No-thought Leadership

I thought about various things today. Yes, I do that at times. But then, this thought-thinking business is addictive, and one thought follows another for no good reason. This train of thoughts finally came to a halt, and I became thoughtless-yes, just like you can be speechless in the face of some beautiful object, person, etc., you can also be thoughtless. Not thoughtless, as in uncaring, but just without thoughts crossing your mind- there is a red light that stops thought, flashing in your mind.

All gurus talk about how being - just BEING, with no thought, I mean, is the key to many good things. So I decided that being a Thought Leader may be passe, and I need to be a No-thought leader. The more I thought about it, the more it appealed to me. But how would I convey this thought to others, that they should be without thought, I wondered.

Ok, I am still thinking about it. But the idea is good, you must admit...

It's Not Just the Wines

We lay too much emphasis on what others tell us is good. It's not just the wines though.

The experts tell us what to do in many spheres of life. And we listen to them. Sometimes they are right. More often, they are wrong. Any person of average intelligence knows what's good for him. But this is clouded by what others (experts or not) keep signaling to us.

You can only do so much to please others. That also ends up not pleasing you. There has to be a balance. " Not listening" to someone- particularly elders- is considered a sin in our society, and the popular refrain of parents is "he/she doesn't listen to me". While the parental anguish is justified when the kid is a kid, this persists when the kid is a grown-up too. That's when he/she needs to discover himself, make a few mistakes of his own, and learn.

In adulthood too, we have know-alls who have a solution to every problem. These guys are dangerous. You need to think for yourself, and this skill can only develop through practice. Who was it that said, " I think, therefore I am?" He was right.

Teacup in a Storm

Yes, I know we usually talk of a storm in a teacup. But I woke up this morning due to the sound of a thunderstorm with rain, and decided that the best course of action was to make myself a cup of tea.

So I did. And tea makes you think. So I did that, too.

The more I thought, the less I understood. Then I remembered I used to have a poster which said, "The more I think, the more confused I get." So I stopped thinking.

Our gurus (those that I have read anyway) advise us to stop thinking in order to approach the thoughtless state of 'being' to escape from the mundane, useless thoughts that crowd our poor minds. This is supposed to take you (over time, when the time is right etc..) to a meditative, calm, 'being-in-the-present' kind of state.

So I tried my best to meditate. And lo and behold, I found a new awakening, ....from sleep, because unknowingly, I had dozed off in the middle of my spiritual quest.

Anyway, there is always a next time!

Practical Sufism

I am not a Sufi, but reading about the 'ism' has been on my list for a while. Some books I had earlier browsed through at bookstores (yes, I am a relic who does my browsing physically) were a bit esoteric, and I left them alone. This one by Phillip Gowins was a trifle friendly looking, and I managed to read it in a couple of days. On the plus side, it is not dogmatic. It is quite funny, witty and well-written. It sticks to the basics, as one can imagine, because words are probably inadequate to explain faith.

Experience may do something to you if....as many mystics and gurus insist, and some philosophers- particularly J. Krishnamurty. This one insists that you must have a teacher, and work your way up the ladder of enlightenment. I have read a couple of others who differ, and say it can happen pretty quickly. It is a good intro, peppered with personal experiences from the author. Interesting stuff, though it would take more than a book to become one, if you were inclined. But like all great streams of thought, worth a thought!

Seminar on Thought Leadership

This is the name of a new course that I am teaching this term at IMT Nagpur. This is an attempt to learn from diverse fields and innovations therein. We will cover a lot of ground in two months, ranging from Branding to Objectivism, and from World cinema to fashion, war and terrorism. The idea is to try and synthesise what drives innovation and how it affects us in business and in life. A team is assigned a topic, researches and presents it for about an hour, followed by a question hour (or half an hour).

Returned from a nice but short (aren't they all?) vacation at a beach resort in Shrivardhan in the Konkan area of Raigad district. This is a really unspoilt place, with basic amenities, in the lap of nature. You eat, drink, swim, play and generally relax. Food is typically custom-made, and seafood is a specialty. A big group of around 20 family members were there and we intend doing this once a year. Cheers to that!