Acharya Mahapragya Blog
The following post is based on Acharya Shree’s book karya kaushal ke sootra
One of the most important principles of skill in action is emotional balance. I once came across a book written by a professor of Harvard University - “Emotional Intelligence”. The author performed many surveys and experiments and concluded that the ones with less educational qualification but a high level of emotional balance are heads of organisations. While highly educated people who have a low level of emotional balance are the ones working under the former.
This means education is just one parameter. In addition to intelligence, one’s emotional intelligence is also considered while hiring.
If one’s emotions are too volatile, neither anybody can stay near them nor they can stay near anyone. There is no question of skillful work when one’s emotions are volatile. The most conducive state is when one is able to work along with others and others are able to work along with them.
The kingdom of emotions is huge. We’ll focus on a few aspects. The first principle of emotional intelligence is the development of endurance or tolerance. Only one who knows how to bear with others can be skillful in his actions. Only he can take others along with him/her. The one who cannot endure can neither walk himself nor can he take others along with him.
One day, Acharya Tulsi said - Nobody has to endure as much as the Acharya. A skillful Acharya (ie the head of munis) is one who has kshamta (ie ability), mamta (ie mine-ness), and samta(ie equanimity). One must have endurance, love, and a neutral view point while working to become an acharya.
The one who cannot tolerate people who are near him and people below his position, he cannot be skillful. In the camps of Prekshadhyan, tolerance is contemplated after meditation sessions. Through contemplation, tolerance can be developed. Some people have a natural ability to tolerate while some don’t. But, with practice, the ability to tolerate can be developed.
A person who has learnt to tolerate is indeed very skillful. He knows when to speak and when not to speak. For instance if a colleague or family member is angry, at that time one must keep silence and must be able to tolerate the other person’s anger. If instead one also reacts in anger, the situation can worsen.
The second quality we must inculcate within ourselves is that of the ability to adjust. Once I was sitting in a room where a window was being installed. The labourer would make a latch, try fitting it, and if that didn’t fit, would keep making efforts through wood cutting. I observed - so many efforts need to be put in order to fit a non-existent thing. For a living being to fit in, the difficulty level is more. But, if one knows how to adjust or harmonize, they can stay with two more people and even a hundred. The ability to establish harmony is an important key for emotional intelligence.
The third important quality is focus. A scientist wrote 900 scientific papers. But, could not complete even one. Somebody commented - if he had completed even one paper, he could have been a great scientist of his times.
Many people face the same difficulty. One day, they say they’ll start this business and after few days, they change their mind and venture on to another. One cannot be skillful when one is not focused. If we take one problem and invest months to solve it, eventually the problem will be solved.
The question is, how does one develop focus?
The practice of prekshadhyan which includes the practice of deergha shwaas results in an increase in focus. After attending meditation camps, one must gauge their degree of focus. Has it improved or not? Results should be measures. Efforts alone do not hold any meaning.
There has been a worldwide reflection on the principles of skillful work. Many principles have come into the picture. We must take them into account as well. What we get out of practising Prekshadhyan is also important. Reaping the benefits of the practice can help us immensely to become skillful in our behaviour and work.