NEW BOOK TITLED "INSIGHTS INTO VEDIC MANAGEMENT"

INSIGHTS INTO VEDIC MANAGEMENT Paperback

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1099177030

This concise book contains certain key insights from ancient Vedic scriptures as applied to skill development and leadership excellence. It also highlights the ecological focus of the Vedas and presents the Vedic management practices of the great Vedic philosopher, Sri Ramanujacharya.

जय जय श्रीराधे  

UNIVERSAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH RIG VEDA

स॒मा॒नी व॒ आकू॑तिः समा॒ना हृद॑यानि वः|
स॒मा॒नम॑स्तु वो॒ मनो॒ यथा॑ वः॒ सुस॒हास॑ति||

Rg Veda x- 191-4

The aforesaid Mantra is the last Mantra of Rg Veda samhitA.

The context is regarding a common and harmonious resolution, heart and thought among the Ritvigs (Priests who conduct the sacrifice) while performance of the Yajna.

This talks about seamless integration among intellect, mind and heart for bringing out unity and harmony.

There is always a dichotomy between the head and the heart. The head goes for a particular path. The heart says it may bring problems to others and let us not take undue advantage. Let us be fair and equitable to all.

This means that perfect harmony among the stakeholders leads to managerial excellence.

Excellence is achieved by harmonious resolution (intention), harmonious heart (wishes) and harmonious thought. This is important for achieving Unity and peaceful co-existence in a collaborative manner. This principle of holistic Vedic harmony can be applied at an organizational level or societal level or national level or Universal level.

Vedic Management - The Holistic Approach to Managerial Excellence

PPT on "Vedic Management - The Holistic Approach to Managerial Excellence"

http://www.slideshare.net/kannansrinivas/vedic-management-presentation-827499 

DIET AND AYURVEDA

Ayurveda attaches great importance to Diet.
Diet is primarily responsible for one's welfare.
Diseases are due to wrong diet.
One derives nourishment, satisfaction, strength and intelligence from diet.

AhArasambhavam vastu rogAscAhAra sambhavAh !
hiTAhita viSeshAcca viSeshah sukha dukhayoh !!
--caraka samhitA xxviii-45

Na hita AhAropayoginAmagniveSa tannimittayA vyAdhayo jAyante
--caraka samhitA xxviii- 7

tushtih pushtir balam medhA sarvamanne prathishtitam
--caraka samhitA xxvii -350

TALK ON "EXCELLENCE THROUGH KARMA YOGA"

Talk on "Excellence through Karma Yoga" delivered by Dr S Kannan, Consultant, Tata Consultancy Services on 6th February, 2010 at Taj Connemara, Chennai in the 34th All India Conference on Internal Audit organised by The Institute of Internal Auditors India, Madras Chapter.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Highlights from the Talk

Karma Yoga Concepts

•Types of karma: nitya, naimittika, kAmya, nishiddha, prAyaScitta
•Drivers : Likes, dislikes (rAga, dvesha)
•Factors: karaNam, kAraNam, kartA. bhoktA, daivam
•Characteristics : Desirelessness, Proficiency, Faith
•TyAga : Karma tyAga , Karma phala tyAga
•Karma, akarma, vikarma
•MAnasam, VAcikam, KAyikam
•3D’s : Delight, Devotion, Detachment
•sañcita, prArabdha, AgAmi

Karma Yogi

•Satisfied in the Atman through the Atman
•Steady wisdom
•Without desires
•Without attachment , balanced in happiness and misery
•Free from subtle impressions
•At peace even though moving with the sense objects
•Works like a Master
•Work is of very best quality
•Impelled by utmost compassion, works for the good of the world

How Karma Yoga helps Professionals?

•Independence --- asangah - svAtantriyam
•Objectivity --- asangah - satyam
•Competency --- svadharma – kauSalam
•Ethical --- karma – not following vikarma
•Commitment --- abhirati
•Delight in one’s own duty -- sve sve karmaNi abhiratah
•Devotion to duty --- svakarmaNiratah
•Dedication as service to Supreme – svakarmaNA tamabhyarcya

Vedic Management - The Holistic Approach to Managerial Excellence

A summary of the talk on ‘Vedic Management - The Holistic Approach to Managerial Excellence’ delivered by Dr S Kannan, Consultant, Tata Consultancy Services held on 23 November 2009 at Chennai

1. An overview of Vedas The Vedas refer to ancient knowledge of supreme authority. The Vedic literature is meant for the emancipation of the entire humanity. One can find in them an unceasing vibrant charm which has withstood the tests of time. Vedas are apaurusheya and have not been composed by any person or agency. Vedic poets are called seers of the Mantras and are not to be construed as the original authors of the Vedic Mantras.

http://www.mmachennai.org/mandate/2010_jan/vedic.html

EXCELLENCE THROUGH KARMA YOGA

There are four types of yoga consisting of jnAna yoga, dhyAna yoga, bhakti yoga and karma yoga.
jnAna yoga is achieved through the knowledge of discrimination between Atma and AnAtma .

dhyAna yoga comprises of eight limbs ending with samAdhi.

Unconditional devotion towards the Supreme is bhakti yoga.

karma yoga refers to yoga through action. Though karma is said to be the cause for bondage, when performed without attachment in a selfless manner , it transforms into yoga. The term "yoga" represents union with the cosmic consciousness.

karma yoga has three essential characteristics in terms of desirelessness, proficiency and faith.
nishkAmatva (desirelessness) represents non-attachment towards the fruit of action.
kauSala represents skill in action.
Astikya buddhi refers to utmost faith in the Supreme .

The karma yogi has nothing to fear as he is engaged in selfless action without any ego. The world is characterized by karma. It is made of the triguNas of satva, rajas and tamas. It is a mixture of good and bad resulting in pleasure or pain. Doing good to the world destroys selfishness. Freedom from action is attained through action. Selfish desires are to be given up.

One should perform action based on his svadharma. Prescribed duties must be performed in a selfless manner. All ordained duties are equal. One who sees action in inaction and inaction in action is the Seer. Action may be done with the desire for liberation or for pleasing the Supreme or as service to the people.

The karma yogi maintains perfect peace and tranquility though he is moving in the midst of sense objects. He works like a great master. He is independent. He serves the Society tirelessly impelled by ultimate compassion. He achieves excellence through the path of karma yoga.

WHAT IS MEDITATION?

"Meditation is the profound journey from sound to silence.
It is the flight from external to internal.
It is the movement from goss to subtle.
It is the voyage from movement to stillness.
It is the travel from everything to nothing.
The stage of nothingness characterized by absence of any desire and thought represents the peak of meditation."
-- Dr.S.Kannan " Vedic Management- The Holistic Approach to Managerial Excellence, Taxmann, New Delhi, 2009 Edition.
http://www.taxmann.net/BookShop/productdetail.aspx?pid=904&cid=31

WHAT IS MIND?

Mind is composed of the following four faculties:
manas - Emotions, moods, likes, dislikes
buddhi - Intellect , reasoning, observation, conclusion, knowledge, creativity
cittam - Perception, cognition, memory, reflection, recollection
ahamkAra - Ego

WHAT IS KARANA SARIRA (CAUSAL BODY) ?

kAraNa SarIra ( Causal Body):
(a) Inexplicable
(b) Beginningless
(c) In the form of ignorance
(d) Sole cause for the gross and subtle bodies
(e) Ignorant of its own true nature
(f) Without thoughts (nirvikalpa)

WHAT IS SUKSHMA SARIRA (SUBTLE BODY)?

sUskhma SarIra (Subtle Body):
(a) Composed of five great elements ( panca mahAbhUta) which have not undergone the process of grossification (pancIkaraNa)
(b) Born as a result of good actions of the past (human body)
(c) Container for experiencing Pleasure and Pain
(d) Constituting 17 items –
5 organs of perception (jnAnedriyas – ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose)
5 organs of action (karmendriyas – speech, hands, legs, anus and genitals)
5 prANas ( prANa, apAna, vyAna, udAna and samAna)
mind (manah)
intellect (buddhi)

WHAT IS STHULA SARIRA (GROSS BODY) ?

sthUla SarIra :
(a) Made up of five great elements ( panca mahAbhUta) which have undergone the process of grossification (pancIkaraNa)
(b) Born as a result of good actions of the past ( human body)
(c) Instrument for experiencing Pleasure and Pain
(d) Undergoes the six-fold modifications representing potential existence, birth, growing, maturing, decaying and dying.

Whether computer or robot can have a "Being" ?

Based on the three-fold principles of Vedic Philosophy known as tatva traya, the Universe is composed of three types of beings as follows:
(a) cit - Consciousness -- Sentient Being --This is the Subject principle. Human Beings, Animals, Plants, Birds which have a life principle . With a body they are born and they undergo six-fold modifications and perish. They suffer pains and enjoy pleasures. They are conditioned beings and have a lot of dependencies. The Atman (Soul) is imperishable. This is known as BMIS concept.(Body-Mind-Intellect-Self)
(b) acit - Insentient Being - This is the Object principle. Materials which do not have consciousness like stone, gold, sand, iron and so on. These are perishable. There is no life principle involved.
(c) ISvara - God - This is the creator and sustainer of the entire Universe. He is ancient and eternal. He is fully independent. He is both the material and efficient cause of creation.

Bhagavad GItA Chapter XV is known as purushottamayoga adhyAya .Lord KrishNa beautifully summarizes the above concept in this Chapter. Accordingly, the world is made up of three things as under:
(a) kshara -Perishable objects (Insentient). This includes the three types of bodies comprising sthUla SarIra (gross body), sUkshma SarIra (subtle body) and kAraNa SarIra (Causal body).
(b) akshara - jIvAtmA -- Imperishable (Sentient)
(c) uttama purusha - paramAtmA -- ISvara ---Supreme God who is the Lord sustaining the worlds. (Chapter XV-16, 17)

In the light of the above understanding, a Computer or robot is acit. It is kshara which is perishable. It does not have the consciousness and life principle. There is no "Being" involved in a Computer or robot though we may say it has some built-in Artificial Intelligence.

My Talk in the Second International Conference on "Igniting the Genius Within" at ISB, Hyderabad

I gave a talk in the Second International Conference on "Igniting the Genius Within" at ISB, Hyderabad on 23-10-2009. The subject of my Talk was "Tiding over Turbulence: Ancient Insights for Modern Leaders."

http://www.isb.edu/CLIC/SecondGeniusConferenceSpeakers.Shtml#SKannan

http://www.isb.edu/CLIC/SpeakerAbstract.Shtml#SKannan

http://www.isb.edu/clic/geniusconference-09/index.html

http://www.isb.edu/media/UsrSiteNewsMgmt.aspx?topicid=605

"VEDIC MANAGEMENT" 2009 EDITION RELEASED

MY BOOK TITLED "VEDIC MANAGEMENT: THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MANAGERIAL EXCELLENCE" 2009 EDITION RELEASED

Publisher : TAXMANN , NEW DELHI

http://www.taxmann.net/BookShop/productdetail.aspx?pid=904&cid=31

ABOUT THE BOOK

This unique, authentic and comprehensive book on Vedic Management has a special appeal to all management students, professors and practitioners across the globe through its holistic approach to managerial excellence.

For the very first time, this book presents the theory of Vedic Management on a four dimensional perspective incorporating self management, relationship management, relationship management, cosmic management and spiritual management. It portrays the Vedic model of excellence with universal application.

This book integrates modern management principles and practices with ancient wisdom through the eternal voice of the Vedas. It presents a unified and integrated theory of Vedic management. It deals with the A-Z of self management and relationship management. It has a major focus on leadership management. It facilitates human emancipation with a social objective.

Based on an in-depth and comprehensive study of the Vedas, this book demonstrates and proves conclusively that all the progressive modern management principles, concepts and practices are of Vedic origin. It clearly and succinctly establishes that the Vedas pervade the management domain universally cutting across the contours of cultural dualities, inspiring one to act with excellence, foresight and vision coupled with moral and ethical values. It substantiates that the Vedas impart stainless, priceless and immortal managerial wisdom with practical relevance which would always stand the test of time.

HUMAN VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

HUMAN VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

by
Dr.S.Kannan
K.Srilakshmi

This Book consists of five Divisions and twenty nine Chapters. The first Division deals with value education, self exploration, natural acceptance, human aspirations, prosperity, happiness and living in harmony. The second Division focusses on self harmony. It presents a detailed account of the BMIS concept which consists of the human body, mind, intellect and Self. It explains how to live in self harmony. The third Division highlights the various dimensions of relationship harmony in terms of family harmony, societal harmony, spiritual harmony and the values in human relationship. The fourth Division deals with cosmic harmony encompassing harmony in nature, renewable energy, biodiversity, inter-connectedness and co-existence. The fifth Division presents an overview of holistic harmony including human values, professional ethics, code of conduct, human order, individual transformation and societal transformation. The Book contains case studies for practical understanding of the concept of professional ethics. Certain philosophical insights based on Scriptures have also been added in order to enrich the understanding of the value system and harmony in a holistic manner.

http://www.taxmann.net/BookShop/productdetail.aspx?pid=1534&cid=31

WHETHER VEDIC SCRIPTURES CAN BE CHANGED TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING TIMES?

The SAstras based on Sruti prescribe the ideal which one has to follow. Depending upon one's SraddhA ( faith) , deSa (place), kAla (time) and vartamAna (environment), religious practices are being done . Many a time we find that there is a big gap between what the Scriptures prescribe and what we do in practice.If we are unable to do as per Scriptures, we should feel sorry and offer our apologies to the devatAs(Deities) / Rishis/ pitrus (Manes) in a spirit of devotion and SraddhA.

Changing the Scriptures for the purpose of adaptability is not warranted nor is it permissible.

KARMAS

The Karmas are of three types :

Sañcita -- Accumulated over countless previous Births
Prarabdha -- Which has to be necessarily experienced in this Birth
Agami -- Produced now due to Current Karmas to be experienced in future.

There is always the concept of limited applicability of freewill as well. By doing Prayascitta Karmas it is possible to mitigate the ill-effects to some extent.

Karma phalas are of three types Papa, Punya and Misra (Mixed).

If an action is done without attachment to its result, it does not bind the doer.

The Yuga dharma also influences a person in his actions.

RELEVANCE OF VEDAS AND VEDIC MANAGEMENT

Links of my brief speech on Vedas posted in You Tube based on an interview:

Relevance of Vedas in current times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MDaAPUGjXE


Holistic approach to management with four dimensions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Bh8F0l71Q&feature=related


Environment-friendly messages in the Vedas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZosXEHtewCI&feature=related

Ancient values for modern managers

The Vedas insist on proper distribution of wealth. Wealth earned by 100 hands has to be distributed to 1,000 hands.
DR S. KANNAN, AUTHOR, VEDIC MANAGEMENT
What accounts for the sudden downfall of otherwise successful organisations? Are there any insights from the scriptures in this regard?
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/mentor/2009/02/02/stories/2009020250351100.htm