Bhagavad Gita: The Key Source of Modern Management

 

Subhadeep Mukherjee

Ph.D. Research Scholar, Centre for Management Studies, Dibrugarh University, Assam, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail:

 

ABSTRACT:

‘Bhagavad Gita’ is one of the essential Indian ancient scriptures like Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads. It guides us by showing various spiritual paths through which we can gain self-knowledge as well as inner-peace. Many of our legendary leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Lokmanya Tilak and many more was influenced by the philosophy of ‘Bhagavad Gita’. This study showcases that, how ‘Gita’ influences the life of modern human society especially ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ generation. It also tries to analyze and highlight, how Bhagavad Gita supports and develops certain management vision and thoughts, which has created a benchmark in the modern world as a key source for success to any organization or an individual.

 

KEY WORDS: Bhagavad Gita, Management Thoughts, Organization, Inner-peace, Self-Knowledge.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

‘Bhagavad Gita’ which is literally known as the “Song of Lord”, it is one of the essential Indian ancient scriptures like Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads. It guides us by showing various spiritual paths through which we can enhance our self-knowledge as well as divine inner-peace. It is a acts as a medicine for modern human life and provides all that which is required to develop the highest level of consciousness.

 

Lord Krishna preached ‘Bhagavad Gita’ to Arjuna for motivating him to perform his task and duty when he was facing an ethical dilemma whether not to defeat and kill his relatives and friends in the war field of ‘Kurukshetra’. ‘Bhagavad Gita’ is like the river Ganga, in which knowledge, duty and deed are emphasised upon. As river Ganga has been flowing for many eras on this Earth, it quenches the thirst of every thirsty man without asking him about the caste, colour and creed or to which country he belongs to, so also Bhagavad Gita, like the river Ganga, is flowing for the welfare of mankind irrespective of the caste, creed, religion and country.

 

The greatness of Bhagavad Gita lies in the fact, that it has the answer to all question that arises in the heart or the soul of the mankind, i.e. questions related to Spiritual, Concerning the past or Worldly it has all answers to every question is present in Bhagavad Gita.

In Bhagavad Gita there are 700 verses (Slokas) written in 18 chapters, which addresses the spiritual, mental, intellectual, and health problems of mankind. Many of our legendary leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Henry David Thorean, Sri Rishi Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda,

 

Srila Prabhupada, Sri Madhvacharya, Adi- Shankaracharya, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Sri Ramkrishna Paramahansa, and many eminent scholars wrote comments and delivered inspiration from the Gita.

 

‘Dr. Radhakrishnan’ said that what Gita is about, it is the knowledge that has been given in our Upanishad, Shastras and epics, has been collected in totally, collected in one epic and the significant essence of all this is depicted.  This significant essence of the scriptures is what Bhagavad Gita is.

 

‘Mahatma Gandhi’ The father of the Nation, too had said that whenever he felt confused or faced a difficult situation which fails to show him the right path, at that time he used to take the support of Bhagavad Gita and he found an answer to his solution and strength which he did not get elsewhere.

 

‘Lokmanya Tilak’ had stated that Bhagavad Gita is like a lustrous and tender diamond amongst all our scriptures and epics. It makes everyone realize the greatness of mankind and the importance of spirituality. It also makes everyone realize about the devotion and knowledge by the impact of Shastras on them. When the desponded people of the world, read the Gita, it gives them peace and also encourages them perform selfless work in their life.

 

‘Albert Einstein’ has stated that he was so deeply inspired by the Bhagavad Gita that once he started  thinking of on how God went about forming the universe, he found everything else take and of no after effect.

 

‘Aldous Huxley’ stated that the Bhagavad–Gita is the most complete description of never-ending Philosophy.

 

Specialty of Bhagavad Gita – The Supreme Philosophy:  

What is so special or uniqueness about Bhagavad  Gita. It is that of 4 different yoga’s mentioned there in which are spiritual objective and work for all who care to apply the same in their lives.  Lord Krishna never passed any judgment on anyone, neither had he specified any moral conduct of ‘Right’ and ‘Wrong’. He also never imposed any rigid Do’s and Don’ts either. His message from Bhagavad  Gita teaches mankind to free himself of his all fetters, while staying in ‘Samsara’, it also tells to realize the actual nature of his self – awareness and go beyond the human limitations of sorrow, anger, ego and death.

 

The Four Yogas of Bhagavad Gita

Present Scenario of Mankind:

Today’s human life is very much busy, with its hectic work pressure, all kind relations getting stressed with too much violence, and corruption. The present youth generation pursuing their education does not have the time for anything at all. In the pinch of time they manage to spare themselves, they often put to fall prey to various distractions that life showcases before them. Working people is constantly running to earn more money in order provide their family and children with more luxuries and material desirables.  In this rat race, mankind lose themselves and their identities, they also forget their actual purpose of life.

 

Relevance of ‘Bhagavad Gita’ in Today’s Scenario:

In an era when spirituality is regularly on the straightaway on the universal scale and pragmatism rules the roost, most individual in this scenario are confused about the efficacy of teachings such as the Bhagavad Gita. The greatest confusion that arises in the minds of the common people is that whether it is truly applicable to today’s life or whether it is simply meant for chanting exclusively. Today people do not remember that the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ means the ‘Song of God’. and hence, it is found to be a rebellious  statement for the eternity. The Divine, Bhagavad Gita, literally pulsates with our divine gifted human life and energy; and it is immensely alive for all those individuals, who care to turn to the divine Gita for their inspiration and support. There are individuals who vow by the experience that they have faced a particular problem in their personal life and open the recital to read it, they constantly found that they have turned to a page of the divine Bhagavad Gita which holds an answer or the solution to that particular question or problem they are facing in their life . Such is the divine power of the Bhagavad Gita.

 

Bhagavad Gita for Present Generation:

Today’s youth is a precious asset for our nation. Shaping and moulding them properly and helping them to enhance their personalities will let their hearts feel with complete purity and putting a step ahead by making them better citizens of the universe, who would go ahead and create a better world tomorrow.

 

The modern youth of the universe are currently experiencing a lot of stress, tensions and worries. They gravitate to age quicker and inviting to various illness and diseases. The teachings mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita can be utilized by helping them with positive vision of their own lives, from a different mindset cultivating them spiritually and by telling them lead to a quality and peaceful life. The fascinating thing about Bhagavad Gita is that it does not defend the adherent to sacrifice anything in this material world. It only purifies the mind and soul, that completely distresses the individual and helps him realize the inner-self and the supreme one. Further, it helps to enhance values and ethics in the youth, moulding them into better global citizens for the new Golden Era for India and the rest of the universe. Reading regularly the Bhagavad Gita and by understanding the teachings and slokas, leading a life of day-to-day’s tensions and worries helps are remain young for life and add life to your years with peaceful life ahead for the youth.

 

Bhagavad Gita and Management:

Management has become an integral part of daily life whether it may be at home or at workplace of every individual in the universe. When a group people assemble in an organization with a common purpose, goals and objectives comes into act with various factors like time management, resource management, materials, machinery, funds, policies and many more. It is nothing but an art of getting things accomplished through which the people efficiently and effectively gets motivates towards their job. Management process  involves planning, organizing, staffing and controlling, human efforts to achieve desire goals.

 

‘Bhagavad Gita’ is considered as a complete guide to enhance the efficiency and the effectiveness of employees to achieve the desired goals by disseminating the views like changing  the weaknesses into strengths of the individual, sharing responsibilities, selecting right person in the team,  aware about the challenges in the job environment, the need of charismatic leader who inspire,  energize and counsel in dilemma and also initiate to know ground realities. Bhagvad Gita strikes social agreement in the Working–Equilibrium through the  thoughts and conducts, goals and success, plans and accomplishment, products and markets.

 

Management always resolves the crisis or the issue that occurs in form of physical, technical, and behavioural through optimum utilization with the nominal available processes to achieve the set goal. Lack of Management will originate the disorder, turmoil, wastage, suspension, destruction, depression and stress. Managing and supervising 3M’s (Men, Money and Material) is the best possible way according to situation and environment is the most essential factor for a successful management. ‘Man’ is the first prior syllable in the management; which speaks the volumes on the role of significance for the management practices. Bhagavad Gita is the key source of various management thoughts, which we wish to recite from the following pages of the scripture .

 

18 Important Lessons from Bhagavad Gita :

The important spiritual lessons that derived for the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita are as follows :-

 


 


·       Chapter 1Wrong thinking is the only problem in life .

·       Chapter 2:  Right knowledge is the ultimate solution to all our problem.

·       Chapter 3:  Selflessness is the only way to progress and prosperity.

·       Chapter 4:  Every act can be an act of prayer.

·       Chapter 5:  Renounce the ego of individuality and the bliss of infinity.

·      

Divine = GOD

G: Generator,

O: Operator,

D: Destroyer

 
Chapter 6:  Connect to higher consciousness daily.

·       Chapter 7:  Live what you learn

·       Chapter 8:  Never Give-up on yourself.

·       Chapter 9:  Value your Blessings

·       Chapter 10: See the divine all around

·       Chapter 11: Have enough surrender to see the truth as it is.

·       Chapter 12: Absorb your mind and heart to supreme divine

·       Chapter 13: Detach from materialistic assets and attach to divine.

·       Chapter 14: Live a life style that matches your vision.

·       Chapter 15: Give priority to divine.

·       Chapter 16: Being good is a reward in itself.

·       Chapter 17: Choosing the right over the pleasant is a sign of power.

·       Chapter 18: Let’s go, let’s move to union with divine.

 

 


Thoughts in Management from Bhagavad Gita:

The various thoughts that derived from Bhagvad Gita for the modern management are as follows:

 

1. Setting of Gita (battlefield of life) :

The Setting of Gita is a symbolic of the battlefield of life, but more essentially, it is symbolic of the battlefield within us or inner-self. Our life having a continuous confusion between positive and negative desire, likes and dislikes, good and the bad.

Lesson: How human beings are balancing his/her way of life to achieve his desired goals.

2. In Karma to action: 

Krishna’s reply to the dejection of Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra that “This is not the behavior of a great warrior” people and organizations wander to move ahead with different challenges and obstacles.

Lesson: Determined towards action (Karma) not on its fruits. (Nishkam Karma Yoga)

 

3. Management of Anger:

Lord Krishna said that, desire or want for sense of objects comes from attachment towards them (Maya) , and anger generates from unfulfilled desires or wants ” The modern psycho-analysis announced that anger is a exhibition of  suppressed desires.

Lesson: The purpose of our life is our duties and responsibilities, our goals and most essentially, peaceful inner co-existence with fellow individuals.

 

4. Work Culture:

Bhagavad Gita’ talks about two types of work cultures ‘Daivi Sampat’ and  ‘Asuri Sampat’. ‘Daivi’ Work Culture involves less fear, purity, divinity, calmness, holistic environment, absence of fault, lack of greed and lust, ethical, modesty and full of cosmic energy and pride. Whereas in ‘Asuri’ Work Culture contains ego, jealous, misbelief, personal wants, lack of proper performance and lack of job oriented service.

Lesson: ‘Daivi Sampat’ work culture is the best option to become a world class enterprise by tapping the potential within the workplace.

 

5. Utilization of Accessible Resources:

Before the war of ‘Mahabharata’, Duryodhana choose Lord Krishna’s large army (Krishna Sena) for his help during the war, while Arjuna chosen the Lord of Wisdom (Krishna) for his support.

Lesson: Resources are limited and select wisely and utilize limited resources optimally.

 

6. Commitment to work:

Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,Ma Karmaphalahetur bhurma Te Sangostvakarmani” famous verse (Slokas) of the Bhagvad Gita advises “Detachment. -from the fruits or results of actions or karma  performed in the course of duty and also detach yourself from the end rewards and focus on the work”.

Lesson: Being dedicated towards the work has to means as a form of duty towards the society instead of focusing towards self-desire and lust.

 

7. Surrender to the Supreme Divine:

Lord Krishna asked to warrior Arjuna to surrender himself to the Lord, you should not have any doubts on the existence of the Lord. Look for the higher and friendly picture, put yourself egoistic nature aside.

Lesson: Spirituality inspires social harmony and become aware of ultimate destiny of human life as a result of self-assessment and self-determination towards the present action.

 

8. Stability of Mind:

Lord Krishna says in the middle of the battlefield, that one should exercise the stability of mind by yoga or meditation. Human Life is like the battle field of ‘Mahabharata’ where the battle have been fought daily within the mind and soul. ‘Chitta Sudhi’ through yoga is the best practice to steady the mind.

Lesson: By the stability of mind one can calm their emotions and can increase  his/her ‘Viveka’ or ‘Buddhi’ with ‘vichikshana’.

 

9. Your Expressions Reflects Your Intensions: ‘Bhagvad Gita’ says that “Your intentions towards life should be clear in vision, practical and achievable, which should differentiate you from others”.

Lesson: ‘Power of Intention’ is the main success mantra for achieving any desired goal.

 

10. Power of Wisdom and Science: Bhagavad Gita says that “Science can be assumed by our human-senses like mouth, eyes, ears and other senses. Wisdom will create inner sense of feelings  or intuition, it will enhance the  power of intentions, which can be transformed into  self-analysis, after series of inner exploration if the mind says ‘Yes’ then it becomes intentions.

Lesson: Intentions begins with inner feelings then it transforms into intuitions and then travels as  a self-analysis which will be supported by the wisdom and becomes plan of Karma or action  and science becomes the success formula of the action.

 

CONCLUSION:

Bhagvad Gita transfers the ideal philosophy ‘Karma Yoga’, a base for human action or karma. Each individual in the universe has its own potential of infinity. The ideal vision of infinity showcase that every individual in the universe has equal boundless potential as of infinite. It is a matter of demonstration of that divine potential that everyone has in the inner-consciousness. It is the responsibility of all human beings on the earth to realize it and strive for the ultimate excellence in their own profession to meet socially desired targeted goals. It is also the responsibility of the organizations to understand the need of the employees in this competitive world. Organizations need to focus on the up-gradation of their employees through effective training and development. Government needs to put attention on the allocation of the reasonable amount for the human resource development by promoting quality education to all the fellow citizens of the nation. It will enhance the competitive advantage of the individual and would create a source of resourceful human capital within the country.

 

REFERENCES:

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8.   Mulla, Z. R., and Krishnan, V. R., 2007. Karma-Yoga: Construct validation using value systems and emotional intelligence. South Asian Journal of Management, 14(4): 116-136.

9.   Mahadevan, B. (Dec, 2009). “Bhagwat Gita: Ideas for Modern Management”. Talk delivered at seminar on “Towards a New Paradigm of Business management – Alternative Perspectives from Ancient Indian Wisdom”, held at IIM Bangalore.

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Received on 01.10.2016                Modified on 12.12.2016

Accepted on 24.12.2016          © A&V Publications all right reserved

Asian J. Management; 2017; 8(1):68-72.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5763.2017.00010.5