INDIAN ETHOS
Oxford defines ethos as “The characteristic Spirit and Beliefs of community/people” which distinguishes one culture from the other. Indian ethos is drawn from the Vedas, the Ramayana, Mahabharata, the Bhagwadgita, and Upanishads. Right from the Vedic age it has been discovered two basic universal truths of life.
1. The essential infinitude and divinity of all souls.
2. The essential oneness and solidarity of universe and all life.
The salient ideas and thoughts of Indian Ethos in Management revealed by our ancient scriptures are:
- Atmano Mokshartham, Jagat Hitaya Cha: All work is an opportunity for doing good to the world and thus gaining materially and spiritually in our lives.
- Archet Dana Manabhyam: Worship people not only with material things but also by showing respect to their enterprising divinity within.
- Atmana Vindyate Viryam: Strength and inspiration for excelling in work comes from the Divine, God within, through prayer, spiritual readings and unselfish work.
- Yogah Karmashu Kaushalam, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate: He who works with calm and even mind achieves the most.
- Yadishi Bhavana Yasya Siddhi Bhavati Tadrishi: As we think, so we succeed, so we become. Attention to means ensures the end.
- Parasparam Bhavayantah Shreyah Param Bhavapsyathah: By mutual cooperation, respect and fellow feeling, all of us enjoy the highest good both material and spiritual.
- Tesham Sukhm Tesham Shanti Shaswati: Infinite happiness and infinite peace come to them who see the Divine in all beings.
- Paraspar Devo Bhav: Regard the other person as a divine being. All of us have the same consciousness though our packages and containers are different.
The first truth was expressed UPNISHADA as Aham Brahmasi (I am Brahman) Or Ayam Atma Brahman i.e. The Individual soul is Brahman Or Tattwamasi (Thou art that). This is the first truth thought to every child. Even a poor uneducated man living in a hut knows that God is in everybody and therefore there is sameness in all. The second truth is about a holistic universe.
Where at a level of pervading consciousness everything is interconnected at VYASTHI LEVEL (Individual level) my limbs, hands, legs, ears, eyes, heart, lungs…. Everything are me. I live in all of them. Their sorrows and joys are my sorrows and joys.
Similarly at SAMASTHI level (the whole universe) I am not a single individual but I am a part of the whole universe just as my limbs are part of me.
Modern science has accepted that in this holistic universe all minds and matters are interconnected at a deeper level. The basic unity of life cannot be broken.
Love, sacrifice therefore emerge as the only for a meaningful living. On the basis of this holistic vision, Indians have developed work ethos of life. They found that all work, physical or mental, managerial or administrative have to be directed towards single purpose.
The manifestation of the divinity in man by working for the good of others, for the happiness of others. These Indian ethos are required all over the world in present scenario in managing business and industry effectively and efficiently.
Some of these ethos’s are as follows:
v The Vedantic View Of Karma
All work/Karma to manifest divinity, hence these must be pure, good, honest and sincere. Indian philosophy also teaches to perform every work without having any attachment to result, because results do not fall under the jurisdiction of a doer.
Such thinking and understanding will change the whole attitude. Now the results will become a PRASAD-gratitude – coming from the God himself. You can now accept the result with open mind without apprehensions-just as you accept members into Karma Yoga.
v The Self (Atman) As The Soure Of All Power:
Considering motivations as internal every human being has the same divine atman with immense potentialities within Vedanta brings infinite expansion of mind, breaks down all the barriers and brings out the God in man. Motivation is to be internal and not external.
Such motivation involves the inner beauty and does not promote any greed in an individual to have more and more in return of his work.
v Welfare Of All (Yagna Spirit):
Vedanta teaches to perform all activities. “ATMANO MOKHARTH JAGAT HITAY CHA” Serve your personal interest but do not forget others Sankaracharya has given the concept to gain perfection in individual life as well as the welfare of the whole world.
v Unique Work Culture:
Work is considered as duty or SADHANA and there is no difference between KARMA (work) and DHARMA (religion)
The term DHARMA does not indicate any particular religion. Dharma is a duty to be performed in a given situation. Thus Dharma is possible through Karma only.
v Skill In Action And Evenness Of Mind Means Are Equally Important As The Ends.
(YADRISI BHAVNAH YASYA SIDDHI BHAVANTI TADRUSI)
Thus society acceptable values are to be followed in determining the objectives as well as in the process of achieving these objectives. Integrated human personality of self-developed manager can assure best and competent management of any enterprise, involving collective works and efforts.
The refined or higher consciousness will adopt holistic attitude. It will bring out the divine in man. It will achieve perfection or excellence in whatsoever sector you work.
We shall achieve peace, harmony and prosperity within and without i.e., in or internal world and in our external world simultaneously.
This is the ideal of Indian ethos:
“ATMANO MOKSHARTHAM JAGAT HITAYA CHA”
(For gaining perfection in individual life, as well as for the welfare of the world)
Human and ethical values or qualities such as courage, vision, social awareness, fearlessness, integrity, pure and clear mind, truth, etc, are subjective and intangible concepts. These represent divine wealth.
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