DR. BALAKRISHNAN MUNIAPANSwinburne University of Technology, Malaysia

Email: mbalakrsna@yahoo.com

THE BHAGAVAD-GITA FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

OBJECTIVEThis presentation will attempt to explorethe Bhagavad-Gita (BG) in the contextleadership development.

LEADERSHIP1. Leadership is a universal topic & every one of us is

affected by it in one way or the other.

2. Leadership is an art of ____________ people toachieve organizational, societal and national goals.

3. Several research reveals that there exist a“leadership gap” in organizations, societies &countries.

4. Leadership theories (Western) have evolved overthe last 100 years.

THE BHAGAVAD-GITA The Bhagavad-Gita (BG) is a dialogue between

Sri Krishna & Arjuna, before the commencementof Kurukshetra war (more than 5,000 years ago).

The background for the BG is the epicMahabharata. The Mahabharata with 100, 000verses was composed by Sri Vyasa Muni & waswritten by Sri Ganesa (the longest epic in theworld).

The BG appears in 700 verses (of which 575 areuttered by Sri Krishna) in Bhisma Parva of theMahabharata and consists of 18 chapters.

What the BG can offer to LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT?

The 18 chapters of the BG presents 18 lessons, descriptions, qualities, and also

perspectives about leadership

C1 – Yoga of Arjuna’s Crisis1. Presents strategic leadership – observing

the armies and analyzing the strengths &weaknesses.

2. A call for leadership as Arjuna wasreluctant to fight (intra-personal conflict).

3. C1 present a challenge for leaders toeliminate negative culture and enhancepositive culture for their organization (alsosocieties and countries).

C2 – Yoga of Understanding1. Leaders must give up such petty weakness of

heart and arise (2.3)

2. Leaders need to be SELF-AWARE (SA) – e.g.who they are - EQ & SQ.

3. Leaders with high levels of SA assess their ownstrength & weaknesses and are always confidentin their actions.

4. Leaders (dhira) must manage change & not to bedeluded by change (2.13)

C2 – Yoga of Understanding

C2 – Yoga of Understanding Leaders should not delve too much into the past but to be

focus on present to create a future & leadership action &responsibilities need to be focused; not on potentialrewards associated with the position (2.47).

Sthitaprajna leaders must conquer their enemies within -lust, anger, greed, arrogance, envy and pride.

Sri Krishna described that from anger, complete delusionarises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. Whenmemory is bewildered, intelligence will be lost and whenintelligence is lost one falls down (2.63).

C3 – Yoga of ActionLeaders have to be proactiveand work for common goodwithout selfish interest; thereward of their selfless workwill take them to a supremestate (3.19).

Leaders hold the ignition keyto their organizations growth &prosperity as people in generalwill follow the standards setsby the leaders (3.21).

C4 – Yoga of Knowledge Leaders must know when to act

and when not to act and theiractions done must be withcomplete self-awareness (4.18)

For effective leadership toflourish, a leader has to learnfrom a mentor who can teachvalues that surpass theleadership position itself (4.34)

C5 – Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Compassionate leaders promoteequality and fairness amongfollowers. They see everybodyequally and do not discriminatetheir followers (5.18)

This leader (5.18) neither rejoicesupon achieving somethingpleasant nor laments uponobtaining something unpleasant,who is self-intelligent, who is un-bewildered (5.20)

C6 – Yoga of MeditationLeaders must themselves bytheir own mind and they must notlet themselves to be weakenedunder any circumstances orwhen facing a crisis (6.5).

For leaders who has conqueredthe mind, the mind is the best offriends, but for one who hasfailed to control their mind, themind will be the greatest enemy(6.6).

C6 – Yoga of MeditationArjuna said: For the mind isrestless, turbulent, obstinateand very strong, O Krishna,and to subdue it is, it seems tome, more difficult thancontrolling the wind (6.34).

Sri Krishna said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti (Arjuna), itis undoubtedly very difficult tocurb the restless mind, but it ispossible by constant practiceand by detachment (6.35).

C6 – Yoga of MeditationIn the chariot of the body, the fivehorses represent the five senses. Thereins, the driving instrument,symbolize the mind, the driver is theintelligence, and the passenger is theself.

Intelligence gives the power todiscriminate & decide what it is goodfor and what is not. A leader of lesserintelligence is constantly driven by thesenses and the desire for senseobjects .

C6 – Yoga of MeditationAn untrained mind is veryweak & unstable, as aresult even a smallobstacle coming in its waymay make it lose initiative.Therefore, leaders need touse their intelligence tocontrol their mindeffectively, they should notlet the mind to becontrolled by the senses.

C6 – Yoga of MeditationLeader’s ultimate friend istheir willpower thatresides within the innerself.

Strong determination &perseverance, without anymental reservation ordoubts are the key forleadership success (6.23).

THE LEADERSHIP OUTCOME

After LISTENING to SriKrishna (575 verses),Arjuna was motivated,energized and actedaccording to SriKrishna’s instruction.

This is an outcomeof LEADERSHIP

CONCLUSIONFinally, wherever thereis Sri Krishna, themaster of all mystics, &wherever there isArjuna, the supremearcher, there will alsobe opulence, victory,extraordinary powerpower, and morality(18.78).

THANK YOUDR. BALAKRISHNAN MUNIAPAN

Swinburne University of Technology, MalaysiaEmail: mbalakrsna@yahoo.com