Where Fear and Greed Rule🔗

One day I asked the Master, ‘You say that the spiritual plane and material plane can coexist. You say that there is no need for us to renounce what we have; we need to renounce only what we do not have, to be in happiness. Does this apply to corporate life? In business, one constantly strives for what one does not have? How can then one be happy?’

I had been a corporate animal a very large part of my life. My happiness during that period was always between periods of sorrow. As master has said time and again, this is like saying that a ceasefire between two battles is a period of peace.

Master asked, ‘Is this a question based on your experience?’

I nodded.

'It is true that you can traverse both a spiritual path and material path together and comfortably. Let us say you have set yourself goals to achieve. There are different ways to achieve these goals, both internally and externally. You can succeed, at least temporarily, by cheating and harming people, perhaps in a much faster way. Or you can decide to follow the path of truth and not harming others, satya and ahimsa, in achieving your goals. Surprising as it may seem, there are even in this day and age companies who follow the latter path and succeed. Do you agree?' He asked.

'Yes, Master' I agreed, 'I have experienced this and I also see this working in a few companies. In fact in a book called the Living Company, its author Arie de Geus analyses long lasting companies and finds that they survive because they follow these principles. They also are the reeds in water. They do not fight, they bend and survive.'

'Exactly' He said, 'That's the principle of Tao, following nature without resistance. It is possible to be successful and long lasting, in fact it is only possible to be long lasting, if one followed principles of truth and not harming others. Not only not harming people but the environment as well. Problem is that everyone wants to make quick money and in their haste and greed, they decide to focus on the end goal rather than on the process.'

'So, you say that one must adhere to principles of truth and non violence in business as well and also focus on the process instead of the end result.' I asked in confirmation.

'Yes, you can be spiritual in business if you follow some simple principles' said the Master, 'You need to combine the principles of spirituality such as truth and non violence with the material aspirations of the business. Further, having set the structure and plan for realizing these aspirations, focus only on the path and the process instead of constantly peering at the future goal.'

'How would this work master?' I queried, 'after all the goal is the million dollar issue, not the process.'

'When the path is right, the process is correct, the goal will be correct too' said the Master, 'not only that wherever you reach, as long as the path is right, your destination will be right. The issue is one of your awareness in setting the process right so that it is directed towards the goal you are aiming at. What use is it, if you set the direction wrong and then keep worrying that you are not reaching the goal? You never will, will you?'

'All corporate planning process involves reviewing results every quarter or some such period. Are you saying they are wrong?' I asked.

'Of course, yes. It is pointless looking at the future based on past performance. Would you be able to drive looking only at your rear view mirror? When you drive, you watch the road carefully; you see the milestones even though you do not see your destination. If you follow the right road and the right milestones, you will certainly reach where you set out to reach. Isn't it as simple in business too? Why do you make it complicated?'

'Yes, but...' I stopped.

'Human mind needs an excuse to worry and keep others worried. That's why all these systems are invented. They help some people make money as well. Every right thinking manufacturer knows that even if he inspects every piece carefully after he has produced it and rejects all defective pieces, he will still end up shipping defectives. Is it not? The only way he can avoid this is by focusing on the process, am I correct?’

‘Yes, Master, That’s what they now call the six sigma process’ I agreed.

‘See, that’s what Krishna said in the Gita many thousands of years ago. He said to forget the responsibility and ownership for the product, but instead to focus on the process, the path, and the way. There is deep truth in this wisdom. When you renounce your attachment to the end product, end result, you can be more objective, more focused on the process and path, ensuring that you stay on course without getting disturbed or emotionally involved. This alone will ensure success.’ Master continued.

‘Emotional attachment to the end result, the goal causes only trouble; it does not increase one’s chances of success. It breeds fear or greed. One is either afraid of failure or desperately greedy for achievement and in both cases both internally and externally one loses balance.

When you lose external balance you end up cheating your customers and shareholders, because you are so desperate to show that you are right and successful. When you are internally imbalanced, you create a climate of distrust and disloyalty amongst your colleagues and subordinates. When the leadership of a company is insecure and unbalanced, the whole culture of that company starts to stink, does it not?’

Thinking back on my own experience of over thirty years, I could not but nod in full agreement. How many bosses I have endured as corporate leaders, men of deep insecurity who ruled by fear and greed because they themselves were so afraid and desperate!

‘Why don’t you talk to them and explain this simple wisdom’ my Master laughed, ‘You have walked that path and you know how slippery it is.’

I nodded in agreement.