Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Bhagwad Gita
Almost
every
kid
growing
up
in
India
is
made
familiar
with
the
baffling
and
bewildering
central
message
of
the
book
you
should
work
without
attachment
to
the
fruits
of
your
labour.
It
doesnt
resonate
much,
particularly
since
the
kids
in
India
are
subjected
to
the
tyranny
of
comparative
grading,
quarterly
exams
and
competitive
examinations
quite
early
in
life.
They
are
incentivised
by
their
parents
who
tell
their
kids
that
if
they
want
a
cushy
job
that
gives
money
and
respect
in
the
society,
they
better
crack
their
exams.
More
clever
parents
also
use
operant
conditioning
by
rewarding
their
kids
with
bikes,
fancy
dinners
and
vacations
when
they
climb
higher
on
the
relative
grading
curve.
The
message
from
Gita
is
ignored
as
young
men
and
women
venture
into
the
world
to
grab
their
share
of
the
pie.
To
unravel
the
mystery
behind
Gitas
central
message
(work
without
attachment),
lets
start
with
the
workplace
(where
Indians,
who
take
the
entrance
exams
are
doing
very
well
these
days,
being
the
engines
of
global
economy).
The
wisdom
of
Gita
can
be
seen
working
at
any
office
environment.
Gita
identifies
three
kinds
of
gunas
(read
energy)
called
Satvik,
Rajsik
and
Tamsik
(read
them
as
White,
Grey
and
Black).
To
identify
which
kind
of
energy
is
dominant
in
a
worker,
you
have
to
assess
him
on
three
key
parameters
his
self-worth,
his
perspective,
and
his
process
versus
outcome
orientation.
The
self-worth
of
workers
with
White
(or
Satvik
energy)
is
attached
to
knowledge
and
wisdom.
They
take
great
pride
in
excelling
at
their
work
and
secretly
want
to
be
acknowledged
as
wise
and
clever.
Their
role
models
are
usually
businessmen
who
are
driven
by
knowledge
and
creativity
(Warren
Buffett
and
Steve
Jobs),
rather
than
the
size
of
their
business
empires.
Since
they
are
driven
by
knowledge
they
measure
other
workers
also
by
their
capabilities
rather
than
their
rank.
They
would
not
respect
a
superior
no
matter
what
his
designation
or
accomplishments,
if
they
feel
that
he
or
she
is
all
style
and
no
substance.
Such
workers
have
a
detached
and
objective
view
about
their
workplace
and
do
not
hesitate
to
give
critical
feedback
about
the
work
culture
of
their
company.
Such
workers
are
generally
cheerful
though,
since
they
see
every
high
or
low
in
business/job
as
an
opportunity
to
learn
and
create
something
new
and
better.
Workers
with
white
energy
also
tend
to
have
a
longer
term
perspective
and
see
business
as
a
win-
win
game.
They
understand
that
what
is
good
for
them
is
good
for
their
colleagues,
juniors
and
superiors
and
their
vendors
and
ultimately
for
their
customers.
Thus
it
is
easier
to
reason
with
white
energy
workers
and
easier
to
invest
your
trust
in
them.
Due
to
their
long
term
perspective,
they
have
a
disciplined
approach
to
life
and
work
and
understand
their
hard
tasks
have
to
be
accomplished
for
years
before
rich
dividends
are
reaped.
Workers
with
white
energy
tend
to
enjoy
the
process
of
the
assignments
they
are
given.
They
are
capable
of
extracting
learning
even
from
dull
and
repetitive
tasks
and
rarely
crib
about
them.
Their
ultimate
career
goal
is
to
find
a
calling;
work
where
they
really
enjoy
the
process
of
the
assignments
they
are
working
on.
The
same
three
parameters
self-worth,
perspective
and
process
versus
outcome
will
help
in
identifying
grey
(Rajsik)
and
black
(Tamsik)
energies
in
a
workplace.
Self
-worth
of
a
grey
energy
worker
is
attached
to
money
and
power.
He
evaluates
his
co-workers
and
superiors
by
their
rank,
designation
and
perks.
They
tend
to
admire
businessmen
who
accumulated
money
and
power
even
though
the
overall
means
they
used
may
have
been
unsavoury
(think
Donald
Trump).
Such
people
are
highly
aware
about
the
institutional
politics
in
their
organization.
Since
they
are
opportunists,
they
will
be
very
energized
if
they
feel
an
assignment
will
set
them
up
for
a
promotion
or
monetary
raise.
The
perspective
of
a
grey
energy
worker
doesnt
go
beyond
the
next
quarterly
or
annual
appraisal.
They
are
easily
dismayed
if
they
feel
that
the
fortunes
of
their
organization
will
be
shaky
by
the
time
their
next
bonus
will
be
due.
They
appear
loyal
to
organizations
but
are
actually
working
on
a
transactional
basis.
They
are
best
managed
through
contracts
and
incentives.
The
grey
energy
workers
have
a
focus
on
the
outcome
of
the
assignment
they
are
working
on.
They
will
crib
if
they
feel
that
the
current
assignment
will
not
create
much
financial
or
monetary
value,
however
will
still
execute
the
assignment
thinking
its
professional
to
do
so.
Their
career
goal
is
to
work
for
reputed
organizations
which
will
pay
them
more
and
more
for
less
and
less
work.
The
self-worth
of
a
black
energy
(Tamsik)
workers
appears
to
be
on
very
shaky
ground
and
it
is
hard
to
figure
out
their
drivers.
They
seem
to
be
more
driven
by
momentary
pleasures
of
the
workplace,
like
having
a
good
party
on
the
Friday
with
barbecued
chicken
and
lamb
delicacies.
According
to
them
the
best
employers
are
the
ones
who
give
a
lot
of
vacations
and
allowing
them
to
chill
during
workdays.
They
seem
to
be
either
delusional,
in
denial
or
blind
about
their
standing
in
their
workplace.
Sometimes
they
do
not
realize
how
close
they
are
to
getting
fired.
Its
very
hard
to
mentor
such
workers,
as
they
never
seem
to
get
any
perspective.
Manager
feels
that
he
can
neither
reason
with
such
workers
nor
incentivise
him
by
appealing
to
his
interest.
The
only
way
to
manage
such
workers
is
by
keeping
a
constant
watch
on
them
with
a
proverbial
stick
in
your
hand.
Black
energy
workers
neither
enjoy
the
process
of
their
assignments,
nor
do
they
understand
how
important
the
outcome
of
the
assignment
is
for
the
organization.
They
appear
unfocussed
and
are
perpetual
cribbers.
Now
that
I
have
described
the
three
energies,
the
reader
would
have
created
a
hierarchy
in
his
head.
Obviously
it
makes
sense
to
hire
as
many
white
energy
people
as
you
can,
employ
few
grey
energy
people
and
keep
black
energy
people
as
far
away
from
you
as
possible.
In
fact
the
words
white,
grey
and
black
itself
create
a
mental
hierarchy.
Bhagavad
Gita
also
creates
this
hierarchy
multiple
times
in
the
book.
However
and
brace
yourself
for
this,
the
Gita
also
says
that
ultimately
all
three
energies
are
equal.
It
is
perplexing,
isnt
it?
At
one
hand,
the
Lord
is
saying
that
those
with
black
energy
(Tamsik)
will
keep
falling
into
deeper
circles
of
hell
and
those
with
grey
energy
(Rajsik)
will
keep
rotating
in
a
materialistic
circle.
Then
he
becomes
democratic
and
says
that
I
see
all
the
energies
as
equal
and
so
would
a
sage
who
is
really
connected
to
me.
The
Lord
says
all
the
energies
are
coming
from
me
only,
and
angelic
and
demonic
within
people
are
all
aspects
of
me.
It
almost
sounds
as
if
the
Lord
has
sympathy
for
the
devil.
Like
Mick
Jagger,
he
says
every
cop
is
criminal
and
all
the
sinners
saints.
In
the
answer
to
this
riddle,
also
lies
the
answer
to
our
original
quest
how
to
work
without
attachment
to
fruits.
Lets
revisit
the
black
(Tamsik)
energy.
The
key
trait
of
such
people
is
that
they
are
almost
living
for
transitory
and
momentary
pleasure.
That
is
why
they
lack
focus,
perspective
and
are
not
able
to
attach
their
self-worth
to
fruitful
causes.
But
dont
all
of
us
have
some
admiration
of
a
person
with
a
carefree
attitude
who
seems
to
be
enjoying
the
moment.
Perhaps
you
only
appreciate
them
outside
the
workspace.
Isnt
there
something
admirable
about
a
person
who
is
capable
of
forgetting
everything
and
letting
go
in
a
burst
of
laughter.
Dont
we
all
feel
that
there
is
something
divine
about
the
ignorant
playfulness
of
children?
Rock
and
roll
bands
(like
Mick
Jagger
and
his
Rolling
Stones)
were
in
fact
indulging
themselves
in
hedonistic
and
momentary
enjoyments
in
the
sixties.
They
were
also
accused
of
being
spawns
of
Satan
(Tamsik)
by
many.
Was
it
really
the
handiwork
of
Satan
or
is
there
something
irresistibly
charming
about
frivolous
gay
abandon.
Similarly,
havent
management
professors
emphasized
that
a
good
Strategy
(the
forte
of
White
energy
or
Satvik
people)
is
futile
without
Execution
skills?
(the
strength
of
Grey
Energy
or
Rajsik
people).
Isnt
everyone
with
some
experience
of
business,
aware
of
the
importance
of
goal
orientation
or
getting
the
task
done
(something
which
comes
better
to
grey
energy
people)?
Isnt
a
sound
understanding
of
how
people
respond
to
incentives
which
is
cornerstone
of
economic
thinking
(and
something
that
comes
more
easily
to
grey
energy
people)
vital
for
success
in
business?
In
fact
in
any
healthy
organization,
the
goals
of
strategic
thinkers
(White
energy)
would
be
aligned
with
the
incentives
of
the
managers
(Grey
energy)
and
the
guidelines
of
the
ground
level
workers
(Black
energy).
However,
the
three
energies
tend
to
misunderstand
and
dislike
each
other
both
in
workplace
and
outside.
Artists
and
creative
people
mostly
dislike
businessmen
and
lawyers.
Blue
collar
worker
feels
that
the
capitalist
is
out
to
exploit
them
(which
may
be
true
on
many
occasions
but
often
the
businessmen
among
other
things
is
also
trying
to
help
organize
the
life
of
blue
collar
workers).
Knowledge
driven
people
find
materialistic
people
greedy
and
shallow.
Carefree
people
find
knowledge
driven
people
stuffy
and
snobbish.
In
fact
the
swinging
sixties
can
be
seen
as
youngsters
indulging
themselves
in
the
creative
white
energy
(more
like
the
Beatles)
or
the
hedonistic
black
energy
(more
like
the
stones)
as
they
couldnt
get
enough
Satisfaction
from
the
order
and
structure
of
post-
world
war
USA.
It
is
also
human
nature
to
like
people
who
are
more
like
you.
Thus
artists
tend
to
bond
more
with
other
artists
and
businessmen
admire
other
businessmen.
The
sage
or
wise
person
according
to
Gita
is
one
who
can
engage
with
all
kind
of
energies
without
bias
and
prejudice
for
anyone
in
particular.
I
think
the
road
to
attaining
wisdom
of
a
sage
begins
with
two
rare
and
elusive
qualities
tolerance
and
humility.
Tolerance
for
knowledge
driven
person
means
understanding
that
not
everyone
is
as
intelligent
or
creative
as
he/she
is.
Tolerance
for
a
commerce
person
translates
into
understanding
that
not
everyone
will
be
as
organized
and
structured
as
he/she
is.
The
lack
of
tolerance
is
responsible
for
much
self-afflicted
misery
in
the
world.
The
more
knowledgeable
or
capable
a
person
is,
more
likely
he
is
to
be
intolerant.
The
most
vivid
example
from
recent
memory
is
Steve
Jobs.
The
brilliant
Jobs
only
admired
other
brilliant
and
creative
people
(white
energy
people)
and
he
was
known
to
be
intolerant
of
grey
and
black
energy
people.
Jobs
certainly
brought
many
good
things
to
the
world,
but
he
also
made
many
people
in
his
personal
space
miserable.
He
also
created
unhappiness
for
himself
due
to
his
intolerance.
The
most
vivid
example
of
tolerance
from
the
business
world
is
Warren
Buffett.
Buffett
is
by
all
means
a
greater
intellect
than
Jobs.
However
Buffett
is
also
remarkably
patient
and
tolerant
of
people
who
are
less
ignorant
than
him
about
business
(in
fact
compared
to
him
most
people
are
ignorant
and
idiotic
when
it
comes
to
business).
When
you
become
tolerant
of
all
energies,
you
become
capable
of
engaging
with
them.
Even
more
elusive
than
tolerance
is
humility.
Knowledge
and
creativity
driven
people
(white
energy)
look
down
on
the
vanity
of
money
and
power
driven
people.
But
the
truth
is
that
knowledge
driven
people
are
equally
vain.
All
artists
(who
perhaps
epitomize
white
energy
the
best)
are
vain
in
the
sense
that
they
are
driven
by
the
need
for
self-
expression.
Artists
like
to
chide
kings
and
queens
by
telling
them
their
material
possessions
would
sooner
or
later
be
destroyed,
while
their
works
would
echo
through
eternity.
But
by
chasing
the
ultimate
prize
of
art
artistic
immortality;
the
artists
are
giving
away
their
vanity.
It
is
true
that
artists
have
the
best
shot
at
immortal
self-expression.
For
example
Apple
may
be
a
great
institution
today,
but
50
years
down
the
line
it
most
likely
would
not
exist
(such
is
the
nature
of
business
history).
I-phone
and
I-pad
may
be
the
coolest
gadgets
today
but
two
decades
later
they
will
look
like
duds.
Even
the
body
of
knowledge
that
Apple
has
created
about
doing
business,
would
be
redundant
as
future
organizations
will
learn
from
their
example
and
create
a
new
body
of
knowledge.
What
is
much
more
likely
to
survive
is
the
idea
of
Apple
and
Steve
Jobs
as
a
maverick.
The
works
of
Einstein
and
Newton
would
be
bettered
and
surpassed,
but
the
works
of
Shakespeare
and
Mozart
would
persist
as
they
are.
People
will
connect
with
these
artists
as
if
they
knew
them
as
people
for
many
centuries
to
come.
So
humility
starts
with
the
realization
that
this
lofty
goal
of
self-expression
is
almost
unattainable
for
most
people,
except
maybe
for
rarest
of
talents.
If
most
kings,
tycoons,
scientists
and
even
most
artists
will
be
forgotten
with
time,
then
what
is
the
urge
for
action?
When
Shakespeare
and
Mozart
were
writing
their
works,
do
you
really
think
they
were
excited
by
the
prospect
of
being
remembered
for
eternity.
Truth
is
they
were
only
acknowledged
as
genius
some
three
centuries
later.
They
were
doing
their
work
because
they
were
really
enjoying
it.
They
connected
white
energy
(knowledge
and
creativity)
with
black
energy
(pure
hedonistic
enjoyment).
Since
they
were
really
enjoying
it,
they
got
better
at
it
and
when
they
got
better
at
it,
they
enjoyed
it
even
more.
Thus
a
feedback
loop
was
created
out
of
synergy
between
white
and
black
energy,
which
resulted
in
some
divine
music
and
literature
which
the
whole
world
enjoys.
Shakespeare
even
had
commercial
and
organizing
instincts
(grey
energy)
which
certainly
helped
the
cause.
These
guys
were
doing
their
work
without
too
concerned
about
the
only
reward
that
lasts
a
long
time
(artistic
immortality),
and
the
drive
was
coming
from
the
black
energy.
As
John
Lennon
said,
its
about
living
for
the
day.
Maybe
thats
why
there
is
something
refreshingly
divine
about
rock
and
roll
which
is
largely
fuelled
by
hedonistic
and
momentary
pleasure.
Sure
most
of
the
times
you
feel
that
the
rock
and
rollers
have
lost
it.
But
sometimes
the
drive
for
enjoyment
is
combined
with
creativity
(white
energy)
and
the
organization
and
structure
of
Stadium
rock
(grey
energy)
to
create
a
fruit
for
everyone
to
enjoy
(a
cosmic
perspective).
The
Cosmic
Perspective
is
the
ultimate
key
to
inner
peace.
As
Robert
Plant
once
sang
when
all
is
one
and
one
is
all
Perhaps
that
is
what
Nietzsche
meant
when
he
said
that
all
a
soul
of
philosopher
wants
to
do
is
get
up
and
dance.
After
acquiring
all
the
knowledge,
a
sage
ultimately
feels
that
maybe
all
he
can
do
is
be
happy,
and
make
others
happy.
And
in
that
state
he
is
most
close
to
the
divine
nature.
And
in
black
energy
also
lays
the
answer
to
our
original
query.
Indian
parents
should
start
telling
the
kids
to
choose
subjects
that
they
really
enjoy
(Tamsik),
keeping
in
mind
the
options
available
to
them
under
the
current
education
system
(Rajsik)
and
should
study
them
with
discipline
and
curiosity
(Satvik).
If
the
kids
get
the
black
energy
aspect
right
(Tamsik
enjoyment
from
studies)
the
fruits
will
automatically
come.
- Amaresh
2)
Introducing
Buddha:
A
Graphic
Guide
As
a
well
spent
day
brings
happy
sleep,
so
life
well
used
brings
happy
death.
Leonardo
da
Vinci
Introducing
Buddha
is
part
of
a
much
beloved
series
by
Icon
Books,
which
attempts
to
present
complicated
philosophical
and
art
school
topics
in
an
easily
understandable
graphic
format.
The
particular
book
is
one
of
the
better
ones
in
the
series.
On
my
second
reading
of
the
book,
I
noticed
uncanny
similarities
between
many
teachings
of
Buddhism
and
Bhagavad
Gita.
Lets
start
with
the
path
to
enlightenment.
According
to
Gita,
path
to
enlightenment
starts
when
a
person
starts
feeling
dissatisfaction
from
sensual
pleasures
(like
young
Buddha
felt
as
a
prince)
and
then
let
go
off
the
emotional
attachments
of
the
world
(as
Buddha
did
when
he
left
his
family).
At
this
stage
person
starts
looking
inward
and
cuts
off
from
the
world
(as
Buddha
isolated
himself
in
a
tree).
Finally
when
a
person
experiences
enlightenment
he
feels
duty
bound
to
spread
the
message
to
the
world
(as
Buddha
did).
Both
Bhagavad
Gita
and
Buddhism
emphasise
yoga
or
meditation
as
the
way
to
control
senses
and
mind
(mind
can
be
understood
as
the
emotional
and
impulsive
part
of
the
brain
as
compared
to
the
intellect
which
is
trained
and
rational).
Once
the
mind
is
controlled,
the
person
sees
the
world
with
much
more
clarity.
The
concept
is
not
so
other
worldly
as
it
sounds.
Behavioural
finance
(a
modern
branch
of
economics
which
probes
the
irrationality
of
human
mind)
also
recommends
controlling
your
impulsive
mind
to
cultivate
a
more
rational
temperament.
A
rational
temperament
allows
one
to
see
the
business
world
much
more
objectively
and
thus
increasing
the
chances
for
success
as
an
investor.
Both
Gita
and
Buddhism
emphasise
the
dissolving
of
ego
boundaries
as
a
part
of
the
process
to
achieve
higher
truth.
Buddhism
says
that
as
long
as
a
person
keeps
viewing
the
world
from
the
prism
of
I,
me,
mine;
he
will
remain
trapped
in
the
samsara
(material
world).
Gita
also
says
that
as
long
as
a
person
remains
attached
to
his
selfish
interests
he
will
keep
rotating
in
an
endless
material
circle.
Behavioural
finance
also
says
that
people
who
are
trying
to
derive
their
happiness
from
material
things
will
feel
like
they
are
running
on
a
hedonic
treadmill.
Once
they
attain
a
certain
material
goal,
they
will
feel
a
temporary
surge
in
happiness
but
soon
they
will
be
chasing
a
new
goal.
Both
Gita
and
Buddhism
say
that
engagement
transcends
renunciation.
Gita
says
karmayog
(practice
of
knowledge)
is
higher
than
karmasanyas
(gaining
of
knowledge),
as
karmayoga
purifes
knowledge.
Buddha
also
says
-
do
not
believe
my
teachings
but
put
them
to
practice
and
test.
The
concept
is
similar
to
scientific
ethos
of
putting
knowledge
to
test.
And
if
the
knowledge
doesnt
pass
the
test,
the
failure
will
only
direct
you
closer
to
the
truth.
Thus
one
should
not
be
too
bothered
if
something
doesnt
fit
in
his
existing
mental
framework.
It
will
make
you
anxious
temporarily,
but
ultimately
you
will
emerge
wiser.
The
highest
school
of
Buddhism
is
Vajrayana
(other
major
schools
Himayana
and
Mahayana
are
the
foundations
of
Vajrayana),
whose
goal
is
to
put
precise
experience
of
enlightenment
into
everyday
use.
The
Vajrayana
school,
emphasises
combining
seriousness
of
purpose
(satvik
gun
from
Gita)
with
a
sense
of
momentary
enjoyment
(tamsik
gun
from
Gita)
but
accepts
that
perfection
cannot
be
achieved.
A
little
anxiety,
confusion
or
conflict
is
necessary
for
progress
of
knowledge.
Gita
as
well
as
Buddhism
emphasize
awareness
of
death
as
vital
for
gaining
true
knowledge.
Gitas
discourse
started
when
Arjun
was
scared
of
the
prospect
of
killing
his
cousins
and
teachers.
Buddhas
quest
started
when
he
became
aware
of
death.
Zen
school
of
Buddhism
has
many
poems
to
make
its
disciple
confront
death.
Modern
psychology
also
accepts
the
tendency
to
ignore
and
rationalize
death
as
responsible
for
many
psychological
illnesses.
Death
is
the
ultimate
fear
(although
many
people
say
that
public
speaking
is
the
ultimate
fear)
and
Gita
emphasises
fearlessness.
Fear
of
death
can
break
down
many
peoples
rationality
and
only
a
rational
person
can
get
close
to
the
truth.
Death
is
also
one
domain
where
Gita
and
Buddha
seem
to
disagree.
Gita
talks
about
rebirth
and
external
saviour
while
Buddha
said
that
there
is
no
external
saviour
and
his
point
of
view
started
with
his
birth
and
ended
with
his
death.
Multiple
schools
of
Buddhism
also
differ
on
the
possibility
of
rebirth.
However
the
resolution
to
this
apparent
conflict
is
present
within
Gita
itself.
The
central
and
enigmatic
message
of
Gita
is
work
without
attachment
to
rewards.
To
live
mindfully
in
the
moment,
to
be
aware
of
your
duty
and
to
engage
with
the
world
through
action,
is
the
theme
running
through
Gita
and
Buddhism.
If
you
live
according
to
these
principles
the
rewards
will
come
automatically
for
you
and
for
the
world.
You
will
see
the
rewards
within
this
lifetime,
on
yearly
or
quarterly
basis
and
in
fact
if
you
really
put
the
principles
to
practice
you
will
get
the
reward
automatically
on
a
daily
basis.
Why
should
one
then
be
too
worried
about
the
reward
he
will
get
in
the
after-life.
If
there
is
an
external
saviour
he
will
reward
you
by
sending
you
on
a
higher
trajectory,
if
he
feels
you
deserve
it.
If
there
is
no
external
saviour
you
will
die
happily
and
peacefully
like
the
Buddha.
Either
way
you
do
not
have
a
right
over
the
reward
(what
else
is
a
better
after
life
but
a
reward),
and
you
will
be
wasting
your
energies
foolishly
by
worrying
about
it.
- Amaresh
It
is
a
game
after
all.
For
every
great
deal
that
you
negotiate,
someone
else
will
be
handed
over
the
bad
end
of
the
contract.
For
every
great
killing
you
make
in
the
stock
market,
someone
else
will
lose
the
money.
For
every
great
bargain
you
find
for
investment;
someone
else
will
have
sold
his
family
silver
cheaply.
No
wonder
the
game
gets
tiring
after
some
time.
And
it
doesnt
only
get
tiring
for
those
who
do
not
know
how
to
play
the
game.
It
gets
tiring
even
for
those
who
have
been
winning
at
the
game
all
their
life
CEOs,
Venture
Capitalists
and
Serial
Entrepreneurs.
Such
people
have
very
sharp
instincts
about
power
and
money;
and
more
importantly
how
people
react
to
power
and
money.
They
know
how
to
play
their
clients,
investors
and
employees
by
sensing
their
responses
to
the
changes
in
the
winds
of
fortune.
Most
people
just
play
along
in
the
direction
of
such
tides;
winners
are
playground
instructors.
However
how
long
can
you
keep
playing?
Playing
builds
fatigue
in
the
body
after
all.
It
involves
manoeuvring,
manipulation
and
trickery.
If
business
is
warfare
(as
the
clich
goes),
all
warfare
is
based
on
deception.
Sooner
or
later
you
will
run
into
a
better
player
who
will
make
you
play
along.
Doesnt
it
make
sense
to
just
quit
once
you
have
won
enough?
If
you
know
that
deep
down,
you
have
the
best
long
term
intentions
in
mind
for
clients,
investors
and
employees,
you
can
keep
playing.
If
you
are
playing
in
tune
with
a
higher
moral
consciousness,
you
can
keep
playing.
If
you
know
that
your
agenda
is
synchronized
with
the
agenda
of
the
universal
human
soul,
you
can
keep
playing.And
magically
your
chances
of
winning
will
go
up
significantly.
Such
is
the
game
of
the
enlightened
business
leader.
So
how
does
one
get
in
synch
with
this
universal
human
soul.
The
learning
starts
when
a
business
leader
realizes
that
most
of
his
effort
will
leave
only
a
tiny
mark
on
the
cosmos.
It
is
unlikely
that
whatever
he
is
building
will
last
more
than
a
few
decades.
Even
the
greatest
companies
in
the
world
would
not
survive
for
more
than
a
century.
And
people
rarely
remember
businessmen
fondly.
Sure
they
can
donate
a
lot
to
charities,
build
hospitals
and
get
university
libraries
named
after
them.
But
like
most
Kings
of
yesteryears
were
feared
rather
than
respected,
business
tycoons
are
loved
for
what
they
can
give,
rather
than
for
what
they
are.
This
line
of
thought
is
bordering
on
the
absurd.
After
all
in
the
very
long
run
almost
everything
will
dissolve
into
nothingness.
Countries,
continents,
our
planet
and
even
our
galaxy.
If
nothing
really
survives,
then
should
everyone
give
up.
If
you
think
about
it,
something
does
survive
and
gets
passed
on.
Some
energy
from
somewhere
kindred
life
on
our
planet.
Evolution
of
the
species
finally
made
way
for
the
human
race.
At
every
stage
of
progress,
human
generations
were
passing
some
sort
of
cumulative
knowledge,
traits
and
genes
for
the
future.
Every
human
life
is
capable
of
lighting
some
flame
in
another
one.
The
churn
of
everyday
ephemeral
life,
creates
something
which
is
passed
on
for
eternity.
That
something
is
very
difficult
to
express
in
prose,
poetry
comes
close;
but
actually
you
can
only
meditate
on
it.
Perhaps
that
is
as
close
you
get
to
knowing
God.
You
can
also
call
it
the
higher
moral
consciousness
or
the
universal
human
soul.
The
dust
and
grime
of
everyday
business
life,
flames
something
in
soul
of
an
enlightened
business
leader
that
keeps
him
going.
Different
functions
of
an
organization
can
be
conceptualized
as
teachers
or
gurus,
trying
to
cultivate
enlightning
qualities
in
you.
Thus
the
ancient
wisdom
from
Vedic
India,
can
be
tied
to
the
modern
contemporary
life.
- Allen Ginseberg
I
cannot
write
enough
blog
posts
on
this
book.
I
will
quickly
whip
up
one
to
cement
a
theory
a
dear
friend
mentioned
to
me
(his
profile
here-
http://varuntalwar.com/blog/)
,
so
it
doesnt
slip
out
of
my
mind.
The
much
debated
concept
of
the
world
as
maya
or
illusion.
Gita
says
at
multile
points
that
the
human
realm
is
essentially
a
clash
of
three
primary
modes
of
energies
(or
gunas)
Satvik,
Rajisk
or
Tamasik.
The
simplest
way
to
understand
them
is
that
they
are
different
modes
of
ego
consciousness.
A
person
is
born
in
ignorance
(although
Ginsberg
said
he
is
born
in
suffering
which
leads
to
ignorance,
I
cannot
get
my
way
around
it
so
I
will
let
it
slide).
Igonrancre
leads
to
suffering.
To
reduce
suffering,
person
starts
gravitating
towards
objects
that
make
him
happy.
Thus
he
starts
developing
likes
and
dislikes.
He
likes
objects
which
makes
him
happy
and
dislike
objects
which
make
him
suffer.
Simultaneously
a
person
also
starts
developing
his
ego.
Ego
is
primarily
shaped
by
the
need
to
find
security
in
this
world.
Security
can
come
from
money,
power
or
knowledge.
People
who
are
driven
by
either
of
these
things
start
developing
very
different
world
views.
Ego
and
objects
of
attachment
are
interwined.
A
knowledge
seeker
is
attached
to
books
and
knowledgable
people.
A
power
seeker
I
attached
to
his
personal
kingdom
and
men
in
power.
These
objects
of
attachment
pull
people
with
different
ego
consciouness
in
different
directions.
A
money
driven
person
is
pulled
by
the
currency
notes.
He
makes
his
chocies
in
life
in
the
same
manner.
He
will
pick
jobs
with
a
short
term
mindset,
that
will
make
him
a
quick
buck.
He
will
make
friends
who
are
good
at
minting
money.
Perhaps
the
most
important
choice
one
makes
is
marriage.
A
money
driven
person
marries
a
women
who
assures
him
some
financial
security.
A
power
driven
person
marries
a
women,
whose
family
has
a
kingdom
of
his
own.
A
knowledge
driven
person
marries
a
seeker.
You
can
tell
a
lot
about
a
person
by
looking
at
the
partner
he
picked
(should
not
be
harsh
on
people
that
marry
too
early
though,
they
simply
were
not
self
aware
enough).
The
interplay
between
ego
consciousness
and
objects
of
attachment
is
often
too
subtle
and
complicated
for
many
people
to
understand.
When
the
desire
for
object
of
attachment
is
not
fullfilled
it
leads
to
anger.
When
you
feel
that
your
object
of
attachment
can
be
taked
away
it
leads
to
fear.
You
want
more
of
your
object
of
attachment,
which
is
another
form
of
greed.
A
knowledge
seeker
may
feel
that
he
is
above
the
primal
emotions
like
desires,
anger,
fear
and
greed.
However
even
a
thirst
for
knowledge,
if
left
unquenched
can
lead
to
anger.
And
anger
can
turn
into
blind
rage.
Even
an
emotion
as
pure
as
love
between
a
man
and
wife
(rated
in
all
religious
scriputures
as
something
which
makes
God
happier
than
anything
else),
if
unfulfilled
can
lead
to
anger
and
greed.
The
most
vivid
example
of
the
same
from
classical
literature
is
the
character
Heathecliff
from
Wuthering
Heights.
His
love
for
Catherine
was
pure.
He
didnt
love
her
for
knowledge,
connections
or
money.
They
connected
at
the
soul
level.
It
was
a
love
so
intense
and
passionate,
that
no
literary
character
till
date
holds
a
candle
to
Heathecliff
when
it
comes
to
making
erudite
women
swoon
over
a
phatansy
male
figure.
After
all
every
woman
wants
an
intense
handsome
intelligent
and
passionate
man,
to
be
under
her
spell.
Heathecliffs
object
of
attachment
was
unfairly
taken
away
from
him.
This
made
him
angry
and
harsh
to
the
point
of
being
downright
demonic.
Heathecliff
hated
the
aristocracy
who
he
thought
was
proud
arrogant
and
ostentatious.
In
his
hatred
he
himself
became
proud,
arrogant
and
ostentatious.
Still
every
reader
of
the
classic,
would
feel
sympathy
for
the
demonic
Heathecliff.
Bhagavad
Gita
itself
is
sympathetic
with
the
demonic
nature
at
multiple
points
while
warning
agains
the
pitfalls
of
such
a
mode
of
operation.
There
is
a
pattern
in
Hindu
Mythology
that
the
metagods
(Brahma,
Vishnu
and
Shiva)
are
often
sympatheic
with
the
demons,
while
their
inherent
nature
is
to
trouble
other
people.
A
failure
of
a
person
to
control
his
rage
when
his
object
of
attachment
is
deplorable.
After
all
death
will
consume
all
your
objects
of
attachment.
But
it
also
a
faiure
of
the
world
to
unfairly
take
away
objects
of
attachment,
that
make
people
happy.
An
act
of
suicide
is
failure
of
a
person.
It
is
also
a
failure
of
society
to
accommodate
a
human
being.
- Amaresh