Business to the Buddha

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  • Adviti and perspective change

    Adviti is growing up, she has started turning and every now and then she turns. When feeding her, she turns that makes putting food in mouth difficult. It was surprising initially to feed her used to be irritating that she is turning in no time. Once, I was talking to a relative, she said – Adviti will keep on doing it because it provides her a different perspective to the world. As an infant, how good and easy for them to change perspective – make it exactly 180 degree and enjoy. How difficult for us to change our perspective?

    This change in perspective gave me an opportunity to question my own opinions. So, first was marriage in particular caste. The other apparent Indian customs such as – girls parents to not step in her home once girl is married! Yes that I have heard in conservative families. I don’t know how much is it followed now. So, when I badgered Lingayat community for disrespectful behavior on marriage issues, today I try to look at another perspective.

    perspectiveOne of the possible reason for people looking at their own community or professional background could be that a girl grown up in similar environment may find it easy to settle in new family with similar customs or work requirements. If a farmer marries a goldsmith’s daughter would not it be very difficult for her to get accustomed to the new way of living?

    Second, when society used to say not to go to girl’s home after her marriage, the possible reason could be – avoiding conflicts. Indian soap opera’s show it often. Additionally, olden days, it used to be a wish that girl is married in a family of economically higher standing. So, possible that girl or her parents should not feel uncomfortable, or should not be named for their out of place demeanor by the boy’s family. My small mind could think of only these possible reasons.

    Lastly, eastern religion – all have concept of rebirth and karma. Personally, I not only follow but also believe in these concepts. A different paradigm from these seemingly good concept is here. If you tell a student that you’re not good at mathematics because in last life time you moneylender and did mischievous calculations to let the borrowers keep on paying you unnecessarily, that is a bad perspective on the concept.

    There are many wars, fights and arguments due to perspectives. Be it capitalism vs socialism, one religion vs the other or political biases. We can be passionate about our perspective yet should be compassionate to listen to others view too. Otherwise there will always be wars, fights and arguments.

    Adviti is teaching me a lot of things with her growing up. The recent one is changing perspective and looking at the other side, even if it seems incorrect prima-facie. This is a difficult task, I am trying to learn though, she changes her perspective by 180 degree easily at this age. Are we as adults going to learn something from our next generation?

    Image source – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Point_of_view_bias.jpg

  • Adviti and genes of generations

    As I shared last week, we are blessed with a baby girl – Adviti. Our daughter has just turned 6 months. With her coming in, and our near and dear visiting us, comparison of “who does she look like?” started. Some say she looks like me others say she looks like my wife. Yet others say, her face will change for first couple of years and we cannot make a final judgement until then.

    Besides her looks, we have observed a peculiar behavior of Adviti. She has a sideways smile. This smile resembles bit of my smile. It surprised us in the beginning. Initially we brushed it aside as a random observation. However, when we saw Adviti smile often sideways, plus stretching herself after waking up, we realized that she probably has got some behavioral traits resembling mine. We started asking ourselves, besides the physical appearance does baby have behavioral similarity too with parents? It is not some behavioral trait at a later stage of (learnt by) the baby but an infant as young as 3 months.

    When my wife and I had this question, we realized the value of building ourselves into a better person. We are not only building ourselves but also our coming generations. This brings me back to spirituality and meditation. You can read an interesting article on advantages of meditation at this link. Have you ever questioned how does your present life impact your offspring (born or unborn)? Perhaps meditation has some keys of evolved future generations.

    Now, I am firm believer that we must teach meditation and spiritual practices to our kids, these are more likely to impact our coming generations positively. At times, when I see kids playing violence based games or watch gory movies I feel that we need to put some discretion somewhere.

    I believe Sri Sir Ravi Shankar (or some other spiritual master), said somewhere once – “…meditation done by a person impacts his ancestors as well as coming generation…” When I see Adviti’s some behavioral traits I have no doubts about the impact now.

    Instead of writing / reading about meditation try one (and many others), here

     

  • Teaching virtues to Adviti

    We were blessed with a baby girl a couple of months back. We have named her Adviti. Adviti from a Hindi / Sanskrit word Advitiya which means unparallel, peerless or no other can be like her (him). As they say in Chinese catch them young, now, I am parenting Adviti and teaching her virtues.

    In last couple of months life has changed. A lot has changed for me and specially for my wife – Simple. Having a baby is a huge responsibility and taking care of her has changed us both in many ways. A dimension is added in all these personal, psychological and emotional changes – how do we provide good upbringing to Adviti?

    Being bit spiritual, though she is just turning six months, I started reading Jatak tales to her. At times I laughed at myself – I am reading these stories to her in English. I wonder if she understand Hindi (native language) forget about English (non native language). Isn’t it difficult to figure out approach for correct (better) upbringing of kids? Has anyone figured it out?

    When I started reading these stories to her, I asked myself, should I teach certain virtues – taught in the stories – to her? I wonder in next couple of years how our society will change.

    As a kid I lived around a lot of Jain followers. During those days not eating onion and garlic was natural to me. In fact I am trying to practice their eating habits now too. Besides other concepts, the Jain philosophy teaches a concept – Asteya meaning non stealing. However, in today’s society where morally corrupt make the law and loot are mostly legalized, what is the meaning of a parent teaching such lessons to his/her children?

    I have examples of previous 70 years of corruption cases of India alone, forget about the rest of the world. The law gets bent such that corruption – even though it is evident – of these lawmakers become legally correct. It is so difficult to prove – something that looks so evident – that many corruptions happened but we cannot prove it easily – case in point is – case on son of previous finance minister. Our (specially Indian) legal system is so slow and lopsided that it takes 20+ years to get someone jailed (read Sanjay Dutt or Lalu Prasad Yadav) and prove someone innocent (A postman).

    Here, it is needless to say that Indian film industry tried proving Sanjay Dutt innocent with all the flaws. Isn’t it possible someone in future will try to paint these current politicians also as innocent? If our culture is getting a narrative that is distorted parents may have doubt in teaching virtues to their kids. Asteya – non stealing – is it just a good concept in books or religious sermons? Does it make sense to teach virtue’s to our next generation?

  • Value for Money: From Balloons to the Breath of Life

    In the rush of boarding school bus, after the Delhi blasts in of early November 2025, a simple conversation with my seven-year-old daughter Adviti unfolded like a gentle teaching from the Buddha himself. She wondered why I hesitated over certain toys and things she adored. I struggled to convey the essence of “value for money”. A delicate balance where investment yields joy, utility, and lasting worth. My complex mind was thinking in jargons and like the economic principle of optimizing resources for maximum benefit.

    I thought for a while and was failing to get to the concept. Suddenly an idea came to mind to make this real for her young mind. Drawing from our market stroll few weeks ago, I told her about the big balloon we bought from market at 25 rupees: “What if it bursts right away, leaving no play, no laughter? Those 25 rupees vanish like mist, offering nothing in return.” Her eyes lit up with understanding, grasping in an instant what eludes many adults.​

    Value: in professional sense

    This conversation happened with Adviti as I lit the diya in our home temple. My thoughts moved to a parallel world. The balloon transformed in my mind into the fragile vessel of life itself; our prana (or life), fleeting human form, so easily burst by carelessness or violence.

    Yet this shift does not diminish the drive of daily dharma; my thoughts move to the spirituality. Though, it does not mean that professionally, I take life easily. I am competitive compared to many I see. I always strive to do things that make a difference, with a simple life goal that people remember me as a professional who punched above his weight. This is an ambition of leaving legacy, yet it naturally flows into deeper inquiry. But after that, the next step always is spirituality.

    Thus, weaving the threads of marketplace and mandir, I tried balancing these thoughts. In business, value for money demands efficiency, quality, and impact; in spirituality, it calls us to question the true return on our life’s investment. Hinduism’s karma and Buddhism’s Right Livelihood urge us to create positive ripples – for self, family, society – turning every action into Dhyan and Dana, selfless giving that endures beyond the transaction.

    Shadows of Wasted Value

    These positive waves can quickly turn into chaos when bad events disrupt our peace. I was thinking all these things and at the back of my mind, the recent Delhi blasts brought back painful memories of the Mumbai attacks I saw in 2006, 2008, and 2011, making me think how ignoring life’s value affects everyone around us.

    Terrorists squander their own lives and others’, blind to the sanctity of existence. A doctor, trained to heal, choosing instead to destroy, was completely beyond my comprehension. At the same time, I was angry, no one holds the right to burst another’s balloon, for in ahimsa (non-violence) lies true value addition for generations. Imagine channelling that education into service, not harm; this is enlightened management, where economic prudence meets spiritual awakening, fostering communities of compassion over chaos.​

    Child’s Wisdom, Adult Awakening

    Adviti, at seven, embraced value for money through play; when will the learned among us awaken to the same concept to “value of life”, the life’s greater worth?

    Invest mindfully, act ethically, live purposefully. In blending business acumen with Buddha’s wisdom, we ensure no burst leaves us empty, only enriched, connected, eternal.
    Let this simple lesson from the balloon stay with us all, like a quiet reminder during our morning aarti. It shows us how to move from everyday buying-selling to real, lasting change in life; the kind that touches our atma and stays forever.

  • Hanuman in Ashoka Vatika: A Lesson in Stillness

    Occasionally, I share stories from Indian culture with my daughter – Adviti. Though, we’ve not watched the recently released movie Mahavatar Narsimha, but I have read the story of Bhakt Prahalad in the form of Amar Chitra Katha for her. I wish I get more time with her to explore, once she grows up, it would be the other way round, probably she would not have time for me.

    Last December when we went to couple of cities in Tamil Nadu, we saw strange carving of animals, seeing those I and my sister were discussing – perhaps our ancestors knew genetic modification or mutation etc thus they had animals with body of horse, head of lion and hands of humans etc. These thoughts have been very unique experience for us. My sister and I were discussing probably Indian culture was too evolved with science (say mutation) and inner science – a balance between physical realm and meta physical realm.

    These fascinating ideas are making me read further more Amar Chitra Kathas with my daughter, plus other books on Indian spirituality. I think even more about what can be additional deeper lesson in these stories? So, here is one.

    Hanuman’s wait

    After leaping across the ocean in search of Sita, Hanuman finally finds her – under the Ashoka tree, distressed and surrounded by demons. He’s done the hard part. He’s made the impossible journey.

    But now comes the real test.

    Despite his strength and speed, Hanuman doesn’t leap into action. He doesn’t rush to speak, fight, or “rescue.” Instead, he climbs a tree and waits. Silent. Still. Observing.

    He watches. He listens. He reads her state of mind. He becomes a witness, not a reactor.

    And when the moment is right – when she’s ready – he gently steps forward, offering only what’s needed: a sign of hope.

    Catch the beautiful song from that moment in the animated film Ramayan.

    The Business Parallel

    Sometimes in business, not acting immediately is the most strategic thing you can do.

    • The product is ready, but the market isn’t
    • A deal is in motion, but approvals are stuck
    • The team is tired, and pushing harder will do more harm than good
    • There are conflicts, but you have to wait – like Buddha told Ananda: wait for the water to flow, only then can you fill the flask with fresh and clear water

    The instinct is to jump in, solve, fix, escalate.

    But good leadership often means holding steady. Watching. Listening. Reading the moment before making the move.

    Just like Hanuman did in Ashoka Vatika.

  • Flow Over Fixation

    Mind’s chatter rarely stops. On that fateful day more than a year ago, even though I was riding my two-wheeler, mind was rambling, 9:05 am I will reach home. We will have breakfast, by 10:00 am or so we will take a stroll in the society. By that time Adviti will be back from her dance class. We would get ready by 11:00 am spend some time at home and start for social gathering followed by lunch.

    It was about 9:00 but my mind had already reached lunch time. They say plans are useless but planning is important. I was preparing this plan in my head and in three minutes I was on the ground! Met with a minor accident, or that is what I thought it was. At the hospital I realized it was not a small accident.

    That one thing changed me to a great extent. I make plans, of course I worry for many things too however, I know now that in next second things may change completely. This incident reminded me of my Senior Division NCC days. I was Senior Under Officer of my company 3MP CTI. It was one of the best learning experiences as a leader. I had heard many adventurous stories shared by our trainers and Commanding Officers. One insight stayed with me: even when a plan is thoroughly prepared for field operations, the leader must remain flexible. The officer in command understands that about 70% of the plan is predetermined. The remaining 30% must be adapted based on the situation at hand. So even after planning they keep room for improvisation and course correction.

    If in a life and death situation they can keep their plans fluid, in our day today professional and personal life too we should have that wiggle room for change. However, in our daily rut we miss out on this kind of small yet very important lesson. Take an example, when you go to office on a daily basis, do you change your route often? I recall, I had to fill my car and in the self-chatter while driving I completely missed this small yet very useful thing. We become so mechanical that we miss out on things.

    That two-wheeler ride turned out to be more than just a commute – it became a quiet lesson. In that one moment, life shook me out of the mechanical rhythm we all fall into. Buddhist practice often speaks of mindfulness – being in the now, not being dragged into what’s ahead or behind. That morning, my mind had already reached lunchtime, while my body was still dodging traffic at 9:00 AM.

    We make plans, and we should. But we must also remind ourselves: plans aren’t permanent. I remember my NCC days – our commanding officers always said, “Plan for 70%, keep 30% flexible.” It wasn’t just about military drills; it was deeper. Whether in business strategy or daily life, that 30% flexibility is vital. It’s space for awareness, for course correction, for growth.

    As professionals, as leaders, and even as commuters, the lesson is the same: don’t get locked into habit. That minor looking accident taught me something major – presence matters. Even an ordinary ride can turn into an extraordinary insight, if we’re tuned in.

    We must live with awareness. Not just by the clock or calendar, but by being present to what is.

  • AI, Humans, and Bharatnatyam

    Recently, I had an intriguing conversation with my friend Vikas on our society’s basketball court. Vikas is an excellent practitioner of Yoga, and he does his practices often around the court. Though we had never discussed spirituality or meditation before but this time we discussed not only work, books but also the Indian spiritual masters. After exchanging New Year pleasantries, we found ourselves talking about the impact of AI on our lives and businesses.

    It was a casual conversation, as our past discussions never really ventured into the realms of spirituality. But as we spoke, I brought up an interesting prediction from the 1920s. Renowned economist John Maynard Keynes had forecasted that in the future, we would work only four days a week, thanks to advancements in technology. I mentioned that with AI progressing rapidly, this could very well become a reality (though it has been close to 100 years from the prediction). One of our common concerns, however, was about the future of jobs – would there be enough work to keep everyone occupied and economy running?

    AI is already transforming every aspect of life, the endless possibilities of Biz Apps to generating artwork to creating videos. Initially, I believed that impact on creative work would be the last by AI, but my perspective changed when I watched a cat cook a meal in a video. While the video was amusing, it also made me rethink the boundaries of AI’s creativity.

    One thing became clear to me—the future may hold something unique: people will increasingly seek out real human experiences. Activities that involve human participation or performances,, like dance, will hold more value than any AI-generated fantasy. People will want to see and connect with others, and the demand for authentic human expression will rise.

    If we revisit Keynes’ prediction of “less work,” I am confident that it will happen. The real question is: what will people do with their newfound spare time? Will they continue to watch endless cat videos, or will they pursue things they genuinely enjoy? Over time, I believe the latter will take precedence. People will look for activities that engage them—activities that require human involvement, passion, and creativity.

    This conversation with Vikas stayed with me, and the same weekend, the thought resurfaced. That Saturday, my daughter Adviti – who is learning Bharatnatyam few months – had a dance performance. The event concluded with a deeply insightful speech from her teacher. The teacher explained –

    In Bharatnatyam, the performer has to be completely in the present moment. Body (through gestures and movements), mind (focusing on rhythm and mudras), and facial expressions (conveying emotions) all require perfect coordination of body, mind, and soul. Without this harmony, the performance falls flat. This concept resonated deeply with me, extending far beyond Bharatnatyam. It mirrored my understanding of meditation.

    As an audience, we were moved by the kids’ performances, but we were absolutely entranced by the senior performers. The speech, combined with the mesmerizing performances, made me realize something profound: perhaps the true joy of a dance like Bharatnatyam lies not in watching it, but in performing it. It’s an activity that requires full human engagement – body, mind, and soul – something AI simply cannot replicate.

    Reflecting on both my conversation with Vikas and the insights I gained from the dance performance, I saw a clear connection. The future will indeed offer fewer “work hours,” as Keynes predicted. But more importantly, people will likely grow tired of passive consumption – whether it’s endless reels or AI-generated content – and turn to more fulfilling, creative pursuits. Activities that involve deep personal expression, like cooking, dancing, or art, will become more valuable. In fact, it’s possible that many people will turn inward, exploring spirituality. It’s not just about watching a cat cook dinner, but about immersing yourself in the joy of cooking your own meal. Similarly, it’s not just about admiring a dance – it’s about becoming part of the rhythm, the movement, and the expression yourself.

    Also read –
    Playing golf, work and meditation
    Meditation
    Unifying Heart, Mind and Action

    In the end, AI may change how we work and live, but it will never replace the deep human need to create, to express, and to connect. The future, as I see it, will not be defined by what AI does for us, but by what we choose to do for ourselves.

  • The Beggar’s Bowl and the Broken Bone

    Many a times, one thought triggers another and one goes on a long trip sitting at one place. My travel recently had been the same. The collarbone fracture that is still healing has taken me on many trips, here is one where I ended up questioning myself – is it self respect or ego?

    Our return train journey from my sister’s home was turning into an unexpected adventure. We did not get a reservation, forcing me to snag whatever last-minute Tatkal ticket offered. My daughter was with me, she had rejected sleeping alone on a berth. So, with a grimace, I booked whatever I could get – not ideal for my recently fractured collarbone and a daughter averse to solo slumber. Whatever you call it, I got a three tier side upper berth. I could not leave Adviti alone on upper seat, I cannot go up with my fractured hand either. One-handed (thanks to the sling), I wrestled with luggage, my limitations a constant reminder.

    At least we had a ticket. But as the train inspector checked it, my hopes of a restful journey plummeted. “This berth belongs to the next conductor boarding at Coimbatore,” he announced. I thought, I can manage it the TC would be kind enough. We settled in for a bumpy night.

    At 11 pm we reached Coimbatore, and with it, arrived a surprise. When the TC duty changed at Coimbatore, two conductors came for their berth – The berth where I and my my 6 year old were sleeping. My request for a lower bunk was met with a dismissive, “The previous inspector should have sorted this.” Exhausted and frustrated, I stood there, my daughter clinging to me, and the sling as a beacon of vulnerability. One conductor, thankfully, seemed to sense my predicament. He disappeared into the carriage, returning with a solution – a new berth, blessedly lower down.

    Relief washed over me, but a knot of discomfort remained. The conductor’s pity stung. This wasn’t the first time. The sling had become a conversation starter, often eliciting sympathetic looks and inquiries about my surgery. While I appreciated the concern, the undercurrent of pity rankled.

    I realized it was a pity. I felt embarrassed and very bad for myself. I don’t want someone to look at me with such an eye. I wished I was fit. Here I was, trying to navigate this temporary setback with my dignity intact, and all I saw were some eyes filled with a kind of sorrowful voyeurism.

    This experience sparked a question: was it ego or self-respect that smarted when people saw me with pity, especially the condescending kind?

    I started introspecting. The discomfort of pitiful eyes, made me take another long trip. This time the trip took me 2500 years back. I asked myself – “Did the Buddha, in giving his disciples begging bowls, equip them to walk the tightrope between self-respect and the chasm of ego?“

  • Taking Charge of Your Well-being: Preventive vs. Corrective Actions

    Taking Charge of Your Well-being: Preventive vs. Corrective Actions

    I and my daughter were discussing. What should I have done to avoid the accident and what happened after accident? What I did or what happened and how? The conversation with my daughter, Adviti, sparked a deeper understanding of preventive versus corrective actions. On personal front, I am recovering now.

    A Father-Daughter Conversation on Wellness

    Advit and I discussed her eating ice cream so she said I like ice cream. I want to eat ice cream. I said Ok, you can eat ice cream, but after eating an ice cream, generally what happens to you? She said I get cough and cool.

    We continued, I asked a question “how do we avoid cough and cold”? Adviti responded by avoiding ice cream.

    The next thing I told her was “see, when you decide that I won’t eat ice cream even though I like it because I get cough and cold. That is called a preventive action. We want to prevent cough and cold therefore we avoid ice cream and other such things, ok.”

    I added – “preventive action is when we void a bad outcome. What if you get cough and cold? We go to doctor, correct? That is a corrective action.

    Corrective action is when we say, you ate ice cream. You fell sick and then you went to doctor who gives you medicine or injection. You take cough syrup, nebulization and other medicines, right? So that is a corrective action to become fit again.

    This simple exchange led to a valuable lesson for her: avoiding ice cream (preventive action) helps her stay healthy, while medication (corrective action) becomes necessary when she does get sick.

    This is wellness or health.

    Swasthya: A Holistic Approach to Well-being

    This conversation made me revisit the concept of wellness, particularly the unique Indian perspective called “Swasthya.” I have written earlier about wellness or Swasthya earlier.

    asically, Swasthya is Swa (Su) + Stha – it loosely means comfortable situated but the best translation should be dwelling in yourself. Unlike the limited connotation of “health” in the West, Swasthya translates loosely to “dwelling in oneself,” encompassing physical, mental, and emotional well-being, along with a sense of contentment.

    The English word Health or wellness is very shallow in its connotation. I could not teach Adviti – just a 6-year-old – about mental and emotional health at this point in time. So, I stopped at physical health.

    The Importance of Mental Health

    In the meantime, I have been speaking with three different friends of mine. One is a management consultant, other runs a business on mental health and the third is both a management consultant as well as a wellness plus mindfulness coach. The discussion highlighted a crucial point: the often-overlooked role of mental health in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives.

    Stress: The Gateway to Health Issues

    As per Mayo clinic, executives face problems of less sleep, more work hours, and work-life balance etc. Most of the problems start with stress. Stress is mental health issue, that we overlook. Mental health issues translate into physical health issues.

    So, when I spoke with these friends of mine, the conclusion came out to –

    1. Even the UN has one of the top three goals as well-being in ESG
    2. We mostly underestimate mental health issues
    3. Mental health issues translate into physical issues

    Preventive Care is Key

    Our discussions led to key takeaways:

    1. Prioritize Well-being: The UN prioritizes well-being within its ESG goals, highlighting its importance.
    2. Don’t Underestimate Mental Health: Mental health issues can have a significant impact on our overall well-being.
    3. Prevention is Better than Cure: Taking preventive actions to manage stress and prioritize mental well-being can prevent future physical problems.

    This helped me circle back to my discussion with Adviti – my daughter. Preventive actions are better, one must take care of self. One should know and act fast for corrective actions. Especially, mental health issues should be tackled on priority before they translate into bigger challenges.

    Taking Charge of Your Health

    Remember, you are in control of your well-being. By taking preventive actions and addressing mental health concerns early on, you can avoid future challenges and live a healthier, happier life.

    Let’s Talk Wellness!

    I will be more than happy to discuss these. Feel free to reach out.

    Photo by Kaylee Garrett on Unsplash

  • Is Curiosity a Lost Art?

    Is Curiosity a Lost Art?

    Remember the days of limited educational choices? Back then, the state board was the only option, a true “choiceless choice.” This “choiceless choice” reminded me of a concept in Indian spirituality – but that’s a conversation for another time!

    Fast forward to today, not only there are so many boards but also they are USPs of each. Recently, in one session in my daughter’s school where they were introducing parents to different boards, the presenter emphasized the importance of asking questions as a core value. This sparked a thought: isn’t this very principle a cornerstone of both business success and spiritual exploration?

    Inquisitiveness, they argued, was a core value of their educational philosophy. It got me thinking – I actually did the same thing with my daughter, Adviti, from a young age. I instilled in her the habit of asking “why” whenever something wasn’t clear. Though she is too young still and was even younger at that time to understand the meaning of asking questions.

    Questioning Your Assumptions (Even in Business)

    I have written on questioning your assumptions earlier as well. Here is an interesting story – I’ve been into management consulting. In such service business we do have tailored solutions yet the solutions have similar framework. We’re presenting to a potential client, during the discussions prospects and we were asking insightful questions to each other simultaneously learning about needs and challenges.  By actively listening, engaging and asking for clarification, we tailor our solution as per their needs and secure a happy client.

    The learning is – Asking questions demonstrates genuine interest, builds trust, and leads to better outcomes.

    The Art of the Question (and When Not to Take Offense)

    However, there are times when asking questions can be misconstrued. Imagine being added to a group by a senior colleague, only to discover a highly charged political atmosphere. When someone questions a post and you provide factual references to support it, you might expect a discussion, right? Wrong. Suddenly, you’re removed without explanation. This frustrating experience begs the question: When does a simple “why” or “what are the rules” become offensive?

    It happened with me twice. A very senior person of my institute added me in his group of institute alumni. I did not know the rules of the group and later on came to know he is highly politically motivated. One fine day someone posted something and the admin questioned the varsity of the post. To bolster the original post, I shared news article links. Admin removed the person who had posted the message.

    I replied, why have you removed him, I gave you references of sources, what the person wrote is correct. He did not respond. I asked – “what are the rules of the group?” What constitute a valid datapoint? “I was removed”.

    This person is very senior retired officer of a PSU. I wondered if government offices in India worked like that few decades back. There were no set of rules and still you have to follow some rules? This is an inference from this individual’s stupidity, I may be wrong about the functioning of Govt offices in the past though.

    So, when I asked some other alumni, I was told “Lunatic hai”, “even after retirement PSU mindset not gone”. I said, I want to know the rules of the group. I never got a response from him nor others in the group. I wish he gets a ticket to contest an election from his favourite pollical party, he would have a reality check ????

    Is Curiosity a Lost Art?

    Perhaps it’s a self-esteem issue. Could a fear of being challenged lead someone to shut down curiosity? It certainly makes you wonder what happens to those who can’t tolerate a healthy exchange of ideas. (This is a great discussion point in the comments! What are your thoughts?)

    The Power of Curiosity in Spirituality

    Now, let’s explore the spiritual angle. Indian spirituality often emphasizes the importance of inquiry. I have written on it earlier as well – there is no other religion of country where so many people have asked so many authorities. I am pretty sure if Indians will see God in human form, they will not spare him/her and ask umpteen questions to him/her. Take an example of Arjuna asking Krishna!

    The Buddha travelled from one monastery to the other and had many teachers in his quest to Nirvana. He too had many questions, some answered by each of the teachers and some he learnt himself. Isn’t the entire concept of seeking enlightenment fueled by a deep-seated curiosity about the nature of reality and our place within it? Just like in business and education, asking questions paves the way for deeper understanding.

    So, Let’s All Be Curious!

    Here’s the takeaway: There are no bad questions! Asking questions demonstrates your engagement, your eagerness to learn, and your openness to new information. It helps you grasp information better, challenge assumptions, and ultimately, find better solutions. So next time you have a question, don’t hold back! Your curiosity might just unlock a world of possibilities, both personally and professionally. After all, life is short. Let’s embrace open discussions and learn from each other, just like my daughter is learning at her school!

    Image source – Photo by willsantt: https://www.pexels.com/photo/child-holding-clear-glass-jar-with-yellow-light-2026960/

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