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Swami Parthasarathy
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An exponent of the Vedanta school of Indian philosophy for over 50 years, Swami Parthasarathy set up the Vedanta Academy in 1988 at Lonavla.
At 84, Swamiji (as he is lovingly referred to by his students), when he is not delivering discourses at the academy, travels to over 10 countries every year to deliver self-management courses to international corporations.
An active jogger and cricketer, Swamiji talks to DNA about how man can effortlessly cope with travails of modern living. Excerpts:
How does the ancient philosophy of Vedanta apply to modern life?
In modern life, there are broadly two sets of people— one, who are active, industrious and prosperous but have no peace. And those who are peaceful but produce nothing with no action and so have no prosperity. The ancient philosophy of Vedanta gives us a formula about how to be dynamic and, at the same time, peaceful.
What is the difference between unselfish action and selfless action?
There is a hierarchy of actions. Selfish actions are propelled by selfish desire; 90% of all actions fall in this category. Unselfish actions are propelled by unselfish desire. There is a small community of such people who harbour desires to help the nation and humanity. Selfless people act for action’s sake. Like the earth that vegetates and like a nightingale that sings, they have no ulterior motive for their actions.
Finding work restful, isn’t that paradoxical? How can that be? Isn’t the act of working tiring?
Work doesn’t disturb you. What disturbs you is your mind. The only thing that disturbs the mind is this: Worries of the past and anxiety of the future. Even if you perform intense work, it can’t tire you.
What about bad work conditions — bosses’ unreasonable expectations and a bad work environment?
Your boss could be an angel or a devil. It’s proper assessment that matters. Colleagues may be favourable or unfavourable. That’s their business. Why should it affect you? If you assess your environment and learn how everyone is, you can base your expectations accordingly. In nature, you would not hesitate to caress a rabbit or a deer. Would you do the same for a cobra?
Surely people are more complex than animals. What if the boss can conceal his bad side?
If you assess the world properly, your expectations will be perfect. And vedanta helps you make assessments.
As a regular cricket player, (Swami is the opening batsman and main strike bowler in his academy’s cricket team) what significance does the game hold for you?
It is a form of exercise. I had played it for the state before. And I can jog 3km today, unlike you!
What is the one piece of advice you would like to give our readers?
First of all, let them attend the lectures. A good introductory book for beginners would be The Fall of the Human Intellect which distinguishes between intelligence and intellect. The former can be acquired from schools, teachers and textbooks whereas the latter has to be developed only from within oneself.
Once you have a powerful intellect, you can control the vagaries of the mind. If you’re in business, read my Governing Business and Relationships for managing one’s organisation and self.
Then there is my exhaustive treatise on Vedanta that deals with human life and living — The Eternities: Vedanta Treatise.
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