The Kautilya’s Perspective on Wealth: Artha, Vyartha and Anartha
Kautilya advises, “Wealth has only three ends – it’s either spent on deserving people or things, misspent on undeserving people and things or just rots away and falls into the hands of others (deserving or undeserving).” Stagnant wealth is of no utility.
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Jealousy – the greatest slayer of wisdom and wealth
Jealousy is detrimental. It’s a travesty that our education systems preaches it to be almost otherwise. Since our education system is based on the logic of comparing achievement of one with another it in significant way harnesses it at every step of the way. When we see that someone is doing better than us – we first begin by being jealous of them and we do things to prove them otherwise. We cheat, use deceit and retort to almost anything without letting wisdom prevail. Jealousy may make us to do ultimate damage to our adversaries - once; but every moment we carry this jealousy in our mind – we are a living hell.
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Moles and Mentors: Utility of the saffron-clad in ancient Vedic India
Chanakya devised an advanced system of human intelligence-gathering in which operatives wore saffron to deceive the masses. There were instances when, before sending in the army to raid a village, for example, these pseudo-renunciates were sent first to make a prophecy of doom to create chaos in the minds of the people and the enemy army. Often, such strategies were wonderfully effective since they resulted in surrender without a fight – saving countless innocent lives. Great care was taken to ensure that these saffron-clad people never went rogue, and were closely watched. These saffron-clad spies proved to be an effective weapon in the game of psychological warfare.
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The Vedic Approach to Knowledge and Education
Life is a progression of circumstances and situations, some of which we are prepared for and others we aren’t. The objective of education is to provide enough knowledge so that we are prepared for most, if not all, situations. At the very least, the process of education would like to …
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True Detachment
Long ago in a village somewhere in north India, a love story brewed between a young couple whose families were at loggerheads. Their love resulted in lust and eventually in a pregnancy. When the girl’s father found out he demanded to know who was responsible for it. The girl, out …
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Guru’s test of Morality
Yogeshwara (grandmaster of yoga) Shiva was teaching his students about spirituality, meditation and morality. At the end of the course, Shiva decided to test his disciples. He asked them to do something that was completely unethical, unjust as well as immoral. The students were in a complete dilemma, for they believed …
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Is that Managing or Manipulating?
The following article by U. Mahesh Prabhu was first published by BW Businessworld. Management is defined as “the process of dealing with or controlling things or people”, it’s also defined as “trickery; deceit” by Google dictionary. While the first definition is somewhat agreeable the second is downright negative. Won’t you …
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Secret of Happiness
There once was a great rishi (sage)who was always happy. One day, a very vain and selfish young man came to visit him. After talking for a few minutes, the young man rudely asked, “Are you truly happy, or are you just pretending to be happy?” The rishi chose not to answer …
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Wisdom Tales: The mind goblin
Long ago, there was a man who wanted to use supernatural powers as a means of getting quick success because getting success the ordinary way required lots of hard work. He went to a rishi and asked to be given a mantra that would make him rich and successful. The …
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Who’s responsible for our pains and gains?
By U. Mahesh Prabhu For everything good or bad in life, we often try to place blame on someone else. We try to wash our hands by blaming our opponents, destiny, stars and even in gods, and deities. So, what’s (or who’s) responsible for all that’s happening in our life? …
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Latest Articles
Value & Valuation Are Not The Same
February 19,2021 / The Kautilyan Perspective Vedic Management / 0 CommentsIt is easier to create imaginary valuation than real value. The easiest way to destroy our future is to ignore our lessons of the past and disengaging ourselves from the present.
Listen. Observe. Think. Act.
February 19,2021 / Vedic Leadership Counselling Vedic Management / 0 CommentsAll living creatures are driven by desires. To attain their object of desire one often must work with other beings who, in turn, are driven by their own desires. And because desires are often complex objectives stemming from the minds that are often unsteady, disturbed, and, therefore, fearful -...
Chaturanga: The Lost Wisdom from a Lasting Game of Chess
February 10,2021 / Articles Leadership Wisdom Tales Politics Sanskrit Translations Vedic Management / 0 CommentsChaturanga or Chaduranga is the predecessor of Chess. As played on an 8X8 unchecked board, Chaturanga was also called Ashtapada. It is, probably, the first strategy board game ever invented. Although we cannot be sure if the rules of the Chess and Chaturnaga are the same, what we can be sure,...
Tantra, Mantra, Rajaneeti & Kootaneeti: The Unmistakable Connection
February 09,2021 / The Kautilya Project / 3 CommentsMantra and Tantra were regarded by Kautilya as two crucial elements in the art and science of Vedic approach to politics – Rajaneeti. Without a plan and a strategy to execute it Shakti (read Power) is of no use. In Arthashastra, he declares “Power by itself is useless” and that “Person who...
Vedic Knowledge & Artificial Intelligence
January 07,2021 / Vedic Management / 0 CommentsFor many people reading this article, the very title would appear to be either “confusing” or simply a matter of “travesty.” After all, “What age old Vedic knowledge has to offer in this digital and planetary age?” However, if you are willing to hear me out, without being outright...
Are Vata, Pitta & Kapha Ayurvedic Concepts?
January 01,2021 / Uncategorized / 0 CommentsThe Vedic Sanskrit word Ayurveda is made of two words, namely Ayu implying Longevity and Veda meaning Wisdom. Since Longevity is meaningless without healthy living, Ayurveda can also be understood as Wisdom on Healthy Living. Ayurveda is principally about understanding the self, mind and body and...
Contentment is the key for Sustainable Health, Wealth & Prosperity
December 25,2020 / Vedic Management / 0 CommentsTo achieve anything, we can either run behind things we desire, or we can be mindful of our actions to make that thing come to us. When we make things come to us – through Dharma – we make ourselves deserving. This approach of being deserving is what the Rishis also called as Yoga – the path...
Without the Faith Within
December 19,2020 / Rishi Tales / 0 CommentsThe following story is from Rishi Tales 2: 21 Ancient Vedic Sanskrit Tales Translated & Retold by U. Mahesh Prabhu Author of Sushruta-Samhita – Rishi Sushruta – is regarded as the father of Surgery. He was also a great physician of his times. Whatever be the sickness, Sushruta could cure...
Sannyasa: The True Meaning
December 15,2020 / Vedic Management / 6 CommentsVedic Sanskrit word सन्यासं (Sanyasa) is made of two words, namely: सत् or Truth and न्यास् or Living. Sanyasi, "a person living in Truth," is one who is full of unconditional LOVE & without a shred of HATE. A true Sanyasi never disown anyone; on the contrary accepts...
The 17 Principles of Vedic Self-Counseling
When Vedic kings faced an emotional dilemma or a moral crisis, they sought the wise counsel of Vedic sages called as Rishis. These Rishis, also called as Rajagurus or Royal Mentors, had a unique approach to counseling, which often empowered these kings to resolve their adverse situations simply by...
A Giant’s Dilemma
November 28,2020 / Rishi Tales / 1 CommentsA long time ago, in the dense forest of Vindhyas, there lived giant who was gifted with a special power to assume any form at his will. As fancy as it may sound, the giant was apparently disgusted with his life. He desired to put an end to it. However, there was a problem.
WEBINAR RECORDING: How Relevant is The Vedic Approach to Management for Sustainable Leadership?
November 25,2020 / Vedic Webinar / 0 CommentsThe pandemic is far from over. Great many uncertainties continue to loom large while causing severe economic down impacting profits and incurring job losses. Organizations, be they big, medium, or small, continue to struggle. This is making a great many people to wonder if Capitalism is even the...
Yoga Practitioners as Counsellors for Emotional Wellbeing
November 19,2020 / Articles / 0 CommentsBy embracing deeper yet much needed Vedic knowledge disciplines, Yoga practitioners can, not just create a whole new avenue for sustainable revenue but also enable greater value creation. And since the Vedic counselling approach is about the balancing the mind through understanding and...
Kootaneeti: The Forgotten Art and Science of Covert Politics
November 19,2020 / The Kautilya Project / 5 CommentsShakti or Power is the essence of Rajyam or Leadership. There are those who consider themselves to be either “unlucky” or “undeserving” of power as they cannot comprehend the dynamics of attaining or retaining it. Those who consider themselves to be “deserving” of power are often the...
LATEST BOOK: The VEDIC approach to MANAGEMENT for sustainable LEADERSHIP
November 16,2020 / Vedic Management / 0 CommentsManagement is crucial - not just for individuals in leadership positions, but for anyone with responsibilities. Managing is about utilizing limited available resources to create value, generate wealth and achieve viable prosperity. While there is no shortage of appealing and entertaining...
Most Popular Articles
Lakshmi: The Vedic Science of Wealth
October 23,2019 / Vedic Management / 9 CommentsVedic philosophy has a unique understanding of “wealth” which it refers to as Lakshmi. Lakshmi is not simply the “Goddess” depicted in temples across the country. Although this science certainly inspired the image of the Goddess, Lakshmi in the real sense is the Vedic science of wealth...
Ahimsa: A Vedic Perspective
May 20,2020 / Vedic Management / 8 CommentsDharma is not doing to others what you don't like being done by someone else to you. Dharma is that which sustains the order in self (mind), family, society, nation and the world at large. Dharma is sustained by doing things where the strong don’t thrive by suppressing the weak and the weak are...
Effective Decision Making: Why understanding Mana and Aatmana is crucial
October 14,2017 / Vedic Management / 8 CommentsDecision making is a crucial element at individual as well as institutional level. What we are today is owing to our decisions of the past and what we are to be tomorrow will be determined by the decisions we take today. Our decisions are based on situation(s) and suggestion(s) – all which is...
The Kautilya's Perspective on Wealth: Artha, Vyartha and Anartha
June 15,2020 / The Kautilya Project / 6 CommentsKautilya advises, “Wealth has only three ends – it’s either spent on deserving people or things, misspent on undeserving people and things or just rots away and falls into the hands of others (deserving or undeserving).” Stagnant wealth is of no utility.
Sannyasa: The True Meaning
December 15,2020 / Vedic Management / 6 CommentsVedic Sanskrit word सन्यासं (Sanyasa) is made of two words, namely: सत् or Truth and न्यास् or Living. Sanyasi, "a person living in Truth," is one who is full of unconditional LOVE & without a shred of HATE. A true Sanyasi never disown anyone; on the contrary accepts...
Ekaanth: The Power of Solitude
August 24,2020 / Vedic Management / 6 CommentsSince time immemorial people have often feared isolation. Nobody likes to live isolated and, therefore, seeks the constant company of people. Solitude is synonymous to loneliness – a lack of feeling that something is missing, a pain, a depression, a need, an incompleteness, an absence. They...
Yogi, Bhogi & Rogi
December 11,2016 / Vedic Management / 5 CommentsExclusive to Vedic Management Centre by U. Mahesh Prabhu As per Yogic teachings, there are mostly three types of people: Yogi (One who’s involved in a persistent effort to better oneself to better the world), Bhogi (One who’s hugely involved in satisfying his/her carnal pleasure) and Rogi (One...
Kootaneeti: The Forgotten Art and Science of Covert Politics
November 19,2020 / The Kautilya Project / 5 CommentsShakti or Power is the essence of Rajyam or Leadership. There are those who consider themselves to be either “unlucky” or “undeserving” of power as they cannot comprehend the dynamics of attaining or retaining it. Those who consider themselves to be “deserving” of power are often the...
Essential leadership wisdom from Shukracharya
April 10,2019 / Sanskrit Translations / 5 CommentsNiti Shastra, a collection of quotes from various rishis, is believed to have been compiled in an abridged form, originally, by Shukracharya - a great Rishi (sage). It is an ancient India classic on leadership, teaching primary ethics and principles of right behavior which remains relevant even...
Sukham & Duhkham: The Vedic Philosophy on Happiness and Sorrow
May 11,2020 / Vedic Management / 5 CommentsWe are all born into this body without possessing anything. All that we gain is after the birth of this body. We are also sure to die, after which all that we have accumulated and achieved must be left behind. So, we are neither born nor do we die possessing anything. More like a computer game....
Atman: The Ultimate Power Within
April 19,2019 / Vedic Management / 5 CommentsVedic teachings emphasize understanding and realizing the Atman also called Purusha. While “Soul” could also be a translation of this word, as it is “the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal,” a much better word to understand Atman is...
Kautilya's Perspective on Justice & Revenge
May 04,2020 / The Kautilya Project / 4 CommentsIn the absence of justice, error and evil thrive. Truly, evil only gets worse when those who are righteous resort to revenge and do not insist upon justice. The Ahimsa of Kautilya was based on the idea of Dharma. Ahimsa doesn’t mean you will never hurt anyone – it means you won’t hurt anyone...
The Abuse of Yoga
May 01,2020 / Vedic Management / 4 CommentsBhogi is the antithesis of Yogi. While Yogi maintains detachment (not to be confused as being bereft of love) and is at eternal peace with a perpetually happy mind; Bhogi is one who is addicted to worldly pleasures and in every way manifests the Arishadvargas. Bhogi thinks about the loss of his...
Arishadvargas: The Six Detriments for Success
May 19,2019 / The Kautilya Project Vedic Management / 4 Commentsअरिशड्वर्ग (Arishadvargas) are six these six-detrimental-qualities a person must overcome to gain and retain material power and influence. Even one of the Arishadvargas is enough to cause a person's destruction. Similarly, the person who has overcome all Arishadvargas has the...
Stress and Crisis management: The Vedic Approach
May 08,2020 / Vedic Management / 4 CommentsHope and fear are nothing but figments of human imagination. When we fear, we affect our mind in a negative way; when we hope, we seek for viable alternatives. The Vedic thought, however, professes a golden middle path – a state of perfect equilibrium where you are neither worried nor fearful....
