Spirituality Enhances Business

Mantra of Management is Meditation

There was a column in today’s Hindustan Times (14-01-2015) saying, “Personal behavior may dictate your appraisal this year”. This is a study done by Mancer Consultancy, an executive search firm. I realized our personal behavior is a very important factor in dealings of our personal and professional life. Outer polish that we get from our formal education is not enough. As Swami Vivekananda said, “I have experienced even in my insignificant life that good motives, sincerity and infinite love can conquer the world.” (Swami Vivekananda, Swami Vivekananda on himself, page 225).

Our day to day life which includes our personal, professional or business life can flourish much better, if only we empower ourselves with inner development called spirituality.

Spirituality is not a ritual, neither it is a hindrance to our worldly achievements. It is a beautiful art which clarifies truth of life, and teaches us how to manage ourselves better, before we start managing outside events.

Swami Vivekanada said that Vedanta has to be applied to all situations and fields of life. Vedanta’s message of our “Oneness” is very relevant today. Whole creation, we are all Atman, we are all one, one big family on this earth. Realization of this truth is called spirituality. Gita also says, yoga can make us more skillful in actions. Through yoga and meditation, our inner blissful nature can be realized, and our feeling of separateness can be dissolved, which is actually one of the root causes of modern days misery. 

But every idea gets authenticity only when it is tested, and proved right, in the field of action. Same test can be applied in the field of spirituality also, before we accept it in our life whole-heartedly. Its acid test can be done through our daily life’s activities. 

We find spiritually empowered people can handle their own emotions, power of judgment much better. Spirituality teaches us to concentrate, to understand other’s views better, without being judgmental. And then the decision taken by us is correct, ethical and goes well in accordance with God’s will. 

‘Management’ is a very popular word these days, but generally it is referred in terms of business. 

But before we attempt to manage events of life, it is essential; we learn the skill of managing our own attitude, time, and our faculties, through simple spiritual practices. Management is nothing but an organized common sense. 

Now top business organizations are also realizing the importance of self-management. Many corporate executives are adopting spirituality in their personal lives. Some companies are integrating prayer, meditation workshops for their employees benefit also. 

I may end with a quotation from Swami Vivekananda’s saying, “something behind this world of sense, this world of eating and drinking and talking nonsense, this world of false shadows and selfishness. There is that beyond all books, beyond all creeds, beyond the vanities of this world, and it is the realization of God within yourself”. (From The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, (Kolkata: Advaita Ashrama, 2013), 1334-35).

Lessons from a noble soul, our dog

Lessons from a noble soul, our dog

In 2008, my husband Dr. Ashish Bose, brought home a tiny black Labrador pup with starry eyes who was formally named Zabo Vikramaditya Bose. Throughout his life, he was called Bhoot by everybody.

We are a family of dog lovers. Over the past 40 years we always had many dogs, mostly black Labradors, who have been a part of our family.  I remember vividly, our Bhoot’s first appearance in our life. The small pup’s shining eyes were peeping from beneath my husband’s overcoat, and a tiny bell hung from his neck whose tinkling sound preceded him everywhere. In the evening with his faltering puppy steps, he went into the garden and his black shining body melted into the darkness. “Bhoot where are you?” The pup responded happily to his new name and emerged out of nowhere. And from then on, he was called Bhoot or more lovingly, Bhutum.

Bhoot was friendly from the beginning and was ready to jump in every body’s lap and within moments, became the object of amusement for all of us. He won our hearts, and we were completely bowled out by his affection and mischief. Bhoot had a saintly nature. All were his friends. He never had any enemy. Bhoot welcomed all, wagging his tail and making a funny movement on his belly. Every morning he brought the rolled up newspaper to my husband, and got his prize – a piece of biscuit.
His divine nature had but one weakness - he was very fond of eating. Officially he had two meals a day. But unofficially he was present at every one’s mealtime. While he never overtly begged for food, his expressive eyes were hard to avert while eating and a small treat shared at mealtimes was often all that was needed to elicit expressions of great joy.
Bhoot’s communication skills were excellent. With his expressive eyes, wagging tail, and with a faint murmuring sound from his voice, he could express anything he wanted. His language was no less expressive than human words. After my husband passed away in April, he kept us alive joyfully, with his playfulness.

Now he is no more with us. After a few hours sickness, he left us all heart broken.
I pray this noble soul is reborn as a great human being and brings joy to many more as he did with unconditioned love for us in this lifetime.
I believe that nothing happens by chance. He came in our life for a short but joyous seven years, and through his life we realized the taste of true happiness. He played his earthly role perfectly. Perhaps he’s playing Frisbee with his master happily across a sprawling green meadow right now.
I miss you my child. And I’m grateful for the lesson I’ve learned - there is but one mission in life for all, and that is unconditional love. In such a short time Bhoot proved and practiced this truth in golden letters in all our hearts.
Your mother’s heartfelt blessings will be always with you my dearest Bhutum. May God’s blessings be with you forever.