I was thinking about the change happening around us on a daily basis. On a lighter side – roads of Mumbai with so many potholes. Well, on a serious note the economic situation in USA, changing thought process of middle class Indian etc etc. Keeping so many thought aside and together what I was thinking to write is about the middle path suggested by the Buddha.
I believe the challenge economies are facing and have faced are because of their lopsided strong stance. USSR failed (various reasons) one reason was strong rooted socialism. USA is facing great challenges one reason – blind faith in capitalism. I see the good part of Indian economy is balance between socialism and capitalism e.g. public private partnership. The message I see is – there has to be a balance. The balance is needed on various fronts such as the one I suggested earlier e.g. controlled aggression in earlier blog on Balancing Act.
When I think about following the middle path, I see many avenues for the same in our daily life, in our profession. Think of emotion and logic there has to be a balance. If one is too passionate about something, it may turn into obsession which may be harmful. There is a thin line difference between being a Courageous person and being a foolhardy. Balance between work and life. There are various personality type that need balancing.
Further, I thought about Prof Lopez and my class of Marketing and his advise to me. I realized – what is required is an accountability when any Marketing activity is pursued. I heard someone saying that Marketing is a bottomless pit. Now – and in the future – there would be a great demand and pressure on Marketing departments for controlling the expenses and achieving the results e.g. Return On Marketing Investments (ROMI). This would require a balance between Marketing analytics and creativity. Message should be conveyed creatively yet keeping the returns expected and doing a first hand analytical research on the ROMI.
Net net, we have to follow or learn to follow the middle path – economies, Governments, businesses, society and individuals. Isn’t it?
Related blogs – Irony! Balancing Act and Cause…
14 Comments
Rummuser · August 17, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Pravin, I only wish that India would follow any path. Any, that is right. We seem to be completely adrift now.
Mahavir · August 20, 2011 at 5:35 am
The path to overcome the ills of capitalism and socialism is also filled with potholes, just like the streets of Mumbai. Spirituality can fill these potholes with peace and make the world run smoother.
KRD Pravin · August 23, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Dear Mahavir, You are right the spirituality (and not any dogmatic set of belief in any religion – read including Buddhism too) is the answer to the imbalance we see… Middle path is something which could bring balance in societies world over.
Tarun K. Kushwaha · December 9, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@Rummuser: I somehow beg to differ on this thought of yours. India being adrift is a past of 80s. It took USA to become USA about 150 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. And it was super power after WW I. Even after it was proclaimed to be a super power Ronald Reagan had to make bridges and roads to nowhere to give employment to his fellow country mates in 1930s. Indian economy is an elephant which is wading through the world economic situation drawing power from the strong “Middle Class” muscle and having dog(ma)s of corruption barking around it.
@Pravin: Very Well penned down. The middle path that you have mentioned here is though a very thin path and followers of the path are often bogged down by the extremes on both the sides.
KRD Pravin · December 10, 2011 at 2:13 am
@Tarun – Dear Tarun, Thank you so much for your thoughts and inputs. Just one correction, President of USA during 1930s (Generation of Rummuser) was ‘Franklin Delano Roosevelt’ Regan was President during down turn of 1980’s (Generation of you and me).
Tarun K Kushwaha · December 10, 2011 at 2:23 am
@Pravin – As always I stand corrected when you remind me of history, will surely remember it this time…forgive my ignorance…I would like you to focus on the bridge to nowhere overlooking president “Regan” blunder
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