SELF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF SPIRITUALITY AND A PRACTICAL APPROACH Sponsored by Uka Tarsadia University, Maliba Campus Inaugural Session Facilitated by Faculty Version Varadarajan Kannan Class 3 – Values II December Speech by Dr. Elizabeth Denley

Welcome and Reminders Greetings How is the quiet time coming along? Diary Writing How many were able to read the books Jonathan Livingston Seagull The Prophet Any of Swami Vivekanand’s works Any of O Henry’s short stories Recap of last week Values based on Goal What, how to set, change and align Can Values be taught? Behaviour based on values Reflective behaviour Your answers

Results of your exercise List top Goal, Value and Behaviour achieve educational/professional success Goal 34% good / contented human being Goal21% hard work/ discipline/patience/knowledge Value 36% being positive and happiness/love Value 14% hardworking/punctual/confident/discipline Behaviour 30% simple /loving /helpful/kind/polite/caring Behaviour 19%

Key Question? What are the principles that should guide us when we create our Goals and Values? The answer lies in the understanding of what is important – Ambition or Aspiration

Principles to help us with goals and values 1. Decide based on what is good vs what is pleasant? What is good is a value and what is pleasant is entertainment Reading for the exam vs spending time with friends Exercising vs indulging Being Patient vs being lazy 2. What helps inner growth is of value Sincerity, Humility vs Winning at any cost and being self righteous and arrogant Reading, Contemplation, Introspection, Meditation, Helping Seeking importance, showing off and looking for attention 3. Prioritize based on the needs of your Soul, Mind and Body Prayer, Reading, Meditating Cooking, Exercising, Watching TV

Speech by Dr. Elizabeth Denley VALUES PART II “THE NEED TO RECOGNIZE AND FOLLOW THE UNIVERSAL VALUES” RELEVANCE OF VALUES IN PERSONAL, FAMILY, SOCIAL AND BUSINESS LIFE.

The Need to Recognise and Follow Universal Values

Values are the principles by which we live. Based on our values, we all make choices in our day-to-day lives. Sow a thought, you reap an act Sow an act, you reap a habit Sow a habit, you reap a character Sow a character, you reap a destiny

What are the principles by which we live? What are the values we consider important in our families, our university, our society and our global community? [recollect what you did last week]

Question: How do I rank myself on a scale of 0 to 10 as a role model of living values for my students and family? Where 0 is ‘not at all - zero’ and 10 is ‘perfect’.

Are values eternal – or specific for an era in human history? Are values universal, or restricted to particular societies?

In values education, we progress in the direction from more complex, artificial, human-made values to natural values. Becoming simpler More natural Towards harmony, peace and inner happiness; towards spirituality

Becoming lighter, subtler and simpler SamskarasTendencies

Cultural, family, social, personal values etc Common human values Natural, spiritual values

Simplifying values “You have all heard the story of the African people some centuries ago, for whom a diamond had no value. For them it was a bit of stone. Corn was of much more value and importance in their life. You have also heard of postage stamps, worth half a penny when they were issued, and today like the penny black worth two million pounds or something ridiculously expensive. When a man is starving and dying of thirst in the desert, he will give everything for a glass of water.”

“Some things are valuable - corn for the African, rice for the Indian, wheat for the European, water for all of us, and air for all of us. What is essential to life? We can live without food for forty days, without water for perhaps three-four days. Without air, for a few minutes. Without the life force we know as the soul or inner Self, for not one billionth of a second. “Today we have lost perspective - to get diamonds, we have polluted our water and air. “Will we have diamonds and gold, but no life?”

Rishis, Saints and Masters from pre-Vedic times to 21 st C Lord Ram and Lord Krishna Eightfold Path of the Buddha Patanjali’s Eightfold Path of Yoga, including yama and niyama How are we living this wisdom today? Experience versus knowledge

21 st Century India Being Indian – Pavan Varma, 2005: 200 million remain desperately poor Illiteracy rates high Communal violence widespread Corruption endemic Female infanticide and dowry burnings common Caste prejudice Valuing material success and wealth above inner wealth Contrast this with the above traditions of India!

Our Current World “Capitalism does not work anymore. It brought us an unparalleled standard of living, but it is destroying our quality of life. It is destroying the planet, which we all share. … “Our resources are fixed. As we consume more, the planet is becoming depleted. …

Our Current World “Who is at fault? I believe that our business schools within academia are one of the main culprits. What are they doing? “They are training thousands, if not millions, of today's business leaders around the world. Their credo is a straightforward one: the future lies in the hands of corporate leaders who can design the best business models geared to maximising profits. “Business schools are ‘the swamps that breed the mosquitoes that carry the life threatening malaria.’ “What can we do?

Our Current World “First, we need to change business education. “Then, we need to change our economic theory, which bases itself exclusively on mathematical value-free models. “And, finally, we need to train future and present leaders to be professionals who understand the importance of limits. Who recognise that limits are driven by values, not by numbers.

Our Current World “Take medical schools. What are medical doctors trained to do? To follow the Hippocratic oath, including ‘do no harm’. “A medical doctor can maximize profits by prescribing unnecessary surgeries. Unnecessary repetitive visits. But a ‘professional’ no harm doctor will focus on the health of patients rather than on profits. … “A professional doctor does not want to be bankrupt. However, his focus should be the welfare of the patient. …

Our Current World “The world is marching over the cliff. To a disaster. “How the engines are aligned is driving the planet boat to a disaster. “The calamities we are experiencing at present and increasingly in the future are not just economic. Or just social. They are systemic. “Our world today, and increasingly so tomorrow, is far too complex and interdependent. …

Our Current World “… it calls for a paradigm change. Change in thinking. Major change in values. “Paradigms change with a crisis. And for a major paradigm shift, we need a major wake up crisis. And it is coming.” Dr Ichak Adizes – business consultant to governments and large corporations

Living Values Is it enough to know about values? How can we live them?

‘Living’ values every day Think of a recent example when you were intolerant or impatient with someone. How did the other person feel at the time? How did you feel? First introspect, write in your diary and then share your reflections with a partner.

Question: What could I have done differently so that as to be tolerant, patient and helpful? I give up prejudice I learn to listen to others I am patient I develop humility I do not need to change others I let my anger pass I relax and let go I don’t have to justify I accept to broaden my vision I treat others as I want them to treat me I transcend jealousy I accept another’s intolerance I let others be different from me I will not exclude others I speak with softness, care and balance I take the time to understand

‘Living’ values every day “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Victor Hugo “This is the sum of all true righteousness: deal with others as thou wouldst thyself be dealt by. Do nothing to thy neighbour which thou wouldst not have him do to thee hereafter.” Mahabharata

Ethical dilemmas An example: You have discovered that a student has cheated in some examinations in order to graduate and get a job, so that he can support his family. The family is very poor. He is a very bright and capable student. You are the only person who knows. Questions: What thoughts do I have? What do I do? What values do I consider? What values do I ignore?

At Uka Tarsadia University Questions: What standards do I set for the students? What three things do I want to change so that I am a better role model?

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” Mahatma Gandhi

In Closing Continue to take time for yourself – Morning and evening for about 10 minute of quiet.. Same place, same time Turn in your feedback Suggested books for this week – On demand Next week we have a speaker. Dr. K.S. Balasubramanian from Chennai. He will speak on “God, Self and Ultimate goal of yoga” Ashtanga Yoga, Brief Introduction to various types of yoga such as Raja, Karma, Gnana and Bakti Yoga, Yoga and Self Development.