Interview on Spirituality and Management reproduced : with Indu Mata late CP of Times of India Group
“Nothingness that is when divine energy flows in and we merge with consciousness in the endless dance of existence.”
“Any person who is inspired, motivated, and with a mission. The Times Foundation believes its greatness lies in helping him build and achieve his mission.”
Q. 1 How do we know God?
A : He is all over, everywhere in nature. When I have touched the great heights of horizon, I found him in human beings, animal, plants and also in the stones and you could talk and converse with him. khud se mulaqat hui , to lagta hai, tum se mulaqat hui.
Q.2 What can be India’s contribution to the world?
A : Nothingness is India’s contribution. Nothingness, Emptiness, that is when divine guidance flows in, when you merge with cosmos. You join the eternal dance of existence. In a state of nothingness, we drop the I and merge with universal consciousness. Thereafter it is the wholeness of cosmos which absorbs you. That is God. In deep meditation, when you close your eyes, one feels that he has seen nothing, experience it, when there is nothing there is everything.
Q 3. What is the difference between a Sadhu and a Saint?
A. A sadhu is not a saint. A sadhu has to continuously strive through sadhana to become a Saint. In the process sometimes he mistakes himself to have become a Saint. He should never be a judge of his own; he has to leave it to his Guru. After he becomes a Saint sadhana becomes a way of life. It is how Lord Mahavir could communicate with his inner love and connectivity.
Q 4. What is the root of all relationships?
A. Communication is the key. Every relationship has to be loving, caring and sharing. There has to be a feeling of sailing together. Relationship has to be taken to the highest level. It should be detached while being attached. Every grief, every hurt, has to be accepted with love. Tell your partner honestly about it and involve him or her in the process of healing. That is the essence of spirituality. People shy away from asking help, that is the problem.
Q 5. What is the goal of the Times Foundation?
A. Every person with a mission, who is inspired, motivated and full of enthusiasm. We believe our greatness lies in helping him build and fulfil his mission. Nobody not even the government can work in isolation. I believe in the four P’s Public, Panchayat, Private and Partnership- working in coordination brings Perfection. Even if it is the 2% cess collected for education. The people should know what service they get in return. And also put in their involvement.
Q 6. How does the youth identify their Swadharma?
A. It has various dimensions. My body, my parivar, my country etc. the youth has great heights to scale. We have to help him to know his higher self, his character. Our ancient system the gurukul helped- the guru inspires, awakens the self within you, creates an awareness within you, helps you to know your karmabhoomi and helps you perform in that direction.
Q 7. What is true success?
A. Success is your smile. To the economists it is the money accumulated, the financial graph, the towers built. Life is more than graphs, statistics and figures. Success is how much happiness we have spread. How much awareness we have spread. Without which there is no contribution to the society. We have a responsibility to awaken the spark within the youth.
Q 8. Spirituality and modern Management?
A. Man jeeth tho jag jeeth. The top Manager has to win himself then alone can he win the world. The top manager has to have a balance within him. The atomic theory was misused. He has to be the still point around the turning world. He has to combine his management skills with inner love and connectivity.
Q 9. Media and spirituality?
A. Earlier I would say “Kya nazar aaya baat kar dali, khud ke pehchan door kar dali, Phool kaante pe hai, phalak se khila, tum ne kaanto ke baat kar dali”
But now the media is taking its job seriously. The youth feels spiritually turned on. Great gurus like Sri Sri Ravishankerji have involved the youth very much in their spiritual adventure.
Q 10. Message to the youth?
A. The youth have to have a holistic view of life. They have to fuse the highest materialistic acquisitions with an insight for spiritual adventure. They have to develop both their inner and outer world to the best of their ability. They have to develop their inner love and connectivity. They have to fuse their personality with a compassion for humanity.
