Business to the Buddha

Tag: Huffington Post

  • Has the time for this idea come?







    When I wrote Problem of top 5% blog I was little too concerned due to various reasons. One was, I – being a centralist – am not a good judge of the situation in completely capitalistic societies. Second was – I myself was at the center of the example. How can I judge myself. I may get biased was the very obvious possibility. I shared the draft with Prof Mankad, again various reasons. He knows me, he has lived in the US for many years, he is an economist etc. His response was –

    QUOTE# – The solution lies with top 5/10%. Regulators – teachers, principals – also bank on 10% and would not want to do anything to hurt them. (Refer to a very long article in Huffington* Post yesterday -26th Sept 2014 – on ‘culture’ at FED NY to ignore the trespasses of Goldman’s.)
    With current socioeconomic yardsticks of success, it will take time for the 10% to shed their arrogance. The society may attempt to generate a social consciousness to move away emphasis (not d-emphasise) top 10 %. Can we start with admissions to prime colleges? Take an honest, mathematically random system of selection of say 50 from top 500? Such a system would retain the academic standard and defuse the arrogance of top 50 and perhaps reduce the commercial exploitative practices of coaching classes.
    Same practice may be chosen in recruitment of employees. (And perhaps in selection of brides!) [that “bride” part a “late cut” – as Prof Mankad calls it 🙂 – on me]
    This would be revolutionary. Who will start the revolution? UNQUOTE

     

    So the possible solutions Prof Mankad suggested starts from the top. Top 5% or 10% need to shred their arrogance (read Problem of top 5% a figurative real life example of representing our society, economy and even schools).

    An interesting case happened recently in India. A Gujarat based Jeweler – Savji bhai – has gifted generously to his employees this Diwali. Apparently he is a standard 4th dropout! Mahatma Gandhi used to say what Prof Mankad suggested in his opinion – “…the wealth of the owners is distributed among the workers and when this situation is arrived at, only then would India grow in real terms…”

    According to reports Savji Bhai has given Diwali gifts based on a loyalty program, so even though he did not study typical “Employee Engagement” and “Loyalty Marketing” or any other jargon of an MBA. Additional interesting this is – he supports pilgrimage of his employees families, has made stadium in Surat.

    Just to conclude – Mahatma Gandhi said wealth distribution as the way for Swaraj, Top 5% are hoarding the wealth (reference Dr Joseph Stiglitz) and even Govts are afraid of top 5% so we have a creative solution which Savjibhai experimented with recently. Has the time for this idea come? Wish we see Business and the Buddha co-exist positively to make this world a better place to live and be enlightened.

    NDTV interview (I am yet to watch it though)

    Savjibhai in a brief speech (Gujarati) 2012 – when not many people knew him.

     

    Note –

    # The blog Problem of top 5% was published on 11th Oct, draft created was on 26-27th Sept. Prof Mankad shared his opinion on 27th Sept.

    * I read Huffington Post article which Dr Mankad referred, however currently not able to get that link, so here is related link – http://www.propublica.org/article/carmen-segarras-secret-recordings-from-inside-new-york-fed

  • Religion is poison







    Long time back I watched a movie Seven years in Tibet (book link Author – Heinrich Harrer). It was based on true story. In that movie after meeting the Dalai Lama Chinese representative makes a comment – “Religion is a poison” (Watch the video below).

    While watching the movie, I was shocked to hear this statement and was offended. Well, that time I did not start writing this blog, though I had reverence for the Buddha and the teachings of the Buddha. However, I knew this lessons even as a kid, when I had seen many religious violence, riots and subsequent curfews in my town (Dhar Madhya Pradesh). This lessons proves to be true historically and when we see what is happening in present day world. I intend to point at the Israel and Palestine conflict. I know when people will read this many will have their opinions. Here are two 5 min videos to give you different perspectives.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152299543033717&set=vb.19793423716&type=2&theater

    [in case video is not embedded Link]

    The other one

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=682855851805542&set=vb.518947111529751&type=2&theater

    [in case video is not embedded Link]

    Decision is yours to take sides. But I’ve realized – religion is poison. Religion is poison the way it’s preached & practiced now a days. One of my friends, Dhaval Thakar, suggested me to read a Huffington Post article before making my mind and opinion on the conflict – 7 Things to Consider Before Choosing Sides in the Middle East Conflict. A very relevant question is there in the post – why are we not questioning deaths happening in the attacks of ISIS and the killings during dictatorships of many rulers including – Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi et al. In fact there are conflicts all across the world – until we finish the weapons we have already made how can new weapons be sold? [Tweet “Until we finish the weapons we have already made how can new weapons be sold?”]

    The fanaticism we follow in the name of religion is really a poison. Now watch this movie directed by Vijay Raaz – “Kya dilli Kya Lahore” worth asking few questions.

    PS – at least I never heard the Buddha teaching killing, his one biggest lesson was compassion, besides meditation.