Why do we indulge in wrong deeds?

When we were attending a lecture on behavioral skills needed for the organization, one of the participants asked the facilitator-"What ever you are teaching us is commonsense. Why would any one do otherwise?". Facilitator replied - "If that was true we would not have any one who smokes cigarette, knowing the fact that it causes cancer. "  Very much true indeed!!

Extending that analogy in broader terms, people know in general that  wrong deeds have an impact but still indulge in them. Here are few reasons I can think of for this trend

Temptation:  People fail to resist temptation as typically Nishidda karma (unwarranted/barred deeds) have so much tempting to get away.

Group Behavior:  Some bad deeds are performed by person who is innately good natured when he is in a group. This is usually because of mob/sheep mentality. Even though he knows at heart that the act is wrong, he either too timid to complain or too reckless to stop. Ragging in college is one example to this genre.

Delayed Impact: Some acts beget impact albeit late. So person involved either ignores the impact or less worried as its not immediate.

Impact Not Clear: With certain acts the impact is not clearly seen. Person thinks he/she can get away with it. A case of powerful person torturing a poor fellow is an example.

No one is watching: Similar to above scenario, where there is no chance of getting caught in the act. That's why wise people say  ' a good person is judged by what he does when no one is watching'

Ignorance: Some people act by receiving instructions from their bosses with out understanding what they are tasked with.

Fit of Anger: Behind most crimes, anger is one commonality found. Bhagavadgita says - Desire (not fulfilled) leads to anger, anger leads to mental imbalance and mental imbalance leads to destruction.

My Director - K Viswanath

When I am writing this blog, I am doing so with respect for the man, with fear that my limitation of writing skill failing to express his greatness adequately, with happiness that he is born to be Telugu/Indian and chose to make films, with sorrow that he is not directing films these days, with shame that I did not get to watch all the movies directed by him, with honor that I was able to write this about him.

The person in context here is K. Viswanath Sir and he is an accomplished director in Telugu films and also directed few films in hindi. His films may not have earned Box office records unlike today, but his films can be showcased for his exemplary skill in the art of film making. He started directing at a time when films were transforming from meaningful story telling to meaningless hero-centric stories. He could have easily chosen to go with the trend and earned a fortune. He chose otherwise and thus made films that are good enough to inscribe his name in Telugu Cinema in particular and Indian cinema in general.

There was a time when I watched a series of movies that centered around purest form art and with a message that art is for the art's sake and not for fame/money's sake. When I looked up the commonality of these genre of movies, I could easily find K Viswanath in it. He made extra effort to make sure Indian values are embedded in the movies and thus future generations when they watch his movies get benefited and transformed (if they will) from it. Movie is a medium that gets maximum reach and he is one of those few who understood it and its impact on the people. So he chose to make films that have positive impact on people instead of cashing on their emotions in the name of mass appeal. We find our next door character playing lead role in his films and not the fictitious character who can hit truck load of people single handed.

Films like Swati mutyam, Saagara sangamam helped Kamal Hasan increase his image as versatile and genious actor and earned him thousands of fans among telugu speaking audience. Films like Subhalekha, Swayam Krushi and Aapadbandhavudu helped Chiranjeevi prove to critics that he can play role fitting characters perfectly alongside characters that established his mass appeal.  Film Sankarabharanam proved to the world that box office hit need not have glamorous lead characters as this film features a 60 year old man who is passionate about Carnatic music in lead role.  Sankarabharanam released in only one theatre and opened to an empty hall but later reversed norm of that day about the commercial elements in box office. He provided space for lyricists like Veturi, Seetharama satry, writers like Jandhyala, Gollapudi Singers like SP Balasubramainam, actors like Chandramohan to reassert their talent and perform to their mettle.

How difficult would it be to narrate a tale that's centered around  blind man and a dumb girl? Viswanath took up the challenge and we have masterpiece Sirivennela. Who would approve lyrics written by then newbie Mr Seetharama satry which requires a PHD in telugu to comprehend. But because of Viswanath Sir's decision, many telugu speaking were able to pick up many new words in vocabulary through the songs of Sirivennela.

On one hand portraying the Indianness in his movies, he did not hesitate to challenge some of them. But when he does it, they get the cleanliness of his vision and clarity of his thought. One such instance was in movie Saptapadi, he concludes the tale by giving the hand of a married brahmin girl (who got married against her will) to a low caste but high cultured man. He also challenged through movie Maangalyaniki Maro Mudi, why a wife should put up with husband who is evil natured.
Even if I write one paragraph each on movies like Siri Siri Muvva, Subhodayam, Swati Kiranam, Sutradharulu, Srutilayalu,  Swarna Kamalam, Chelleli Kapuram, Kaalam Marindi, Sarada and others,  I would be incomplete in describing him. In hindi he directed movies like Sargam, Kaamchor, Sanjog, Jaag Utha Insan, Eeshwar, Sur Sangam, Shubh Kaamna, Sangeet and Dhanwaan. Winner of numerous awards and above all winner of hearts of movie connoisseurs.

Decision Making

Decision making is one key skill that differentiates winners from others. Its not just business decisions that are difficult to make but personal ones are equally hard. Here is some analysis on the aspect

Timely: Decision is best taken when made in timely manner. Delayed decisions can hand us misery of missed opportunities and failure.

Firm: Once a decision has been taken, one must be firm on it. Half-hearted decisions do not really lead the path to success.

Emotions: More often than not emotions come in the way of decision making. They tamper with the objectivity of the decision and thus can make it difficult to see the obvious logical choice. Decisions in personal life are hugely impacted by emotions.

Fear Factor: Some decisions involve taking a stride towards uncertain path with uncertainty around outcomes. Change from status quo induces fear and can introduce roadblock to decision making.

Comfort zone: Some times one has to move away from comfort zone and put some efforts in a direction that they are not used to. This can also be one of the reasons for decision paralysis.

Data Points: While data points usually help in easing the process of decision making, lack of adequate data points can stumble it. How ever, abundance of data can confuse and overwhelm the person too.

Predictions: Every decision involves maker's ability to visualize and predict future. If one errs in the vision its impacts gets cascaded to the decision.

Skill: Is the person skilled enough to make a decision is a major factor as well. Its sometimes imparted through education and experience provided .

Peer Pressure/Sheep Mentality: Out of peer pressure or a general sheep mentality of going with the general practice can influence the decisions. Its not uncommon to see XII class student deciding to join medicine because his/her buddies are doing it.

Why so many Gods?

Being a Hindu is little complicated, as you have your own set of questions on mind while trying to comprehend vast scriptures written mostly in Sanskrit that explain Hindu Dharma. It gets complicated further as there are few questions asked that we struggle to explain. One such FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) is "Why do we have so many Gods in Hinduism?". It looks like a difficult question to answer and needs reference to many scriptures, excuse me for making an attempt using my intuition instead.

Lets compare the whole concept and working mechanism of God to a leading bank like SBI. Now if this system is looked at as a single entity then it is called Paramatma - concept defined by Vedas. We don't expect to find only one person we see in news ie., chairman of SBI present in each of its branches we walk in. What we expect is a set of sub-functions with defined areas of responsibilities delivering the task that SBI is expected to perform. In similar fashion we have different sub-functions like creation being performed by Lord Brahma, sustenance performed by Lord Vishnu and destruction performed by Lord Shiva.

Now a followup question asked is "Is it not confusing us if we have so many Gods to worship?" Actually it is not. Like in previous example, which ever branch we walk-in, we are essentially doing banking with SBI. So which ever God we offer prayer to is being referred to same Paramatma. In a family set up it self, one kid has more affinity to mother, one kid has affinity to father. So the kid with affinity towards mother can happily pray Goddess Sakti in various forms like Durga. The kid with affinity towards father can identify God with Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva. In any case the sincerity in worship is all that matters. So my view is as opposed to complicating things, it's really giving flexibility in worship.

How to control Wavering Mind/Manas

I was asked this question when I was 26 by a cousin who was barely 20s. I did not know the answer then. Firstly I did not expect this question from some one in early twenty's, especially when rest of the world is bothering about girls, movies and so called materialistic enjoyment. It has shaken my conventional knowledge that these sorts of question arise when a person reaches a threshold age or starts getting grey hair or no hair on head situation.

As the kid who asked me this question was sweetest one, he patiently listened to the answer I gave without doubting that it could be wrong. I don't even remember now, what answer I gave. But I did not forget that question. Every time I come near any book, discourse or discussion around that topic, I kept my eyes and ears open.

When I was recently listening to Bhagavdgita CD of Late Ghatasala garu, I suddenly realized the answer to that question is clearly stated by Lord Krishna. Even though many times from many people we learn that Bhagavadgita is quick reference document for any query on Sanatana Dharma, I rarely had ventured to get into the details. Here is what I learnt from Gita

Question: Manas keeps wavering back and forth between material things. How do we control it
Geethacharya's Answer : 

There are two ways of controlling wavering mind/manas

1) Abhyasa :  Meaning practice. We keep manas in check by relentless practice by feeding it only the good things and keeping in check its interaction with sensual desires that are unwarranted. Keep it busy with work, keep feeding it with good material then it gets used to the good deeds and thus stops wavering on sense objects

2) Viragya: Means Renunciation. We keep telling the manas - hey buddy you think this (sense object) is permanent? It is not and it perishes with time. Why do you after all going after something that is not true. If every sense object and desire is visualized in a viraga manner then wavering mind starts discarding them as unfit of its attention over time.

Pashu Dharmo Namae Preethihi - పశుధర్మో నమే ప్రీతిః

In Devi Bhagavatam Veda Vyas proposed that 'PasuDharmo Namae Preethihi' meaning animals are with in their right to do what they feel like. In basic needs of sleep, hunger, copulation, animals do not need to follow any rules and can do as per its wish. Its sad that in today's world even human's follow the same rule and proudly announce it.


Given that I have made this statement, the question that I will need to answer now is - so how do we know what's the right behaviour for humans. The word 'Dharma' is what we as humans must follow but Dharma is so complex that how do we know what to refer when in confusion. There are few guidelines laid out to answer this question

1. Shruti or Veda:

Veda is said to be ultimate proponent of Dharma and is said to be breathe of Lord himself. Seer Gautama said ' Vedoshila Dharmam' - Veda is ultimate reference to Dharma. For any query related to Dharma, Veda will be first authetic source of reference. How ever, Veda is not easy to understand and is not easy to access

2. Smriti

Smritis are written by Seers who have strong hold on Vedas to guide law enforcement personnel as well as common people on what Dharma is.
krute tu mAnavA dharma: tretAyAm gautamA: smrutAh !

dvApare SAnkha likhitAh kalau pArASarAh smrutAh !!
　
There are many smritis but Manu Smriti (for Kruta Yuga), Gautama Smriti (Treta Yuga), Sankha and Likhita smrutis (Dwapara Yuga) and Parashara Smriti (Kali Yuga) are few popular ones. Each of the above Smritis are written keeping in view the times prevalent and for respective yuga. If Smriti contradicts with Veda in any of its doctrines, then Veda is to be followed.

3. Puranas

While Smriti is a good reference for understanding Dharma, it is full of doctrines that might be difficult to interpret given complex nature of Dharma Sukshma. So Puranas give illustrated instances of execution of Dharma thus making it simpler to understand and emulate.

4. Sista Achara

In Gita Lord Krishna said world will follow what wise men do. Acharas have been established so that through execution of them as part of daily routine people can unconsciously follow Dharma. This is to ensure people who either do not have access to wisdom of Shruti/Smriti/Purana or who may find it difficult to refer to them at all times, can follow Dharma through enforcement of Acharas.

5. Self Decision

Self Decision is surely allowed in absence of any guidance from above four proponents of Dharma. How ever this should not be first recourse in any circumstance where we can have adequate guidance from above four. If we make this first recourse, then we will be downgraded to level of animal, which is free to execute action per its will.  

Comfort Zone

Have ever wondered reason for stagnation in career/job? Did you ever feel tentative or uncertain when you started doing a new job ? Did you feel clueless and had a feel of lost in desert while put in a role that you are not prepared for ? list goes on - reason is the same 'comfort zone'.

I discretely remember the first day on road with my new car and no companion to guide me. I felt nervous and a bit scared. too many questions played on mind - what if car stops on road all of sudden? what if I ram into some one/some other vehicle ? I had a frustrating day that I wanted to leave the car on the road and take an auto back home. Now when I look back to that day, I feel how silly my thoughts were.  The utility my car is to me today outweigh the initial struggle I had to go through while learning the driving skill.

Similar experience many a times I had faced while changing role or job at work place. When I first walked into Onsite location as ONC (onsite coordinator), I had feeling of nausea and not very sure if my communication skills are adequate to perform the job. When I was inducted to team lead role, I felt initial insecurity that made me wonder if its really my cup of tea. When I got promoted to manager role, I was nervous even to walk in to one-one meetings of my team. Later I went through phases where I had faced initial problems speaking in front of huge gatherings.

When I look back now and compare how comfortable I am doing it today versus my initial hiccups, only reason I can think of is being pushed out of comfort zone makes an individual feel uncomfortable. Sometimes we resist it as well. But as we go along the path we start feeling comfortable and it starts becoming comfort zone for us. Moving out of comfort zone and doing something different is what makes an individual progress in career.