Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leadership: Insights from Anvikshiki

The first chapter of the Arthashastra, called Anvikshiki, serves as the foundation for strategic thinking. It integrates the principles of Sankhya (systematic analysis and calculation), Yoga (the integration of wisdom and action), and Lokayata (pragmatism and realism), offering a comprehensive approach to decision-making and leadership.

Here are key takeaways for leaders based on the principles of Anvikshiki:

Evaluate Risks and Rewards (Sankhya):
Sankhya emphasizes logical analysis and breaking down complex situations into their essential components. It helps leaders evaluate potential outcomes and make informed decisions based on calculated risks and rewards.
• Action: Use Sankhya to assess risks and rewards systematically.
• Question: What are the best and worst outcomes?

⚖️ Balance Practicality and Ethics (Dharma and Artha)
Sankhya also encourages a balance between material gains (artha) and ethical values (dharma). Leaders must navigate both practical needs and moral considerations to make balanced decisions.
• Action: Ensure decisions align with both artha (benefit) and dharma (righteousness).
• Question: Does this decision uphold ethical principles while achieving practical results?

Wisdom and Calmness (Yoga) :
Yoga refers to the union of intellect and action, ensuring that wisdom is applied thoughtfully and effectively. It teaches leaders to remain calm, balanced, and focused under pressure.
• Action: Practice Yoga by staying balanced and acting when all factors align.
• Question: How can I integrate wisdom with effective action?

Pragmatism and Realism (Lokayata):
Lokayata encourages a realistic, practical approach to decision-making. Leaders must be grounded in tangible outcomes and avoid idealism, focusing on what is achievable.
• Action: Apply Lokayata to stay grounded and results-oriented.
• Question: What is the most realistic solution to this challenge?
By applying Sankhya, Yoga, and Lokayata, leaders can make informed, ethical, and effective decisions.


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Mindfulness

 

Mindfulness is defined as the act of present focused conciousness  comprised of awareness and attention (Brown & Ryan 2003).

Mindfulness has shown to be effective in promoting resilience and well being, reducing stress and treating mental and physical health issues like depression, anxiety and chronic pain.

Mindfulness is intended to help you learn to observe yourself and the world around you in an open, nonjudgmental way.  Mindfulness often focuses on increasing calmness, awareness of your own thoughts, emotions and experiences in the moment.

When we practice mindfulness we tend to watch the world with curiosity rather than judgment. You can strengthen the part of your brain that manages your emotions and decrease the neurological “fight or flight” response that can cause anxiety.

Mindful practices involves breathing deeply and engaging in physical activity such as stretching or yoga, they can decrease bodily tension and physical stress.

There are two types of mindfulness practice

1. Formal practice. 'Sitting' with Mindfulness.

2. Informal practice is practcing Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Bringing Mindfulness into your daily life activities, work, home, relationships, etc.

When we think of past we get stressed.  When we think of future we become anxious.  At this moment, we feel safe and comfortable since our brain is in control of the situation.  Hence this moment is called present.

The attention is managed by prefrontal cortex, the part of brain which is right behind the third eye frontal cortex we can improve the functions of amygdala which releases stress hormone.

Mindfulness is the easiest and fast way to well being.

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The Words Have Power

 

In day we use about 200-300 words, and we repeat many of them and if we look at the top 10 Words what we use, we will know whether you are optimistic or pessimistic. 

We have to deliberately chose the words. Lets select motivating and encouraging words, whether you talk to others or to yourself. Our pattern of conversation and self talk has developed over years due to influence under which we have grown up. We believe what we repeatedly hear, and this becomes our thought pattern. Unfortunately, these patterns are set when we are children itself, and we never change or challenge them. Subsequently this become our reality and we continue to speak and behave based on the same thought process. 

What is important is your conscious self-talk often filters through and becomes your unconscious self-talk. When this happens, often times you ‘literally‘ speak without putting in much thought.

When you don’t shift your conscious mind to think and say things that are different, your unconscious mind will automatically assume you want more of the same – recurring negative thought patterns to focus your attention on. 

A lot of people get used to functioning in the negative rather than focusing on the positive because to do the alternative would mean they’d have to work at shifting their mind set. Shifting your mindset means you have to do some work and even doing this kind of “work” for monitoring your self-talk might appear to be too cumbersome for most. 

This focus on negative self-talk is the seed for many of the excuses we make to not change. You get comfortable living with the reasons why you can’t do something. But the fact is “you can” it’s just work and well… excuses are easier and keep you in your “comfort zone” even if your self-talk “excuse” is detrimental to your health and well-being. So when you say something and wonder why the heck you said it, especially since you really didn’t want to, you can attribute it to your past and unchallenged unconscious mental scripts.

Today after meeting my friends, i was very sad since i said something, which i think shouldn't have said. this is why i started writing this post.

Remember, thoughts become things! Your spoken and/or unspoken words have the ability to create, destroy or keep things at status quo. It’s up to you to determine if you truly want lasting change. 

The goal is to create a new mindset or appreciation for the way you’ll think about things. 

As a first step to change certain negative words which has created a certain thinking pattern, you can use the following method: 

Step 1 : identify a few negative words which you commonly use and write them down 

Step 2 : Try to recall the instance you used these words and felt bad 

Step 3 : Commit to yourself that you will not use these words and burn them.

Repeat the above a few time and this will help you to shift your mindset / perception.

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The new beginning

 

Rituals

Wake up in the morning, feel the gratitude that you are hale and hearty and you have stepped into  a new life from today onwards. The life we dream, just does not happen, we have to create it.  And we are very lucky that we are very much in control of it. 

The process of creating a dream life begins with a journal.  Why is script so important in the process of manifestation? Script is the first step to manifestation since we are bringing out into the world which was once an imagination.  Eg. You cannot live in a house which is in your dreams.  The first step is to create a drawing of the house. When you start doing this you will start thinking in detail every aspect of it, you will be more clear about what really appeals to you.  By doing this you have emptied that part of the brain which was engaged in storing these ideas and wishes.  Now our brain can use that part to find ways to manifest the dream house. The same thing applies everywhere.  We have to see things clearly to proceed further.  Writing helps us to do that.

Step 1 : Make a journal . 

            Start by writing : "Thank you universe for opening this portal for us"            

            write all what you want in that journal. Write each and everything.

            Eg : I want a big house,  good farm house, personal, professional, travel, relationships, etc.

Step 2: Go through the list and  highlight what you want to do most or which are priority 

            From this list identify the most important 3 things and write it down in a paper

            hold that paper close to the heart and feel the same way how you will feel when you have that.

Note : There should not be any negative words. Do not write against anyone. Read these goals morning and evening. Display it in a place you will see this many times a day. 

5 sample statement : 

Relationship : My intention moving forward is to open my heart to loved ones and to experience beautiful memories which I create with them.

Health : My intention moving forward is to give permission to play feel young.  Full of energy and happy and healthy.

Business :  MY intention moving forward is to set up another company and  to see that the sales are high and also to see that  all employees and the people are happy and celebrating the achievement of my company.

I will  continue to my blogging.  Many times I felt I have not posted the article because I felt that the article is not good.  but if I would have completed and posted it, I will definitely feel better. and only practice makes a person perfect. Hence I have decided to complete what ever I do and post it.

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OMG!!!!.....I made a mistake

Not a day has gone by without the thought

about the mistakes i made in last few decades

Mistakes by itself are not really bad

and is also unavoidable in the path of a lad

Mistakes makes you think and grow

mistake also gives life various shades

Mistakes sometimes gets sweeter with time

Mistakes also leaves few scars that never fades

some of the mistakes we cannot ignore

on which we stumble and fall

and these makes your tears tumbling down

also worsen your state with an agonizing pain

There are some mistakes we don't regret

These are mistakes from which we will never learn

These are mistakes we like to repeat

Because these are the mistakes thoughtfully made.

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Leaving things incomplete, always under construction

In fact today morning when I got up, I still had yesterday's mood lingering around.  So was still in bed even after past 8 am.  I was suppose to attend a satsang at my friends place but I was not ready hence dropped it.  I had a strong urge to go to the beach but could not go because of the sun. The mind was not still.  It lacked the calmness.  So i thought of posting a blog. As I was scanning the room my eyes stopped at the below painting.  My memory immediately took a U turn and returned to the past which inspired me to create that painting.  This was a photograph of a tehelka reporter.  At that time Tehelka was always in the news for their investigative journalism.  So was it the tehelka or was the photograph itself which attracted me, I really do not know.

Once again, i had moved on before I completed it.  So this also remained incomplete.

I always feel I leave everything I start incomplete.  If you ask me whether its good, my answer would be fully a confused one.  Definitely it is not an encouraging habit.  But I think this nature of mine makes me very fluid, and helps me to spring back into action after any set back.

I have the nature of a vagabond. Are these characteristics of mine due to lack of commitment, or is it lack of passion to be perfect?  Is this making my life interesting or is it sabotaging my growth? I leave it until I find someone who can answer these.

Meanwhile, i am sharing a few lines I had penned yesterday.

The Vagabond

I want to break away, away from all attachments,
attachments that pull me down, down to the lanes totally unknown,
Unknown terrain that is full of darkness, darkness which made me fall.

Fall not once but many times, time and again I try to get up and walk
walk and try to move ahead, move ahead being more aware of the mistakes i make
Making my way through, through the twists and turns.

A turn that finally lead me to light, light even though fairly dim,
dim due to the grime of the past, which was not so pleasant,
pleasant was the word I was seeking , seeking through the days of my life.

Life has been a lot kind to be of-late, of-late I could let myself a bit free
fee from all entangles of my life, life which I want to create to cherish
cherish the newly fond memories, memories which i want to create

Create with lot of love and being aware, aware of being myself and being alone
alone get lost in the beauty of nature, nature in which i move like a vagabond
A vagabond who takes each day as it comes, since each day brings a new experience.

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Be that mom of antient time

When it comes to family and being a mother being sophisticated does not work.  I feel being a naive mother, who just prey sincerely for the family who prepares food with lot of love an care will be the best bet. Who checks for the kids wished goes out of way to keep them happy will be voted the best.

Trying to follow our old traditions when ever possible will keep the kids grounded. and will give the a lot of psychological strength to deal with all other forces.  we need to do a lot of more work at this time since the influence on the children at this point of time is more than any other time.

Today I just came to know that Louis Hey has passed away on August 30th.  Thats sad.

I came across a new writter Joe vitale.  i want to read his books.

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