Book:
The Talent Sutra, an Indian Approach to Learning.
Author:
Devdutt Pattanaik.
Language:
Englsih.
First
published: Aleph Book Company in India in 2016.
Page:
126
Price:
Rs. 399/-
Devdutt Pattanaik’s book focuses
on sutras (the word or concept) relating to creativity in the work place,
nurture talent and the importance of teamwork. Although these sutras are Indian
in origin, but are very much applicable for the business world, as they
withdraw attention from profit, and concentrate on humanity.
The
author says our identity; how we see the world, and how we imagine our self. This
interpretation of identity and world view leads to imagination; which keeps
changing. The fluttering imagination leads to fear as we constantly seek an
endorsement of our identity; and adores those who see us as we imagine our self.
But, nature refuses to abide by that, as it does not differentiate between a doorman
and a president. So, in order to transform we need to stop, clinging to or to
control our imagination, and let knowledge; Saravati, flow so that we rise from
tamas through rajas towards sattva. And, for that to happen smriti; external
voice, must became shruti; inner voice. Pattanaik says we can appreciate the gaze;
discovering our potential within and finding resources everywhere, by exploring
isolation, reflection, expansion and inclusion which he explains by the use of stories
from Hindu mythology, Buddhist and Jain folklore.
In
Isolation author states, we want to be seen by others, but fail to see others
our self. In Mahabharata, Duryodhan is seen as the villain but take note that
Duryodhan feels unloved, the market is a frightening place, we are afraid of
being cheated and exploited. Kaikey, in Ramayan, is unable to see kubija and
only hears Manthra’s words. The market is full of kubija which makes employees
insecure, and the only way to have a secure job is to be loyal by poisoning
their ears against others. A cruel gaze focuses on our compliance rather than
our capability, in Ramayan, Hanuman answers his mother, Anjani, that no one
asked, when she questioned why didn’t he finish the war with a single blow? In market
employer needs to pay attention to the potential of employees. We refuse to see
our self as villains, Indira is always in need of Krishna’s help, but is
unwilling to part with even a tree. In the market people come to us only when
they want something. We use work to get attention, like Valmiki, in Ramayan,
who gets depressed when he hears Hanuman’s Ramayan. In the market we need to understand
that our official work is to satisfy customer, employers, shareholders, and
family and unofficially our purpose of work is to satisfy our self, feel
noticed and alive. In the market leaders are consumed by their personal values
and agenda, and except their followers to be excited about.
Pattanaik’s
reflection means, when we genuinely see others, we realize that they are often
responding to their perception of us. After the Kurukshetra war, to settle the
arguments, who the greatest warrior was, they turn to talking head, who said he
only saw Vishnu’s discus severing heads and earth goddess drinking their blood.
How we see others reveal who we are, in Ramayan, Ram explains to Lakshman the
good deed of Shabri; giving only the sweet berries, a work place if full of
Lakshman’s who are ready to judge and instruct others. Others seeing us reveal
who we are, Surya, the sun god, was horrified that the woman in his home was
not his wife, but her shadow, Chhaya. On knowing, that she ran away because she
could not bear his celestial radiance, Surya, realized that in his story he was
the victim, but in his wife’s story he was the villain. In market behaviour of
people around us is a reaction to how they perceive us. Our presence impacts
those around us, while we may think we are helping while the other thinks we
are patronizing. In Mahabharata, king Virata of Matsya is celebrating, as his
son Uttar has defeated the Kaurva army, despite being repeatedly told that his
son had help, but the king doesn’t want to acknowledge the harsh truth. The
ability to communicate with king with deference and dexterity is known as,
Sabha chaturya, in Sanskrit. Our imagination binds us and blinds us; we get
trapped and don’t see our limited gaze.
For
expansion the author says, growth happens when we make journey from being
dependent to being dependable, in Ramayan, while Hanuman seeks to realize his potential,
not increase his resources, and on the other hand, Ravan, believes he is
perfect and only needs more resources. Growth is when we give than take, there
are two cases of vastra haran; stealing clothes of milkmaids, Bhagvat Puran and
Kaurva’s stripping of Draupadi, Mahabharata, involving Krishna, in both case
something is being taken but the bhaav is different, in the first Krishna takes
so that they outgrow their fear, and in the second, Kaurva takes to instill
fear. Expansion happens when the in-significant become significant, in
Mahabharata, Krishna cares for the horses by telling Arjun to shoot arrows in
the ground to bring water, and keep the enemy at bay so that, Krishna have time
to bathes and waters the horses, in market we must take care the office boy, canteen
boy, security guard, peon and others who help run the offices. Growth happens
when we include those whom we once excluded, in Mahabharata, we see the
transformation in Yudhishtir, when the stepbrother is the first he gambled away
is also the first to be resurrected during their exile in the forest. When we
seek to uplift others growth happens. Dharma is about realizing our potential,
while all creatures grow at the cost of others, humans can grow by helping the
other grow as well.
Inclusion
according to the author means, it is easier to learn than to teach, it is
easier to expand our mind than get others to expand their mind. Vedic
scriptures divide life into four phases, brahmachari; student, householder;
grihasthi, retire; vanasprasthi, and renounce the world; sanyasi. Our time in a
particular job can be seen as a lifetime, where, when we get the job we are
born and we die when we leave that job. But, to grow into the next job, we have
to create talent from someone downstream who will replace us and make our self
available to someone upstream. We seek to inherit things, not thoughts, in Mahabharata,
at the end of the war Krishna advises Pandavs to ask Bhisma question as he has
a lot to tell and they have a lot to learn. Discourses never transform us, in
Mahabharata, Arjun loses his nerve time and again Krishna had to goad him to
kill Bhisma, Drona, and Karna. In market, we like to believe that training
programmes will transform people but it doesn’t. Wisdom according to Pattanaik
is having the faith and patience to create an ecosystem where the mind can
bloom at its own pace.
Pattanaik
says that Hindu mythology warns against chasing Lakshmi; the goddess of wealth,
instead make our self attractive to her affection and auspiciousness.
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