Mahesh Prabhu's Blog, page 50

Atman: The Ultimate Power Within

Vedic 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 “Consciousness.” Understanding this consciousness and, harnessing it with wisdom for the welfare of all is the main objective of Vedic practices.

 

Management is understood in the modern context as the “process of deali...

Vedic roots of absolute power

[image error]This article is part of the latest book by U. Mahesh Prabhu – Kautilya: Understanding the Colossal Genius. The book is available on Amazon.com as well as Amazon.in. 

 

 

उदयोगिनं पुरुषसिंहमुपैति लकषमी:  दैवेन देयमिति कापुरुषा वदनति | दैवं निहतय कुरु पौरुषमातमशकतया यतने कृते यदि न सिधयतिकोतर दोष: ||

Fortune (Goddess Lakshmi) favors the industrious and brave (Lion-like). “Divine decree” is coward-speak. Forget providence and put in your best efforts. If you endeavored, but still failed, it is...

Chirantan-Chinta to Chintan-Manthan: From Mindless Trepidations to Mindful Thoughts

चिंता (Chinta) implies the trepidations of the mind. When the mind is engrossed in thoughts causing anxieties, fear, concern, and sleeplessness, it is due to Chinta. It is a detrimental quality that can severely impair the mind’s ability to observe, think, plan and act. A person engrossed in Chinta can confuse opportunity for a threat and mistake a danger for a chance.

In his कारिका Karika, or commentary, on Mandukya Upanishad, Acharya Gaudapada states:

 

 

सरवभिलापविपगत: सरवचिनतासमुतथित: |...

Daridryam, Dhanam & Dhanyam: From Poverty to Prosperity to Perpetual Bliss

Since most of the Vedic ॠषि Rishis (authors of Vedic texts) lived away from civilization, in the woods, a great many tend to wrongly assume “suffering poverty” to be a “Vedic ideal.” Nothing can be farther from the truth. Neither did the Vedic Rishis glorified poverty nor did they demonize wealth. A great many of the Rishis were the ones who lived a financially affluent life before renouncing it all of their own volition to become hermits and renunciates. Valmiki, the celebrated author of Ram...

Hitashatru: That mortal enemy we mistake for a dear friend

One of the greatest myths about success or wealth is that “it will earn you a lot of friends” and, that “it will make you happy.” Only a person who has tasted success in all his pursuits can confirm how incorrect those assumptions are.

Jealousy of people is among the many things that come along with success and wealth. And it is by far the most potent threat as it could turn even a dear friend into a deadly enemy. And when that enemy continues to pose as a friend, enjoying proximity to you, (...

Ekaanth: The Power of Isolation

Since 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 relate isolation to pitch darkness – a state of disconcertment.

Given this, it’s hard for many to believe that isolation can also be strength – an idea of presence, fullness, aliveness, the joy of being, o...

Essential leadership wisdom from Shukracharya

Translation of Shukra Niti by U. Mahesh Prabhu (Excerpts)

Niti 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 today. It consists of important aphorisms that hold essential wisdom and guidance.

Niti as a term indicates leadership, guidance, direction, ski...

The Healing Power of Conversations

Leadership is often challenging. It causes substantial stress, physically and emotionally. Once stressed it is natural for people to feel dejected, frustrated as well as exhausted. To seek reprieve, most pursue some kind of addiction which, in time, causes serious ailments like diabetics, debility, hypertension, and insomnia. Thus, it will not be incorrect to conclude that stress is a silent killer. So how do we kill stress, before it kills us?

There is a wise saying in Ayurveda, “If the mind...

Manas: The Mind

Long ago there happened to be a greedy person always in pursuit of ways to make a lot of money and quick. He persuaded a rishi to give him a mantra which could make him materially rich. Rishi tried his best to dissuade him, but the person was persistent. Eventually, the rishi reluctantly agreed. He said “I will give you a mantra to chant, and a rakshas (goblin) will come to help you. However, you must be extremely careful, because the Rakshas is restless and needs to be constantly put to task...

Calming a Disturbed Mind

The mind is key to everything you do. Your success or failure is often a direct reflection of your state of mind. Mind that is focused has a boundless potential whereas a mind that’s disturbed cripples all possibilities. Calming a disturbed mind is, therefore, the key to achieving all that one intends to.

The only constant in this world is change itself. Millions of cells die, and millions are created regularly this body. Your mind constantly changes its perceptions, thoughts, ideas, and opin...