The world is growing insecure and complex and plagued with problems such as global warming, terrorism, violence, political instability and hunger for lack of deep understanding and enlightened leadership. The panacea for all domestic and international problems as dictated by Srimad Bhagavad-Gita can be learning and practicing Krishna consciousness and Karma Yog. Krishna consciousness is a state of awareness in which an individual acts in complete harmony with the Supreme personality of Godhead Krishna. Its purpose is to devote one’s thoughts and actions to pleasing the Lord with true love and devotion by performing Gyana Yog, Karma Yog and Bhakti Yog. Gyana is the pursuit of knowledge, and each individual and those in management leadership roles must understand the ultimate questions in life such as “Who am I?”, “Why am I here?” and “Why am I suffering?”

Valuable teachings

Lord Krishna teaches us that by practicing Karma Yog or dutiful action, we endeavour to get out of the gross body; and by practicing Gyana Yog (of knowledge), we can overcome our egoistic attitude and desires and realise who we are and what we are supposed to do. But by practicing Bhakti Yog (devotional love of God) we can directly transcend both the subtle body (mind, intelligence and ego) and the gross material body. Bhagavad-Gita, the epitome of the Mahabharata epic and Vedic scriptures as expounded by Lord Krishna more than 5,000 years ago, teaches leadership and management qualities and techniques leading to a harmonious and blissful state of affairs as opposed to conflict, depression, tension, low efficiency and productivity, absence of motivation and lack of work culture.

Gita lessons for life and management deal with issues from the grassroots level of human thinking. Once the basic thinking of man is improved, it will automatically enhance the quality of his actions and their results. Lord Krishna enthralled his devotees by his charisma and taught them to move ahead on the path of truth and love and live life to the fullest. Gita imparts profound practical knowledge in the spiritual space. Its primary focus is on managing the self, external environment, interpersonal relationships, how to live one’s life and perform dutiful actions on sound ethical principles. The principles of leadership espoused thousands of years ago are contemporary as they surpass all situations of leadership predicament, internal conflict and ultimate resolutions. Managers and leaders, who in the perspective of Gita’s teachings, discover the core of their leadership, make better decisions, implement vision and sustain effectiveness.

All about karma

Karma Yog is vital as it provides a framework for stimulating high levels of motivation and transforming multitudes of situations involving people, processes and the environment to ensure optimal delivery of goods and services, efficiently and effectively, in greater contentment for all stakeholders. It also serves as a process of achieving perfection in selfless action. Work done without expectations purifies one’s mind and gradually makes an individual fit to see the value of reason. Therefore, without being attached to the results of one’s activities, one should, like Lord Krishna taught Arjun, perform the duty assigned diligently. To quote Mahatma Gandhi, “The Bhagavad-Gita calls on humanity to dedicate body, mind and soul to pure duty and not to become mental voluptuaries at the mercy of random desires and undisciplined impulses.”

True Karma or dutiful action is implementing the process of Yajna (Yagya, Sacrifice) as our life is a Sacrifice (not a loss) that we perform in the direction of a higher fulfillment. Truth exists in the past, present and future, and falsehood never exists. Only Atma (inner self or consciousness) is truth with respect to consciousness. It is also Sanatan (eternal). Karma Yog is centred on the principle of Yagya which directs all life and existence. The Lord emphasises Sattvik Karma (obligatory work done without attachment, passion and aversion) and Nishkama Karma (selfless service) to save us from ‘hit-or-miss results’ (haphazard and unreliable) while going through and enjoying life.

Faithful adherence to Krishna consciousness and Karma Yog in terms of discharging dutiful action is essential for each and every individual in the government and private sectors including the political field. It is important for our real happiness and prosperity; without it, we do not know who we are or what we are supposed to do. “A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all the planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wishers of all living entities, attains peace from the twinge of material miseries,” Lord Krishna has said in Gita. He himself is seated in the individual’s soul or everyone’s heart as the all-pervading Super-Soul; and the Lord is omnipresent, omniscience and omnipotent; and ‘the world is one family’ (Vashudhaiva Kutumbakam).

When Albert Einstein read Gita he admitted, “When I read Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe, everything else seems so superfluous.” Therefore, on the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmasthami, let us relinquish all selfish desires, be more ethical and disciplined, and break away from the ego-cage of ‘I, me, mine’ to enable Nepal to secure political stability, peace, happiness and prosperity by doing dutiful action. And the world as a whole will also be made a better living place for everybody.

Dixit is an expert in integrated development issues