was to read and deeply understand the scriptures, know the temporal world and the application of ethics and dharma to decision making, this would give him a large measure of self confidence. This would enable him to sit with confidence at the court and amongst the other Rishis. And this would enable the positive response and respect of the citizens in the settlements. But first he had to understand that he had consistently learn and relearn and seek out knowledge, both the practices and the theory or precepts. This would be his guiding light for self confidence as it would always be a bit alone as he substituted for his Rishi.
This is the path to the actualisation of your potential and fulfilling your ambitions. However it also requires action. Without action it is purely abstract and a debate. A debate or discussion may open ideas but does not lead to anything concrete unless acted upon. An illustration would certainly help.
A middle aged Rishi was moving to a large village to stay the night. The night was approaching and just the dusk was raising doubts as the path lay through a forest. The jungle was dense and the trees cast long shadows in the dusk. Just two unarmed disciples escorted the Rishi. They were equally concerned and while not speaking, the insecurities of each affected the other. Just then they saw a villager in the distance. They shouted to him to let them catch up so that they could walk together. Once they were together, a degree of self assurance came in. Then a degree of doubt. After all the villager was alone and just had an axe. Plus could be be trusted. So the Rishi asked him. Is this the path to the village. How far away is it. Kindly let us know. The villager simply answered that it was some distance away. A couple of hours or maybe some more time of walking would be the distance. He was also going there only. They were always welcome at his house plus the headman would be most welcoming too. Now doubt and fear assail the calmest of people, even if a Rishi or young monks. After some time the Rishi asked him again the path to the bill and the distance. The middle aged villager again answered succinctly that they needed to keep walking at a good pace and would be in bed, after s good meal well before midnight. The dread and fear however slowed down the Rishi and his disciples and they raised the query again a couple of times, only to be answered similarly. And calmly and in a straight forward manner. However on repeated queries the unflappable villager got a little irritated. He stopped and so did the trip. The moonlight shone on them. He said simply, I am quite unlettered and do not know the world you live in. But I know one thing for sure and always. The distance is always crossed and bridged by the concrete action of walking and walking consistently at that and not by frequently asking the way and frequently halting and asking the distance left to traverse. Or discussing again and again the fact it is dark or a forest or wild beasts are about or that who I really am. I have answered you honestly and you know my antecedents. That it is dark and the atmosphere one of darkness and foreboding is a fact and cannot be changed. But if we walk and walk consistently, then why should fear or lack of confidence overcome us, there are four of us, let us act and the action is to walk. The long distance shall reduce and as we near my home, we shall only walk faster. Come OvWise Rishi and let us keep walking. Consistently and on the path I know for sure. You may not know this path but I do.
This is a life lesson by itself. I doubt more needs to be said on this. A balanced mix of the two illustrations would be the ideal pathway.
DKK
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