Q&A with Swamiji – 8

Q. You know, this whole startup ecosystem has been in the limelight in India. There is this nomenclature that “Education plays a pivotal role in the success of a Start-up”. What are your thoughts on that?

Ans. When we hire somebody, or when Start-ups hire executives or people, they obviously look for good resumes, where Education plays a role. But, as far as founders go, I am not saying that without Education you can’t make it. In fact, Education of today is designed in a way to make us think in very ordinary terms. We are programmed to work very calculative, when we are educated, because there’s too much to lose. When you are educated, there is social pressure of doing certain things a certain way, and the moment you complete your degree, they say, “Oh! What is your package, what did you get?”, “Oh! My friend got 40 Lakhs, you got only 4 Lakhs!!!”, and things like that. So, we are constantly made to feel inadequate.

The whole Education system worldwide is designed to turn average thinkers. It’s to smoothen the edges so to speak, so that nobody jumps out! I mean, this is industrialised thinking. The current Education system we have, was shaped by the Industrial world. The Indian system of Gurukul looked very different. Back then, you would spend time with the Guru for 12 years. They would teach you different things, and then, they would say, “Okay, now you want to learn Dhanur-Vidya (The Art of Archery)”, for example, “I am not specialist in that. For that, you will have to go to somebody else”. But, today’s education system is very different! Either way, what matters in a Start-up, “Are you building it because you want to make a lot of money? Or are you building it because you really believe it to be a life-changing idea?”.

Q. Indian Scriptures are very circular (very contextual) in nature , as opposed to the Bible which is linear in nature! Why do you think it is like that?

Ans. Okay, so should I give a circular answer, or a linear one? (Laughter). I think it’s open to interpretation, but still. When you are telling a single story, it’s going to be linear. And first of all, I personally do not think that the Holy Bible is linear. Now, when you are talking about a philosophy, it’s never going to be linear. You could read some of the great philosophies, and you would think Bhagavad Gita is linear. So, it depends on what you are reading, and how much you have read. So, speaking of Scriptures, Vedas have Stutis (Hymns/Eulogies) in them, and then you have Gyaan Khand (Knowledge Section) of 15000 verses, and 5000 verses of Sadhana. You read Atharva Veda, there is no circular thing in it. Context is always there in some way, but not in the sense that only this is the context. 

If Krishna is saying to Arjuna, it’s not only in the context of that war, He is making a declaration! 

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थित: |
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च || 

O Arjuna, I am seated in the heart of all living entities. I am the beginning, middle, and end of all beings.

He is not saying in some context that look I am the soul dwelling in all, rather, He is making a proclamation!

Credits : Thank you Meera mam, for sharing this video.

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