Gita Suggests Self Realization: Vijay Singhal
Vijay Singhal was former commissioner of Income Tax for Mumbai and now an author of books related to sacred wisdom and divine texts. BW Businessworld speaks with him during the launch of his new book Bhagavad Gita- Saying it the Simple Way. Actor Producer Akshay Kumar launched the spiritual classic in presence of Editor-in-Chief of BW Businessworld Anurag Batra. The edited excerpts.
What is the relevance of Gita for the corporate world?
It is very relevant for the corporate world. In today’s scenario, the people in the corporate culture are working in highly tight timelines and under high pressure. This is where the spiritual guidance of Gita tells you, how to manage in challenging situations. It is a mix of various Yoga’s and it gives a worthy positive solution for problems.
Can it be a cure for economic ailments in the corporate world as well?
Once it is generally applicable, it definitely reflects on the economy as well. If it gives positive vibes to the people it will also reflect on the team. See, it can suggest people that ultimately there is no space for jealousy and we are working for the same self or Atma (the supreme soul), it will lead to more fruitful results. The attitude of positivity and fearlessness will improve the work practice for sure.
Time has changed ever since the inception of Gita, do we need to change the way we look at it?
I don’t find any need to change. This composition is not right, Gita is a collection of words of wisdom from some tens of hundreds of wise men or saints. What needs to be changed is nomenclature, it needs to be a little easier to make it easy to understand for the people. As I said, those who understand holy language needs no explanation so it is for those who need to understand it. I am saying it with confidence because there may be very few hymns that have lost relevance with time, or maybe no hymns. Most of the hymns are deeply applicable for today and forever.
What is the relevance of dexterity of work for corporates? As it is mentioned in Gita ‘Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam’.
In the competitive world, it would help more, working without worry. It changes attitude towards work and it changes it in a positive manner only. The positivity is what matters today, it will impact several factors which give results with the same amount of effort. Gita is full of such factors, one such factor is providence. There are many other factors but ultimately it is understood that God will ultimately decide. So the fear vanishes and one day the result will come.
Suggest the easiest way to follow the lessons of Gita?
First thing is to understand it, most of the people don’t understand it. They just make it a fashion to quote Gita. One must understand the contexts where hymns are discussed, otherwise, there are people who don’t understand it and speak about it like an expert.
What makes the lessons of Gita ‘immortal’?
It deals with self-realisation. No matters who we interact with, but we never interact with ourselves, nothing can be as important as interacting with ourselves. Gita suggests the same and this is what makes it immortal.
