Some questions that strikes me are:

1. How did an authorless piece of work sustain thousands of years – across eons and ages?
2. The vastness of the literature indicates it to transcend one lifetime or even multiple lifetimes of the same period. Then this work must have been gathered across generation by individuals living in different periods, geographies etc. How is this conceivable in the land sans wiki’s?
3. Why was there no claim whatsoever in whole or in parts to the literature if they actually evolved over ages  -  surely enticing someone down the line to realise the potential of staking claim to such a masterpiece?
4. For what would so many individuals forsake such a claim?

The lack of ownership claims on this vast and eternal masterpiece(s) intrigues us today as much as it must have, for the hundreds of generation that lived before us.   One analogy that comes to my mind when I consider the above is this: While Newton can claim ownership over discovery of Gravity –he cannot claim ownership over gravity

What then these nameless authors came upon was discovery of the ‘Absolute / Eternal Truth’! And as they realised it all that was there in front of them was to share in all possible ways their experience with people around them – without staking their claim on the ‘Eternal Truth’ because doing so would render it instantaneously meaningless.

The answer is you have no control or decision with respect to the outcome of trusting. It is whether to trust or NOT; that remains the question. Be it personal/professional/ business or societal – this question always arise with respect to trusting. Almost all know that without trusting there is no relationship. We evaluate and make choices. Sometimes we are right and sometimes wrong. But the result is known only when we start ‘trusting’ .

If ‘experiment more’, ‘fail –often’ and ‘fail-early’ mantra is employed; we may understand what ‘trusting’ really is. But without ‘trusting’ life (which itself is an experiment) cannot be lived.. at least to its fullest.

So try it..get ready to be cheated/treated and learn what trusting is all about – TRY IT!

This book  by Steven Johnson is an atypical book under the category of Innovation/Business /Creativity. No review can substitute reading the book – so instead of a review I am sharing with you some of my best moments with the book .

This is one of those books where I found myself marking “WOW” many times across the margins. There were times I would close the book and set off into another world of thoughts guided by inquisitiveness that this book invoked in me. The joy of imagination is never attributed to the trigger. But here I want to share these triggers because experiences are personal.

The central premise of the book is best captured in the following sentences towards the end of the Introduction “We are often better served by connecting ideas than protecting them. Like the free market itself, the case for restricting the flow of innovation has long been buttressed by appeals to the “natural” order of things. But the truth is, when one looks at innovation in nature and in culture, environments that build walls around good ideas tend to be less innovative in the long run than more open-ended environments. Good ideas may not want to be free, but they do want to connect, fuse, recombine. They want to reinvent themselves by crossing conceptual borders. They want to complete each other as much as they want to compete.”

Good Ideas range from the most abstract scientific paradigms to pure artistic forms while also encompassing simple daily improvements. There are common properties across all these forms of creative pursuits – as there are also differences. Understanding the way in which these ‘innovators’ conceive, collaborate and innovate brings out some patterns which when recognized can lead us to being more creative.

Kleiber’s law, the 10/10 rule (a decade to build and a decade to find adoption), how it has become 1/1 rule, ideas coming from spare parts, importance of adjacencies, the beauty of carbon and its connection abilities, the proactive design of liquid networks which are meant to allow free flow of ideas, importance of hunches and allowing their evolution by writing them down, the inseparable link between reading and writing, serendipitous discoveries as a result of inter disciplinary exchanges, importance of exploring errors, the power of exaptation are just some of the points where I indulged myself to reading ecstasy. The story of the forest wetlands with beaver, woodpecker and songbirds was a WOW to understand the power of platforms.

To see the patterns in generation of ideas was amazing. What stunned me as I read was that we are moving towards a world of collaboration, free idea movement, interconnected and faster world. The power of connectedness and collaboration as explained in the book is simply superb!

The one thing that this book does NOT DO and for which I liked it that much more is that  there is no ‘To Do list’ or ‘exercises’ claiming to make you more creative. The book makes an earnest appeal to constantly tinker with what’s available so as to unlock possible doors. It leaves the control to the reader after making a strong case for being open, seeking collaboration and searching connections.

Apart from the feeling of constant WOW, I also found the following piece in the book to be a key takeaway:

“The patterns are simple, but followed together; they make for a whole that is wiser than the sum of its parts. Go for a walk; cultivate hunches; write everything down, but keep your folders messy; embrace serendipity; make generative mistakes; take on multiple hobbies; frequent coffeehouses and other liquid networks, follow the links; let others build on your ideas; borrow, recycle, re-invent. Build a tangled bank”

I enjoyed the journey with the book and I will strongly recommend this for anyone who is even remotely interested in creativity / innovation

When I participated in a panel discussion on the same subject the questions posed by these young minds were pointed and deep. Even during my intense two day workshop on business design the sustained level of motivation of students even towards the end of the second day surprised me. 

Why then is there so much discussion amongst the teaching and mentoring community about the need to motivate these students? What greater than this intrinsic motivation can we feed to this Gen-Y?

However it is also true that somewhere this enthusiasm in entrepreneurship is not getting translated into real action. What then is stopping this group from taking that bold step in becoming entrepreneurs? While a number of reasons such as lack of funds, experience etc.  can be readily sighted, I disagree by categorising the above as plain vanilla excuses.  Let me expound this further.

Anyone watching these youngsters will agree on one thing that this Gen-Y are not characterised by inaction.  Very often we have seen them go on to garner resources, support, funds, friends and tools that we thought were far beyond their reach. They have broken many of our accepted limits of performance and possibilities. They are innovative, motivated and result driven – however only on those things where they are convinced. When they decide the end is worth it – they have the drive to figure the means.

Today when you notice the effort in the ecosystem to expose the young minds to entrepreneurship – the energy we are expending is directed primarily at motivating and energizing them. The thrill of the journey is spoken more than the end result (achievement, contribution, wealth creation, recognition etc). Except for making feeble attempt at appealing to their emotions; we are not providing them with a strong enough case to pursue entrepreneurship.  This is where the weakness is.

In my view, the singular factor that can catalyze their jump to entrepreneurship is inspiration.  

Inspiration cannot be drawn only from the stories of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. They need to be shown Indian success stories of the likes of Narayana Murthy, Dhirubhai Ambani, Karsenbhai patel etc. But even more importantly they need to be exposed to the regional-local stories which may not yet be popular; but with whom the students would find easier to relate.

 Since these local entrepreneurs would have started and grown their enterprise amidst the same conditions and constraints – it will provide inspiration of the highest order.  When the students constantly listen to only examples from west and exceptions from India, their logical minds start weighing the possibility of success.

If one can inspire them with the thought that while it is fine for all to aspire to become Narayana Murthy, there are many business owners who have created profitable and sustainable socio-economic ecosystem – supporting multiple families, creating and sharing wealth in many planes right from their locality, who they can also become. All these examples are not for pure emulation – but to provide the needed inspiration at multiple levels. Inspiration then also needs to be sustained by constant interactions with such entrepreneurial minds. And this will be extremely powerful once again if they are local!

Once these young minds are inspired by the larger end – I am confident that they will work out the means to achieve it.

All our hopes for a stronger and younger entrepreneurial India can come ONLY if we start inspiring our already motivated Gen-Y. Do we actually have another choice?

Thought to have been composed over thousands of years, the Vedas are as per religious tradition considered to be created for the benefit of humanity by the supreme Being – ‘Brahman’. They contain within them the eternal truths and become manifest as per the need of the age.

Each of the Vedas is considered to be made of four distinct sections.

• ‘Mantras’ – the collection of hymns and prayers through which one can seek almost everything that is conceivable in the physical world from the numerous gods and goddesses.
• ‘Brahmana’ – collection of rituals, rules and details for performance of various sacrifices and conduct of yagnas.  It interprets the word of Mantras and how they are to be understood in the conduct of sacrifices.
• ‘Aranyaka’ – is the beginning of the purely spiritual elements of the Vedas, where one moves from the performance of sacrifices to understand and inquire about their context and meaning.
• ‘Upanishads’ – following the Aranyakas represents the repository of spirituality.  It is in Upanishads that one finds the inquiry into ultimate reality, where oneness of Atman and Brahman and the universal implications are recorded as seen by sages. The journey from Mantras to Aranyakas through Brahmana prepares the mortal mind to grasp this truth.

Upanishads – as sacred texts are called Vedanta – the end portions of the veda. Situated physically at the end of each Veda, they hold within them the eternal truth that is found by powerful internal inquiry, with the power to liberate us from bondage.

Upanishads poised at the end of each of the vedas propound the oneness of Atman and Brahman. Aitareya Upanisad of the Rigveda states “Prajnanam Brahma“ (The Brahman means realising the jnana that is the highest ),  ” Aham Brahmasmi” (I am the Brahman) is stated in the Brhadaranyaka Upanisad of the Yajurveda., “Tat tvam asi” (The Paramatman and you are the one and the same)  is from the Chandogya Upanisad of the samaveda and “Ayam Atma Brahma” (This Self is the Brahman”), is from the Mandukya Upanisad of the Atharvaveda.

The structuring of these ageless scriptures, all based on the concerted note of oneness is  a strong indication of the singular view of the universal truth. 

While trying to grasp and experience what is contained in these texts is akin to emptying ocean with our cupped palms ; every dip one takes, however brief – has a cleansing effect that is undeniable!

There are many nuances of truth: ‘Some one is sitting there’ is true. ‘Rama is sitting there’ is also true. ‘Rama is sitting on the bench there’ is a greater truth. ‘Rama aged 30 is sitting on the bench, in the park and reading a book’ is still greater truth. Evidently, gradations in truth reveal the clarity of comprehension of something. That which is very hazy and unclear is only half-truth, while that which is perfectly and absolutely clear is the highest truth.

Each of the above by themselves are true independently from a particular standpoint. Be it business, work or personal life we always strive to prove ourselves right and benefit by opting for the convenient worldview. The benefit could be tangible or intangible. However when we believe that our worldview is the absolute truth, we trample even better judgments /opinions, which disallows us from progressing towards greater understanding. Only with greater understanding and greater acceptance of alternate worldviews comes the opportunity to move towards gaining clarity of the absolute truth.

Many negotiations in politics, business, communities, families etc fail to produce win-win solutions because people involved are not willing to let go of their worldview, for a better one. Purposeful action can result only when you allow yourself to be led to the absolute truth. Everything else will fall short of that measure of ‘Punya’ or virtuous action.

When I went through the talks of sages I found a reference to a word called ‘Punya’ – I immediately thought it referred to some religious methods/practices, which can help us reach god.  But I was in for some surprise.  The ‘Paramacharya’ interprets ‘Punya’ as “Virtuous Action”, that is actions done without any desire for the fruits thereof.

It might even sound unreasonable in today’s circumstances to involve or act without any result in mind. But the perspective that emerged which could be useful for daily use  is the difference between expected results and expectations. Very often what we think of is desired results, which are in reality expectations.   Expectations are very closely related to emotions, hence mismatch between outcome and expectation cause unhappiness

Every action will have a result and in most cases it will be predictable and hence can be expected. If actions are done with this perspective in mind, unhappiness or sorrow cannot occur.  Hence the possible approach to achieve lasting happiness through action is to understand the idea of “Virtuous Action”

• Do we all live life only when we find our purpose?
• Do we all have a purpose in life?
• Do we all need a purpose in life?
• Do we all attempt to find our purpose in life?
• Do we all have the courage to stand for our purpose in life?
• Do we all have the boldness to live our purpose in life?
• Do we intend to live a purposeful life?

These questions are tough but important because ONLY purpose-filled lives are chronicled, referred and remembered!

Here’s wishing you a great year – where you discover and delight in the purpose of your lives…

Happy New Year!

Living in the jungles needing to support his old parents, wife and children, Ratnakar took to stealing from innocent by passers of the jungle. Over some years his very name created tremors in the heart of even the bravest people of the neighbouring villages. One day Ratnakar’s destiny bought him in front of sage Narada. Brandishing the sharp knife at the sage, Ratnakar demanded the sage to part away with any valuables he may have on him. Narada smiled softly at the terrible thief and admonished him sternly for robbing innocent people. He embarked in his characteristic style to enumerate the sins that are associated with an activity like stealing. Ratnakar running out of patience told Narada that it was his duty to take care of his aging parents and family. As the provider of his family it falls upon him to see they are comfortable and hence stealing is not sinful and even if it is, the sins are also apportioned amongst his family members so is reduced in impact. Narada challenged Ratnakar to go and enquire from his parents and family if they would par-take the effects of the sins of thieving and if so how much?

After getting assurance from Narada that he would stay rooted to the spot till he would return, Ratnakar went back to ask his family members the question. Much to the frustration of the master thief, no family member was willing to share a part of the sins. His parents categorically state that as a son it was the duty of Ratnakar to provide for them. Any good or bad accumulated enroute was his concern. Similarly his son and wife also refused to take any part in sharing the sins of the thievery. A dejected Ratnakar approached Narada who then shows him the path of penance, a path to focus on lord Rama and move onto his higher calling. Mythology has it that this thief was not able to pronounce the word “Rama” and could only pronounce “Mara”. On advice of the sage Narada, Ratnakar goes on repeating “Mara-Mara” which over time becomes “Rama-Rama” The thief sets on his penance under a tree for days and years mindless of an Ant-hill that gets built around him in that very place. The Gods pleased with the penance then bless the man as ‘Val-miki’ – one who sits on an ant-hill.

Every time I hear this story it gives me Goosebumps! But today it has given rise to a set of thoughts that I wish to share with you

Every man has been bestowed upon by an intellect. As a human being we are expected to use the intellect and make choices. If we fail to use the intellect or use it make evil choices – both reduce human beings to the level of animals.  The above story elucidates this point aptly. Ratnakar just like any other human being failed to make the right choice and take relevant right action in the course of servicing his parents and family. But through the initiation on understanding by sage Narada – the same Ratnakar was able to take steps to become ‘Valmiki’. This was primarily because of higher level of realization and greater use of the intellect.

In our lives we are often faced with numerous points where choices have to be made. Very often we succumb to our desires, external influencers and selfish needs. All these are a fallout of the lack of using this powerful tool called the intellect, bestowed upon us by the creator. Much of the literature in Vedanta discusses ways and means by which human beings can realise the existence and power of this tool, and thereby understand their oneness with the greater truth.

Just Dial is a very helpful service, which I have used number of times. It is especially useful for local search queries and for getting a general list of providers for common services. When Just Dial started sending a bunch of numbers as an SMS to our mobile number so that we can reach out to alternate providers, I was appreciative of this value add. But today Just Dial has started forwarding our numbers to providers for a fee. There seems to be now, a good number of people who get our numbers and names.  While it seems like a logical extension to servicing and also a good revenue stream for JustDial – for me as an user it is a cause of  irritation (due to the ambush by so many agencies) and concern (privacy).  If this continues (and it looks like it will) many people will have to think twice before calling Just Dial – considering the fact that we will be flooded with calls from vendors almost instantaneously.

While Just Dial may have thought of the value add (for organizations who enlist with them), they seemed to have missed the impact on the user (people who make the enquiries). Additionally with stiff competition for local search coming from data based on-demand search services from the likes of Yahoo! And Google, this consumer irritation / concern could hurt Just Dial, if not addressed in time.

This experience is a page out of the Just Dial approach towards business – but do we also make such decisions? Are we thinking enough on our customer acquisition and retention strategies? Does our organizational strategy think long enough on sustainability and repercussion of our choices? On whose perception are we basing the value of our initiative?