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| Sri V. Srinivasan and Family with Sri Sathya Sai when Swami visited their home in Chennai in 1980s |
I have had the good fortune to be a devotee of Bhagavan for the last twenty years. During this period, I have experienced and observed the many miracles that the Lord performs at all in almost every sphere of life. Every devotee gets the feeling that Bhagavan looks after him or her every minute in every matter, however mundane it might be. Bhagavan verily “manages” the Cosmos — every event taking place within the galaxies is as per His Will and Direction. He is truly the Centre of the Universe.
Bhagavan’s Leelas and philosophies are being very succinctly recorded by devotees for more competent than I. However, I felt I would contribute my experiences and beliefs of Bhagavan as the Supreme Manager.
Bhagavan has been counselling and guiding His devotees since His advent in many matters concerning their Work, Careers, and livelihood. What to do or what not to do in a particular situation — Bhagavan’s directions are always for the good of His devotees. What the devotee cannot comprehend or foresee, the Lord clarifies and unravels. Whether to expand a business, to open a new line of activity, to rationalise operations — Bhagavan gives what in modem business parlance would be called “Strategic Policy Directions”. Not even a Management Consultant par excellence could hope to comprehend even a fraction of all the aspects of a situation as seen by Bhagavan.
Since the last few years. He has started M.B.A. Programme at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. This programme is truly unique. Not only do the students learn the 3 R’s Modern Management but they learn their significance and application at Bhagavan’s Lotus Feet. Such a blend of Esoterism and Modern Education cannot be obtained nor even conceived anywhere else. Even in this implementation of His Divine Will, Bhagavan has demonstrated that He is the Supreme Manager, full of concern for society. The Alumni of this MBA Programme have already started to give a new purpose and meaning to the various organisations they have joined. These fortunate business will indirectly benefit from Bhagavan’s guidance and teachings through the students of the Institute.
Bhagavan has given His own interpretation to many of the concepts of Management. One day He asked many of the MBA students and others present as to what they felt was the meaning of the word 'Communication' as applied to Management. So much is said about the need for effective communication within Business Organisations. Many explanations were volunteered, but I was thrilled to hear Bhagavan define Communication as Understanding. In that one stroke Management Theory seemed to acquire a new dimension. An understanding which renders superfluous all mundane attempts at communication-one based on Love and mutual respect — A Communication which is dynamic rather than static.
Right from His early days, Bhagavan has underlined the need for sacrifice and sharing. He has made clear to humanity that desire leads to perdition — the fulfillment of one desire only leads to the sprouting of a hundred others. It is clear from modern Economics that it is physically impossible to satisfy the increasing material needs of a burgeoining human race. Nations make ambitious plans to meet the material needs of their citizens, and at best achieve partial success in these efforts. Similarly Companies plan to motivate their employees only through material rewards and at best achieve a temporary and limited result. Bhagavan counsels that these should be superimposed by Love and a Human concern. Only then is there a lasting commitment which alone can contribute to the success of the Organisation.
Bhagavan is a stern taskmaster, wedded to perfection. He tolerates no slackness. He does not spare Himself in any respect. He also expects total commitment to the task from those to whom he entrusts any work He is indeed a true Leader who sets an example by doing rather than only preaching. Any leader or Chief Executive of an Organisation has to imbibe this lesson first, if he is to merit the position that he holds.
All of us have observed Bhagavan’s meticulous attention to every fine detail. He inquires about every aspect of any task, however minor it may seem. In the process, he generates enthusiasm and alertness among those engaged in its performance, and the confidence that Bhagavan is there to help them at every instant. Management Science has chronicled the difficulties that Organisations have run into, when their leaders distanced themselves totally from the daily operations. Intelligent delegation and monitoring of performance is an art by itself, but one which Bhagavan teaches continuously.
Bhagavan’s projects are all on a Grand Divine Scale. One cannot conceive of them of this magnitude anywhere else in such variety and diversity. Their cost runs into very large amounts. Bhagavan manages their planning, implementation and performance in His own inimitable fashion. And yet He pays attention to every rupee that is spent He cannot tolerate waste which He says is a sin. He is ready to spend crores of rupees on useful project, but He is unhappy if even one rupee is wasted. How many organisations lose their bearings and multiply their overheads needlessly and then get into difficulties, when costs go out of control. Bhagavan always cautions us not to waste Energy, not to waste Money, not to waste Food, not to waste Time. What can be more appropriate for Business to function profitably?
Whoever has had the privilege of carrying out any of the Divine Commands, would have noticed that usually Bhagavan gives him (or her) a task ¡n an area where the person thought himself unqualified. It ¡s normally never in a field where the person feels that he has great experience and expertise. While the Esoteric significance of this is to reduce one’s ego and make that person realise that he is only an instrument of the Divine Will, one has to consider this also ¡n the Management context. What better form of Job rotation can there be than this. What better form of skills acquisition than to perform tasks under the watchful eye of the Supreme trainer. Here is Human Resources Management in action. Everything that one cannot be taught at Harvard!
The essence of Management Science was postulated by Bhagavan in His Valedictory Address to the participants of the Management Seminar for MBA students at Madras in March 1990. He covered every aspect of operation of an enterprise. The depth of His coverage and His astute awareness of the complexities of today’s business simply overwhelmed the Captains of Industry who were privileged to attend this discourse. Apart from business counsel, this was a message of hope and an exhortation to engage in business activities in the right spirit of Nishkama Karma.
The functions organised at Prasanthi Nilayam are themselves examples of organisational efficiency. Where else for every one of His devotees, Bhagavan is God and at the same time, friend, counsel and philosopher. He prepares everyone of us for “Retirement” — when we close one chapter of our existence and begin another, a more rewarding one. In all our tasks, He is always with us, ready to step in when the situation warrants, just as any competent Manager plunges in to help his team. His small examples — “Chinna Uthaharanam” — are each a complete case study, suffused with inner significance and guidance.
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| Late Sri V Srinivasan with Sri Sathya Sai at the Hill Top Bungalow, Kodaikanal - May 12, 2007 |
It can truly be said that there need be no further “Search for Excellence”. That search has ended at Prasanthi Nilayam. But here Excellence has a new dimension. It is constantly uplifted by Divinity to bring out all that is best in Humanity. Every excellence ¡s excelled constantly under the guidance and Grace of the Avatar — the Divine Manager.
- Late V. Srinivasan
National President, Confederation of Indian Industry (1990-91)
All India President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations (1999-2015)
Former Member, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust
Source: Sai Vandana 1990 (65th Birthday Offering)
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