Muhammad Yunus' thoughts and Vedic culture
Observations related to “Creating A World Without Poverty” by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus:
Recently I read this book by Muhammad Yunus and it reminded me of many other sustainable and socially responsible practices and concepts that have been taught in many ancient scriptures of India and even abroad. Below is an indicative list that I recollect off-hand.
· “Social Business” where the author talks about marrying interests of corporations with socio-economic development, is based on profound age-old eastern wisdom. This excellent concept of the author reminds us of the Vedic maxim of “Dharma-Arth-Kaam-Moksh” where ethics/universal laws, finance/economics, fulfilment of desires and spiritual liberation are considered to be an integral part of the life of any individual/organization. The Vedic model has an in-built aspect of being socially conscious and environmentally conscious, where all people, all living beings, earth and the entire universe are considered as sacred and manifestations of God and hence highly revered. The Vedic focus is to grow in “co-operation” with the society and nature and not to grow by “conquering” other sections of the society/markets/nature. Given below are a few more examples of the ancient cultures, which were socially conscious.
· The Arthshastra of Chanakya, written 2300 years ago in India, also talks about combining ethics, economics, enterprise, spiritual pursuit and sustainable growth, which has been derived from the teachings of Bhagvad Gita. In fact Arthshastra's teachings are a golden middle path between capitalism and socialism, while avoiding the pitfalls of both.
· The epilogue of this book talks about “Poverty is a threat to Peace”. This is beautifully explained in the Bhagvad Gita in the following words: “Sukhasya mulam Dharma. Dharmasya mulam Arth. Arthasya mulam Rajya. Rajyasya mulam Indriyajayam.” It means that the root of happiness is in being ethical. Being ethical is possibl
e if one has enough money to fulfil basic needs of life. Basic needs are facilitated if there is enterprise to generate the purchasing power and an enterprise can perform efficiently if the managers are in control of their desires and ambitions. Thus, it talks of a balance, which ensures peace, fulfilment, happiness and ethics.
· Various “Roon” or debts are mentioned in Vedic texts that a person should try to repay during his lifetime. Among others, they include “Samaj Roon” or the debt that the society has on all of us, which we are supposed to repay by giving back to society, even as we do our businesses and earn our livelihoods.
· In the Mayan culture of ancient Mexico, it was said that out of 4 grains of corn that are grown, one should be consumed, one should be kept for future uncertainties, one should be given to other animals/nature and one should be given to needy fellow citizens.
· The mantras that are recited during Vedic weddings even today, have many shlokas that urge the new couple to take care of the society and environment, just as they would take care of their family.
· The author has observed that women are better borrowers who repay better than men. A similar profound observation is made in the Vedas in the “Yog-Kshema” concept. The meaning of Yog in this context is to earn and that of Kshema is to take care of. This is the classical division of labour among men and women in a society, where men are supposed to earn for the household and women are supposed to plan investments and spending judiciously in a way that will take care of everybody in the household. This was perhaps developed after studying the natural in-born tendencies of men and women.
- Atul Sathe © (This article is copyrighted and the author can be contacted on atulsathe@yahoo.com )
Recently I read this book by Muhammad Yunus and it reminded me of many other sustainable and socially responsible practices and concepts that have been taught in many ancient scriptures of India and even abroad. Below is an indicative list that I recollect off-hand.
· “Social Business” where the author talks about marrying interests of corporations with socio-economic development, is based on profound age-old eastern wisdom. This excellent concept of the author reminds us of the Vedic maxim of “Dharma-Arth-Kaam-Moksh” where ethics/universal laws, finance/economics, fulfilment of desires and spiritual liberation are considered to be an integral part of the life of any individual/organization. The Vedic model has an in-built aspect of being socially conscious and environmentally conscious, where all people, all living beings, earth and the entire universe are considered as sacred and manifestations of God and hence highly revered. The Vedic focus is to grow in “co-operation” with the society and nature and not to grow by “conquering” other sections of the society/markets/nature. Given below are a few more examples of the ancient cultures, which were socially conscious.
· The Arthshastra of Chanakya, written 2300 years ago in India, also talks about combining ethics, economics, enterprise, spiritual pursuit and sustainable growth, which has been derived from the teachings of Bhagvad Gita. In fact Arthshastra's teachings are a golden middle path between capitalism and socialism, while avoiding the pitfalls of both.
· The epilogue of this book talks about “Poverty is a threat to Peace”. This is beautifully explained in the Bhagvad Gita in the following words: “Sukhasya mulam Dharma. Dharmasya mulam Arth. Arthasya mulam Rajya. Rajyasya mulam Indriyajayam.” It means that the root of happiness is in being ethical. Being ethical is possibl
e if one has enough money to fulfil basic needs of life. Basic needs are facilitated if there is enterprise to generate the purchasing power and an enterprise can perform efficiently if the managers are in control of their desires and ambitions. Thus, it talks of a balance, which ensures peace, fulfilment, happiness and ethics.· Various “Roon” or debts are mentioned in Vedic texts that a person should try to repay during his lifetime. Among others, they include “Samaj Roon” or the debt that the society has on all of us, which we are supposed to repay by giving back to society, even as we do our businesses and earn our livelihoods.
· In the Mayan culture of ancient Mexico, it was said that out of 4 grains of corn that are grown, one should be consumed, one should be kept for future uncertainties, one should be given to other animals/nature and one should be given to needy fellow citizens.
· The mantras that are recited during Vedic weddings even today, have many shlokas that urge the new couple to take care of the society and environment, just as they would take care of their family.
· The author has observed that women are better borrowers who repay better than men. A similar profound observation is made in the Vedas in the “Yog-Kshema” concept. The meaning of Yog in this context is to earn and that of Kshema is to take care of. This is the classical division of labour among men and women in a society, where men are supposed to earn for the household and women are supposed to plan investments and spending judiciously in a way that will take care of everybody in the household. This was perhaps developed after studying the natural in-born tendencies of men and women.
- Atul Sathe © (This article is copyrighted and the author can be contacted on atulsathe@yahoo.com )
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