Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-25): Leadership That Governs for Success

Hi,
A leader has an important role to play for the success of any organization. The way he governs himself and his organization is critical for it survival and growth.  Good governance is a must if you want to build your organization in a sustainable manner. Valmiki describes in Ramayana in detail what Rama thinks about good governance.

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Leadership That Governs for Success

When Bharata went to the forest, met his elder brother Rama there, fell at his feet, and sought his forgiveness, Rama lifted him, embraced him, kissed him on his head, and inquired from Bharata various things including the way the kingdom was governed as given below:

1.  Are you discussing the matters of governance with the ministers?

2.  There may be no loss if a thousand fools are allowed to leave. But not even one person of wisdom should be made to leave. It is enough if there is one minister who has good knowledge, character, and courage. It’s all progress for the king.

3.  You should secretly monitor the people handling critical roles & responsibilities.

4.  You must also note whether the ministers are obedient and loyal to you always.

5.  The General should be brave, intelligent, and loyal to the king.

6.  Are you giving good food and right salary in a timely manner to the army? Hope there is no delay. If the salaries and other benefits are delayed, they will be troubled. Gradually, they develop a negative opinion about the king. And, that will lead to a disaster.

7.  Have you employed right people as messengers & secret agents only after testing whether they have the requisite qualities? 

8.  You must keep an eye on the kings who lost the battles with you.

9.  Every day, you must appear before your people well dressed.

10.Though the king has all the rights on his kingdom, he doesn’t have the freedom to live the way he likes. He should live like a role model. He should have discipline in practicing the rules and regulations. He can’t show excuses to break the rules. Only truth should be the foundations for the power to rule.

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Rama Rajyam! Yes it is possible. Let us understand and emulate the true qualities of a leader. It is this kind of leadership that governs and builds the organizations to last forever. 

With love and regards,

Siva

Unstoppable Updates (19) Happy Srirama Navami!

Hi,

Today is Srirama Navami! Rama and Sita were married on this day - Chaitra maasam, shukla paksham, navami tidhi.  Their marriage is performed and celebrated today in the temples of Rama. Let me take this opportunity to share with you the story of this divine wedding.

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The Divine Wedding of Rama and Sita

In treta yuga, when King Janaka of the kingdom of Mithila was preparing his land for a yaaga, he found a box with a baby girl in it. He brought her home, named her Sita, and brought her up as his daughter. When she reached the age of marriage, in order to find a prince worthy of her, he proclaimed that Sita would be given in marriage to the prince who could lift, bend, and string the bow of Siva which no ordinary man could ever do. 

Many princes who had heard of Sita’s beauty went to Mithila, but failed to move the bow and returned disappointed. None could fulfil the condition of Janaka. However, led by saint Viswaamitra, Rama went to Mithila, lifted the bow effortlessly, bent it, strung it, and drew the string with such a force that the mighty bow broke into pieces.

At the appointed hour on this day of navami during shukla paksham in the month of chaitra, Rama married Sita.

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The Ramayana slokas from 77.28 to 77.30 explain the love and affection between the divine couple Rama and Sita in a beautiful manner as presented below

रामः च सीतया सार्धम् विजहार बहून् ऋतून् || 77:28
मनस्वी तद् गतमानस्य तस्या हृदि समर्पितः |

 raamatsu sitaaya saardham vijahaara bahoontritoon I

manasvee tadgatamaanasya tasyaa hridi samarpititah II

Sita’s heart was completely filled with Rama. And in the whole of the heart of Rama, only Sita was there. (They gave their hearts to each other.) Thus, they lived happily with love for each other for a very ling time.

प्रिया तु सीता रामस्य दाराः पितृ कृता इति || 77:29
गुणात् रूप गुणात् च अपि प्रीतिः भूयो अभिवर्धते |

priya tu sita raamasya daaraah pitrukritaa iti I

gunaadroopagunaachchaapi preetirbhooyobhavardhate II

As she was the bride approved by his father, Rama developed love for her. And, because of her loveliness, beauty, and character, that love of Rama for Sita multiplied manifold.

तस्याः च भर्ता द्विगुणम् हृदये परिवर्तते || 77:30

अन्तर् गतम् अपि व्यक्तम् आख्याति हृदयम् हृदा |

tasyascha bhartaa drigunam hridaye parivartate I

antargatamapi vyaktam aakhyaati hridayam hridaa II

Just because of one reason that he was her husband, Sita had love for Rama twice that of what he had for her. That love was so much that they used to speak with each other through their hearts.

That means what ever the love Rama had for Sita, she had double that of it for him. And Rama had double that of it for Sita. Their love for each other is beyond the reach of any words. 

With love and regards,

Siva

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B Sivaprasad

Corporate Trainer and Motivational Speaker

eMail: value4value@gmail.com

Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-24): The Becoming of a True Brother

Hi,
A brother is a god’s gift to anyone and everyone. He is a sibling who has a sense of belonging to you. He loves you. He is your first friend who is there for you in need and also always. The relationship between Rama and Lakshmana is a fine example of a true brotherhood. 

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The Becoming of a True Brother

The preparations were in full swing to crown the prince Rama as the king of Ayodhya. However, his stepmother Kaikeyi had other plans. She wanted her son Bharata to be crowned as a King instead. And she reminded her husband king Dasaratha the promises he had earlier made to her and demanded what she wanted.

Accordingly in order to fulfil the promises of his father, Rama agreed to leave the kingdom to go and live in the forest for 14 years. But Lakshmana also wanted to leave the kingdom and go along with his brother Rama to live in the forest, though it was not a part of Kaikeyi’s wish. As they were about to leave, Lakshmana went to his mother Sumitra, touched her feet, and sought her blessings. She took him into her hands and told him, “My dear son, from this day onward, Rama is the father for you. Your sister-in-law Sita is the mother for you. The forest itself is your Ayodhya. Live there happily. Take good care of your brother Rama without any negligence.

And, he left the kingdom and all the riches and pleasures of it to go and live with his brother Rama in the forest for the next 14 years.

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What a brother Lakshmana is! What a mother Sumitra is! How great the words of a mother she spoke are! How nice if every brother treats his elder brother like his father and his sister-in-law like his mother! Also, how sweet it is when the elder feels himself as a parent and treats his younger brother like a son! And that is the becoming of a true brother. Let there be true brotherhood in every home.    

With love and regards,

Siva

Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-23): How do you look at your setbacks? Boon or a bane?

Hi,

Hit by a failure in an exam and down with a disappointment? Lost your sales because of a bad season and shattered your confidence? Bruised your leg in an accident and suffered the trauma? Have you ever thought and considered looking at such apparent handicaps and setbacks as strengths and stepping stones for your success? Take a look at this story of Hanuman and his name..

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How do you look at your setbacks? Boon or a bane?

How did Hanuman get his name – Hanuman? When Hanuman was a child, believing the sun to be a ripe fruit, he flew towards the sun in pursuit of reaching it and eating it. Indra, the king of devas, heard about the adventure of Hanuman and wanted to prevent him from reaching the sun. He threw a powerful weapon (vajraayudha) at Hanuman, which struck Hanuman on his left jaw that left a permanent mark on it. Thus Hanuman received the name - Hanuman. In Sanskrit the word ‘hanu’ means ‘jaw’ and ‘man’ or ‘mant’ means "disfigured". As his jaw was distorted and disfigured, he is called Hanuman.

However, as Hanuman’s father vayu was annoyed with Indra’s attack on the child Hanuman, he withdrew all of the air in the universe which forced several of the devas including Indra run not only to rescue and revive Hanuman back to life and but also to bless him with multiple boons that made Hanuman very powerful.

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A name to reflect and showcase a defect!! Yes, it is true. Hanuman is a name that highlights an apparent defect. But that defect is what that eventually resulted in several boons and multiple powers for Hanuman.

The Japanese know this art of making the broken things more precious called kintsugi or kintsukuroi, which means ‘to repair with gold.’ When they mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. Believing that the piece is more beautiful for having been broke, they fill the cracks with gold that not only restores functionality to a broken vessel but also adds beauty and worth. It turns brokenness into the most valuable part of the piece. YES, setbacks are not setbacks, and neither the handicaps. They are a boon, if only you believe in them so.

With love and regards,
Siva

Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-22): Let the decisions be well thought-out

Hi,

Decision making is a skill we need for our success in life. How should we take decisions especially when dealing with tasks of great importance and maximum impact? Should we seek opinions of others, respect them, analyze them, and then decide? Or become emotional and take momentary decisions? What do good leaders do when it comes to decision making?

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Let the decisions be well thought-out

When Hanuman returned from Lanka with the news of Sita Devi, He told Rama, “The only thing you have to think about now is how these vaanaras in such large numbers can cross the ocean. Once they reach Lanka, they will destroy it. And, no one can stop your victory.” Rama also felt that the task of building a bridge of a thousand yojanas in length and 10 yojanas in width across the ocean was indeed gigantic.

So, he discussed the matter with Vibhishana, who advised him to take the help of Samudra, the ocean god. When Rama approached Samudra, he advised him, “Rama, you have in your army Nala, the son of Viswakarma. He knows the art of building a bridge on an ocean. Ask him to build it, I will support it.”

Nala built it in only 5 days just by using the uprooted trees & mountain rocks as building materials and the enthusiasm of the vaanaras as the source of strength. Thus a beautiful bridge of a thousand yojanas was built to Lanka.

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A huge task was accomplished. Rama took the suggestions from Hanuman, Vibhishana, Samudra, Sugriva, and Nala. We are also required to make decisions, small or big, in order to accomplish tasks at home as well as at work on a daily basis. Let them be well thought-out.

With love and regards,

Siva

value4value@gmail.com

Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-21): Giving 'Freedom to Operate' is the key to peace and happiness

Hi,

It is again ordinary human nature to try to control the subordinates, treat them with authority, and influence their decisions. But, does that yield the team the desired results? Will it really work in the best interests of the team in the long run? What do great leaders and true heroes do when it comes to dealing with their people? They instead offer unconditional love and allow them to operate at their will.

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Giving ‘Freedom to Operate’ is the key to peace and happiness

In search of Sita Devi, Rama came to Kishkindha - the vanara kingdom, where he formed an alliance with Sugriva through the efforts of Hanuman. Rama would help Sugriva get the Vanara-kingdom back from the rival Vali and Sugriva would help Rama regain His missing wife Sita Devi.

When Rama was there in Kishkindha, the Vanaras roamed freely from one tree branch to another. They did not seem to be civilized. Though the Vanaras jumped on the branches above Him, Rama did not mind. He treated them like equals. He neither tried stopping them nor influencing their behavior. He instead saw his good friends in them, as they were part of his mission to locate and rescue Sita Devi. He showed endless love for them. And, part of that love included giving them the freedom to leave his association. He did not control their minds. He left the choice up to them. In the end, he led them and succeeded in locating Sita Devi and winning the war against Ravana. They always remained committed and loyal to him in the process, and he lived with peace and happiness.

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A tendency to control others may lead to unhappiness, especially when they don’t seem to be going according to your will. But, giving them the freedom to operate and to choose the way they would like to behave could make them more responsible and accountable to their actions.  In the process, they are more likely to learn the right path for themselves, and you have more chances of becoming less perturbed and more peaceful. 

With love and regards,

Siva