Recently, I traveled to California鈥檚 San Francisco bay Area to celebrate the graduation of a relative.聽It was a wonderful experience to see all of the graduates expressing unmitigated joy, feeling of great accomplishment, and anticipation that comes with getting an MBA. There were hugs, laughter, animated talk and excitement everywhere.聽聽There was no sense of competition or expression of ego.
As the days following the convocation ceremonies passed, talk naturally turned to job search.聽And slowly the efforts of the graduates started to turn towards showing why the job seeker is better than other applicants with the same degree.聽聽It is not at all that one is trying to show another in a bad light, but each one is trying to show why he or she is better than the rest of the pack.
This is the beginning of competitiveness; which, along the way, can turn from a healthy one into something that has taken some very wrong turns in one鈥檚 career, as the person faces the reality of the fiercely competitive nature of the workplace, especially in the world-leading technology space called the Silicon Valley.
So, what happened?聽The true nature of our so-called 鈥渁dvanced civilization鈥� becomes apparent.聽聽The emphasis and focus is on beating others at the game; success at any cost; jumping over thIs this what our scriptures taught us?聽聽Of course not.
teaches us 鈥渢o see the Self in all and all in the Self鈥�.聽聽We can, all of us, progress together, so that no one is left behind.
Does this mean that those who are more capable and more talented are hand-holding those who are not?聽聽Not at all.聽Everyone has something to contribute, everyone has unique strengths.聽聽The principle of聽dharma, which means righteous conduct, reveals that what we do in the right spirit benefits not only us, but benefits the world as well.
Hindu scriptures also elaborate on doing聽办补谤尘补听(辞谤听karma yoga) which is selfless work and selfless service, as one of the paths to salvation (moksha).听听Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2 Verse 47, says 鈥�Karmanyevaadhikaaraste Maa Phaleshu Kadaachana鈥�, which means that 鈥淵ou have only the right to do your work and duties, but you do not have the right to any expectations of what the outcome or results might be鈥�; in other words, our efforts should not be based on selfish motivations or self gratification.聽聽Our efforts should be based purely on what the right thing to do is; the right thing is defined as being of benefit to all, and at no one鈥檚 expense.聽聽At no one鈥檚 expense implies also that we do not exploit nature and other species 鈥� that we do not clear cut forests, we do not strip mine or pollute the water, that we do not hunt other species to extinction.
In practical terms, this also means that we conduct our lives in a聽collaborative聽fashion, not in a competitive manner.聽聽This way of being is beautifully described in聽Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 12 Verses 13 and 14, as being a聽compassionate聽person.
Being compassionate and competitive are mutually exclusive.聽聽Being compassionate implies that one has evolved to the highest spiritual state, and has developed divine love for everyone and everything in the universe.
Suresh Basrur聽practises the Hindu faith, participates in inter-faith activities in Victoria, and speaks to audiences about Hindu religion, philosophy and practices.
You can read more articles on our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking, HERE
* This article was published in the print edition of the TImes Colonist on Saturday, June 6th 2019.
Photo of graduate by聽听辞苍听
