Swami Parameshwar Das, known as Swamiji, is a seasoned professional with decades of experience in the worlds of business consulting, psychology and spirituality. Swamiji’s mission is to serve everyone to be leaders in their life and fulfill their dharma or purpose.
Dramatic shifts in our outer world compel us to turn inwards and consider the extent to which we need to transform ourselves. While this applies to everyone, I focus this two-part series specifically on leaders and their transformation. As a leader, what internal shifts must you make to align with the evolving world? What does this new form of leadership look like?
In the Hindu philosophy, we’re moving between Yugas or planetary cycles, from the Kali Yuga to the Sathya Yuga. We’re evolving from an era of darkness and ignorance to an era of light and truth. To assist with this shift, we can benefit from the ancient teachings of India that have served millions for centuries. I offer you here treasures of the Bhagavad Gita – a philosophy of life that provides invaluable insight into how we can live individually and as a society to our highest potential.
This first article gives you an overview of the Bhagavad Gita along with my view of awakened leadership. It addresses three of the seven aspects of being an awakened leader that are associated with key teachings of the Gita. The second article will explore the remaining four aspects and propose next steps for your development as a leader.
Each aspect has a section devoted to it including three Gita teachings, selected quotes, questions for self-inquiry, and practices for leadership development.
Here are 7 Aspects of Awakened Leadership:
Being a Role Model
Mindfulness and Mind Mastery
Adapting to Change and Uncertainty
Dharmic Action and Decision-Making
Mastering the Ego and Emotions
Servant Leadership
Building Teamwork and Unity
Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita
The Gita is part of the Mahabharata comprising 700 of the 100,000 verses written around 800-900 BC. The story unfolds as a battle is about to begin between the Pandavas (the righteous) and the Kauravas (the non-righteous). This battle symbolizes the war within each of us leading to our awakening and enlightenment.
Quotes cited here come from the dialogue between Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, sustainer of the universe, and embodiment of guru or Self, and Arjuna, warrior, ideal disciple and symbol of human consciousness.
Arjuna is standing in the middle of the battlefield between the two sides who are ready to fight. He is conflicted and cannot decide what to do because the opposing side (the non-righteous) includes his cousins, teachers and friends. Throughout the Gita he is led step by step by Lord Krishna who guides him through his doubts and weaknesses on his journey of self-discovery to divine alignment.
This scripture reflects the science of yoga or union with God or the Self learned from a master. The teachings advocate righteousness, non-attachment to the world and senses, not allowing our mind to be hostage to our emotions, stepping into our purpose fully, and our responsibility to distinguish between transient self and eternal Self. In these ways, we are freed from the bondage of human existence and reach liberation (moksha) and enlightenment.
What is awakened leadership?
Although we can all be awakened leaders in life, I am referring here to how organizational leaders can express a new kind of leadership. For me, leadership that’s awakened is revealed from the inside out; it’s innate, remembered. Awakened leaders access new insights and levels of awareness, expand their consciousness, and raise their frequency. Awakened leadership is about creation and not reaction; it reflects an inner power that encourages others to empower themselves.
We’re transitioning from an old to new era, and the qualities associated with awakened leadership reflect this evolution:
Qualities of the old era are fear-based and lower vibration, including control, judgment, doubt, denial, distrust, anger, resentment, resignation, guilt.
Awakened leadership qualities in the new era are love-based and higher vibration, including acceptance, peace, compassion, empathy, balance, harmony, joy, freedom, unity.
Below are the first three of the seven facets of awakened leadership that I derived from the verses of the Gita. I expressly use the term facets here as it brings to mind the beauty of a necklace with all of its gems interlinked forming a perfectly unified whole.
Being a role model
Awakened leaders are living examples of what they stand for and value. Through their presence and actions they naturally motivate those around them such as their leadership team, similar to how the best teachers and revered gurus inspire their students and disciples.
Key teachings
Duty, responsibility, purpose: The Gita speaks to the importance of having a strong sense of one’s duty, taking responsibility, and being driven by purpose. Awakened leaders are clear about what’s to be accomplished to fulfill roles, identifying their own and other’s responsibilities. While they’re responsible and conscientious, they’re driven by a vision, mission and purpose that underlie their actions.
Action orientation: Awakened leaders are confident and decisive in their actions. They take initiative and know what direction to take. They’re self-aware, conscious of what they’re thinking and feeling as they take action. While mindful of outcomes, they don’t fixate on them and instead focus on what’s needed to achieve them.
Direction and inspiration: Being a living example requires a strong sense of Self, a presence that expresses the love-based qualities of the new era. As the Gita states, we’re meant to align with that eternal permanent state of our true essence. Awakened leaders consistently embody these energies through their actions and decisions. They inspire and set the overall direction and tone for their organization or work environment.
Gita quotes:
(Note: numbers after quotes refer to chapter and verse respectively)
“Know what your duty is and do it without hesitation. For a warrior there is nothing better than a battle that duty enjoins.” (2.31)
“Blessed are warriors who are given the chance of a battle like this, which calls them to do what is right and opens the gates of heaven.” (2.32)
“In this world, there are two persons: the transient and the eternal; all beings are transient as bodies, but eternal within the Self.” (15.16)
“It cannot be pierced or singed, moistened or withered; it is vast, perfect and all-pervading, calm, immovable, timeless.” (2.24)
Self-inquiry:
What do I see as my primary duty as a leader? How can I best carry this out?
In what areas can I take more action? How can I be more of a role model?
Practices:
Acknowledge a major strength you have as a leader. Appreciate it and take into account feedback and examples that highlight it.
Identify a major quality you want to develop as a leader. To assist with your choice, refer to the awakened leadership attributes mentioned earlier.
Envision yourself as an awakened leader. Use your imagination to see, feel and experience it. Jot down major aspects. You may choose to create a vision board for how you see yourself.
Mindfulness & mind mastery
Awakened leaders are present in the moment. They are self-aware, attuned to their thoughts, feelings and sensations without being attached or controlled by them. They navigate business and organizational challenges with clarity, focus and alignment.
Key teachings
Know thyself: Self-awareness lies at the core of awakened leadership. The Gita shows us different forms of yoga or paths to self-realization. Inherent in this teaching is understanding our strengths and where we need to develop, continuous learning, and gaining awareness of who we are at deeper levels of consciousness.
Still the mind: Mastery of the mind is paramount for self-realization. Awakened leaders quiet the mind, consciously selecting thoughts that are pragmatic and creative. In the Gita, Krishna is the charioteer and Arjuna is the passenger; the chariot represents the body, the horses the senses, and the reins the mind. Awakened leaders allow the Self to guide them, as they master their senses and use the higher faculties of the mind to direct them (e.g., imagination, intuition).
Distinguish self and Self: We are bound by worldly existence, sensations, desires, attachments, expectations, that are indicative of our small self, our personality and known identity. Awakened leaders become increasingly aware of the distinctions between the impermanent earthly self and the eternal Self. They learn to be untouched by pain/pleasure, loss/success, the dualities that represent separation and fear-base, as they focus on alignment with Self and their liberation.
Gita quotes:
“The self is a friend for him who masters himself by the Self, but for him who is not self-mastered, the self is the cruelest foe.” (6.6)
“When his mind has become serene by the practice of meditation, he sees the Self through the self and rests in the Self, rejoicing.” (6.20)
“Gradually he becomes calm and controls his understanding; focusing on the Self, he should think of nothing at all.” (6.25)
“You are right, Arjuna: the mind is restless and hard to master; but by constant practice and detachment it can be mastered in the end.” (6.35)
“Those who love and revere me, who surrender all actions to me, who meditate upon me with undistracted attention, whose minds have entered my being – I come to them all, Arjuna, and quickly rescue them all from the ocean of death and life.” (12.6-7)
“Concentrate every thought on me alone, with a mind fully absorbed, one-pointed, you will live within me, forever.” (12.8)
Self-inquiry:
What limiting thoughts and beliefs about myself as a leader are obstacles to my growth?
What new perspective can I take about myself as a leader that will expand me and open me to new possibilities?
Practices:
Releasing/relaxing breaths: Practice inner stillness with two types of breath. First, close your eyes inhaling deeply through your nostrils and exhaling on a long breath through your mouth, blowing out or sighing to release contracted energy. Do this 3 times. Next, focus your attention starting at the top of your head and descending slowly to your feet. Scan for any area of the body that is tight and breathe deeply into it to relax.
Centering Practice: Breathe naturally with hands together at the heart. Inhale and raise one arm until it’s fully extended, elbow straight, palm facing the body, and fingers pointing straight up. At the same time, lower the other arm, palm toward the body and fingers pointing up, until you reach the level of your belly button. As you exhale, lower the extended arm and raise the other arm until both hands meet together at the heart. Breathe naturally in that position for a moment. Then repeat. Practice this at least three times, switching arms.
Blue Sky exercise: During the day look up at the sky and notice the clouds as they move by with the blue sky always behind them. See the clouds as thoughts that are constantly changing, while the blue sky remains as it is, representing the Self that is permanent and eternal. Remind yourself of this anytime by looking up, and notice if this shifts your perspective about your thoughts.
Adapting to change & uncertainty
This facet of awakened leadership empowers leaders to deal practically and creatively with continuous changes taking place in the external environment affecting their organizations. By embracing flexibility and equanimity they pivot and adjust their goals and action plans amidst uncertainty.
Key teachings
Change is constant: The world is changing at an even more accelerated rate than before on so many levels, including economic, political, social, and environmental. Given this reality, awakened leaders broaden their perspective and are flexible, malleable in their actions, resilient in responding and adapting to challenges that arise due to change.
The unchangeable: Awakened leaders dwell in the never-changing Self, as they transcend temporary phenomena and free themselves of opposites and duality. They learn to no longer be swayed by their senses and experiences of pleasure and pain, and to align with what never changes.
Equanimity: Liberated from attachments, desires and expectations, these leaders find peace, calmness and balance even in challenging circumstances. They accept good and bad without judgment or emotions since they’re free of the turmoil that comes from duality and comparison. They focus their attention on changes they can make, and new actions they can take to achieve what’s important.
Gita quotes:
“Restraining the senses, disciplined, he should focus his whole mind on me; when the senses are in his control, that man is a man of firm wisdom.” (2.61)
“If a man keeps dwelling on sense-objects, attachment to them arises; from attachment, desire flares up; from desire, anger is born; from anger, confusion follows, from confusion, weakness of memory, weak memory – weak understanding; weak understanding – ruin.” (2.62-63)
“As the dweller in this body passes into childhood, youth and age, so also does he pass into another body. This does not bewilder the wise.” (2.13)
Self-inquiry:
What’s my current perspective about changes taking place in my job or professional role? What am I holding onto, attached to, that I can shift or drop to be more adaptable?
Practices:
Shifting perspective: Use the higher faculty of perception to shift your view of change. Take a pillow and look at it. Say aloud what comes to you about how you see a specific change or challenge happening at work. Then turn the pillow and look at it from a new angle. Say aloud how you see the change or challenge from a completely new perspective. Repeat moving the pillow and adding new possibilities for how you view the situation. Notice if this enables you to be more open and flexible than before.
HeartMath Institute conducts studies about the energetic power of our heart (see my article “7 Tips for Heart-Centered Living”). HeartMath’s Prep Technique enables you to be more resilient in the face of challenges as follows:
Identify an upcoming event, situation or interaction.
Use heart-focused breathing: Focus attention in your heart and imagine your breath is flowing in and out from your heart or chest, breathing a little slower or deeper than usual (suggested inhale and exhale of 5 seconds each).
While doing this breath, project yourself into the upcoming event, situation, interaction. With genuine feeling, visualize being calm, balanced and resilient throughout it.
See yourself remembering to re-center in your heart and take charge of your feelings if you start to over-react or lose emotional composure.
I leave you with these three facets of awakened leadership. As you continue your journey of self-exploration, I encourage you to use the above questions and practices to evolve as an awakened leader. Also, I recommend you purchase and study the Bhagavad Gita so you discover its hidden treasures for yourself.
Source of quotes:
Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation, Stephen Mitchell, Harmony Books, 2000.
Other publications:
The Living Gita, Sri Swami Satchidananda, Integral Yoga Publications, 1988.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation and Commentary, Chapters 1-6, Arkana, 1990.
Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita, Ram Dass, Three Rivers Press, 2004.
Srimad Bhagavadgita, Gita Press, 2012.
Stay tuned for the next article where I delve into the remaining four facets of awakened leadership.
Swami Parameshwar Das, Spiritual and Leadership Coach
Swami Parameshwar Das, known as Swamiji, is a seasoned professional with decades of experience in the worlds of business consulting, psychology and spirituality. Swamiji’s mission is to serve everyone to be leaders in their life and fulfill their dharma or purpose. He has traveled the world leading transformational programs for thousands, and has published six books. His educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Organizational Psychology. Swamiji was licensed as a Psychologist in New York, and designated as a Master Coach by the International Coaching Federation and Ontological Coach by Newfield Network.
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