When back in the UK, I had time to
people-watch more than usual. Once when I was in a park, I was watching a dog owner with a short piece
of bark, waving it in the air, pretending to throw it. The dog jumped up in
harmony with the direction of the bark, trying to do its best to anticipate the
direction it was being thrown in. The dog was swaying majestically, sometimes mid-air,
its eyes fixed on the bark. When the bark was thrown, the dog at full pace,
athletically built, ran, caught the bark, and bought it back to its owner. In the
same park, I later went to feed the pigeons, and ducks. From being on one side of the pond, or perched on one tree, they would selectively gravitate towards where the food was being distributed. After they had enough, they
stopped moving in that direction, and continued their activities.
At the airport, we often see a section of shelves full of books on
business, economics and self-development etc; mega-trends for even the next 20, 30, 40 years sometimes. People are often
hungrily looking for ways to fulfil their incentives. Whether this is to become President of a
country, or in the form of money. The swaying of the dog, is called understanding
the market, the running is called execution. The recent corporate scandals, continue to amaze many. However, even as mature as adults seem, their behaviours are extremely comparable, often times the same, as animals and children; although manifested in a slightly different way. Yet humans have a big superiority complex, and tend to put ourselves at the
front of the queue in terms of what the Earth provides for example.
Recently when teaching children, I’ve found it
important to recognise when others are ready to lead. This is important on many
accounts; including for growth and encouragement of the individual; and helping pass knowledge.
Sometimes we see when people are handed responsibility, the ego kicks in
quickly, and their lack of ability to maintain a balanced and selfless consciousness,
results in various forms of abuse of power. If leaders incentivise shows of
power and fame over and above valuing human values such as humility, truthfulness and compassion; we will have a
fast growing momentum going in the wrong and a very dangerous direction. In such scenario, there
may be much success also, but it will tend to come at a steep price either now or in the future. It is better to
sacrifice such success if there is little confidence in the current values, and ensure that fundamental values are secured and
maintained. Then success will come with meaning and depth, attractiveness,
inclusion, substance, and longevity. Jumping up and down at incentives that are flashed at
us on a daily basis, without ensuring human values are first and foremost prioritised,
doesn’t show a trajectory to fulfilling the potential and values that human minds
and brains have been designed for.
“Wasting time is one thing, but wasting your life
is another thing.”
His
Grace Chaitanya Charan Das
