Consciousness Management: The Missing

Dimension of Modern Management

By: Sandeep Gupta

1st International Poornvad Philosophy Conference: 21st Century Challenges

Before Contemporary Global Philosophy, Nanded, India January 23 – 25, 2016

“If there is no peace in the world today it is not because there is lack of material wealth. It is because there is lack of poise and balanced judgment in distinguishing right from wrong”

[His Holiness Prof. MB Lal Sahab

7th Leader of Radhasoami Faith, Dayalbagh]

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The Challenge Before Modernity

The challenge is neither economic nor managerial but philosophical

Is it the car’s fault? It is the driver’s fault?

Similarly, when the results are not to our liking / advantage: Is the failure due to management? OR

The failure is due to the drivers of management?

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Tendency to Look Outside for Reasons of Failure

This car is not good …. … It causes

too many accidents

Management is only a process that takes you from where you are standing to the your destination (goal) – it does not produce good or bad results – it produces only results

The Genesis (20th Century Worldview)

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Ethical Sense & Spiritualism

Scientism & Materialism

20th century dominated by scientism and materialism philosophy Rejected all subjective dimensions of creation and human personality Prospered on the belief that man is independent of society and nature is subordinate to him

Ass

umpt

ion

– M

an is

in

stin

ctiv

ely

ratio

nal

Truth – Man is

instinctively selfish

The Shift Taking Place

20th Century Worldview (Scientism & Materialism)

– Material reality is the only reality

– Consciousness is a function of the brain, the essence of which lies in the reflection and constructive-creative transformation of the world

– Consciousness is a product of physical reality and reducible to it

21st Century Worldview (Spiritualism)

– Spirit & mind are also as real as material reality

– Consciousness is something primordial, independent and the all-creating essence of existence

– Consciousness influences physical

reality but cannot be reduced to it

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Utte

r W

orld

lines

s B

etter W

orldliness

There is more to life than mere material achievements

New knowledge or revelation does not mean that the old knowledge was bad It only means that the old knowledge was partial, hence needs to be supplemented

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What Needs to be Done?

Inte

nt /

Des

ire

Con

scio

usne

ss

High

Low

Society welfare centric (Results)

Personal welfare centric (Results)

Management Systems

Processes Approach Theories

Typical Worldview Neutral Management Process

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Better Worldliness is a disposition towards life based on a Dharmic (righteous) way of conduct; a conduct with compassion and forbearance for fellow men irrespective of

nationality, colour, religion or caste

What Needs to be Done? …..

21st Century requires a management system that has the ability to: – Bring about an “inner mental revolution” – Develop the ability to see the connectedness in the creation – Everything is

affected by everything – and everything is affected – by everything – Help usher in better worldliness in place of worldliness or unworldliness

Material World Management

(Matter)

Transition from Worldliness to Better

Worldliness (Balance achieved)

Consciousness Management

(Spirit & Mind)

Understanding the Laws of Nature

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Spirit Energy (Love & Oneness) Spirit Energy

(Love & Oneness)

The Construct of Creation & Man

Mind Energy (Duality)

Mind Energy (Duality)

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Matter Energy

(Selfishness)

Matter Energy

(Selfishness)

Creation (Universe) a Omni Quantum Field of Consciousness and man a part of it

Matter Energy (Selfishness)

Matter Energy (Selfishness)

Mind Energy (Duality)

Mind Energy (Duality)

Spirit Energy (Love &

Oneness)

Spirit Energy (Love &

Oneness)

Mac

roco

sm M

icrocosm

‘Spirit – Mind – Matter’ Interaction

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Spirit, Mind & Matter Energies Dynamics - A systems Perspective

By: His Holiness Prof. P.S. Satsangi

The Two Natures of Man

Man is essentially a spiritual being and fundamentally motivated by the need to make sense of his life, however, due to his compulsions for organic survival, satisfaction & multiplication he instinctively sees, thinks & acts selfishly.

His HIGHER NATURE (HN) i.e. love, peace, harmony, selflessness, reflexive wisdom is dormant till made kinetic

His LOWER NATURE (LN) i.e. desire, anger, attachment, greed and ego is kinetic till made dormant

Thus man is: Lit with the divine spark but is not wholly divine His divinity is not an actuality but only a potentiality God and brute crossed

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Indian Philosophy of Consciousness (IPoC) is an answer to Julian Huxley’s call to modern science to develop into a science of human potential

The Difference Between the Two Natures?

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The difference between the two natures is that of their Level of Consciousness

Lower Nature Higher Nature

The Design of Life

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Self -realization

Moksha (Liberation

from material obsession)

Artha (Wealth)

Kama (Desires)

Dharma (Righteousness)

OUTER WORLD In which we interact with nature incl. humans &

perform actions

INNER WORLD Of our thoughts, values, dreams &

desires

HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS Integrated vision of

creation (We-Us-Ours)

LOWER CONSCIOUSNESS Material vision of creation (I-Me-My)

Consciousness & its Development

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Consciousness

• Primordial, independent, & a singular force

• Pervades the entire creation & is the essence of all life

• Cover all interactions & experiences whether sensory, transcendental, trans-sensory & trans-social

• It is a multidimensional spectrum, with each dimension representing a distinct human identity ranging from the egoic to the cosmic

A ladder for man to climb & become aware of the different dimensions of reality and bring a change in

his ability to see, think and act

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(Cosmic Nature) Inner World

Outer World

(Egoic Nature)

(Different Planes of Consciousness)

What do Scientists Say About Consciousness?

“A fundamental conclusion of the new physics also acknowledges that the observer creates the reality. ………. …….Physicists are being forced to admit that the universe is a “mental” construction. ………………… The universe is immaterial-mental and spiritual”

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Dr. Richard Conn Henry John Hopkins Univ., USA

Max Plank Nobel Prize 1918

Consciousness is fundamental and matter a derivative of consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything we regard as existing is postulating consciousness

Dr. Anton Zielinger Univ. of Vienna, Austria

“We can change the way reality behaves just by looking at it”

Consciousness Thought Action

Law of Our Being

What we hold in our consciousness becomes manifest as our experience Our lives and affairs are influenced and shaped by the character of our thinking We are limited by our own dominant state of mind (consciousness), and Stirrings of greatness and groans of downhill slide all begin within our mind

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Experience

1st Dimension: Moves outwards & creates awareness of environment

2nd Dimension: Falls back as a reflex & creates datum of self-awareness

Consciousness in Man

Hierarchy of Consciousness Planes & Dynamics Pre-Expansion

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Existence Hierarchy of Consciousness Dynamics of Cons. Decision

Spiritual Plane Integral vision of all planes, Intuition, Revelations, Reflexive knowledge, Wisdom, Bliss, Reflexive intelligence

WE – OUR - US

Mental Plane

Ideas, Concepts, Rational Thinking, Logic, Thoughts, Conscious Self-Conception, Higher emotions, Discretion

DUALITY

Vital Plane Emotions, Feelings, Passions, Relationships

I – ME – MY

Physical Plane Body Knowledge - Primary Skills of Existence & Survival - Physical Urges and Sensations

[Source: Writing of Sri Aurobindo]

Consciousness Expansion/Development

Consciousness development means the psycho-social evolution of man. It is the process of becoming aware of the different dimension of reality and training oneself to subsist and operate from higher and higher levels and bring about a change in self and the world

Firstly man needs other humans for his very humanization, therefore the first level is the development of social consciousness or say ethical sense

Secondly, the development of ethical sense gets extended to bringing about an internal mental revolution which leads to an alteration of the self and a change in the external world’s environment

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When one attains higher consciousness which is beyond the personal mind and the limits of ego, one becomes aware of the cosmic vastness

One begins to feel others too as part of oneself, the same self modified by Nature in other bodies It leads to discovery, to further discovery and finally to the absolute discovery of Reality

Social Consciousness (Ethical Sense) Development

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Birth

Individual

Individual

Person

Human Environment

Education

Bound in own organic system

Developed Person

Education

Treats people as subjects like himself

Treats people as objects for self pleasure

Focus inter-human relationships – capacity to

love & be loved

I am independent

Dev. of Social Consciousness Process: Holistic

education led internalization

Dev. of Spiritual Consciousness Process: Experience led realization

OU

TER

W

OR

LD

OF

MA

N

INN

ER

WO

RLD

O

F M

AN

Progressive awareness of cosmic vastness filled with cosmic spirit and its interaction with forces of mind

and matter.

• Developed Person – High on Ethical sense

• Person – Ethical sense till his/her interest not compromised

• Individual – Low on Ethical sense

Interdependent

Social Consciousness

Education includes moral and subjective reality knowledge

Extending Ethical Sense to Reflexive Righteousness

Reflexive Righteousness >>>>> Instinctive poise & balanced judgement distinguishing right from wrong

It comes by leading >>>>> a moral and conscious life coupled with meditation

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Pooranvad Philosophy Sant Mat Philosophy

Poornavad & Sant Mat both believe that human beings should harness all their faculties i.e. emotional, intellectual and spiritual for personal & societal growth & evolution and

constantly strive for Grace 1. Expertize (Naipunya) 2. Planning (Yojakata) 3. Popular opinion (Lokmat) 4. Togetherness (Loksangrah) 5. Relevance of time (Kaal) 6. Divine Pursuit (Upasaana)

1. Satsang (sacred gathering) 2. Seva (service) 3. Abhyasa (Meditational Practices) when practiced together, one experiencing

higher realities a change in the way he/she sees, thinks and acts sets-in

Both philosophies when applied properly inculcate the qualities of kashtriya, brahmin, vaish & sudhra in a human which unleashes his/her potential by making him/her to reflexively see beyond themselves

Consciousness & its Influences on Man

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Changing Perception

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Consciousness Expansion Selfishness I

MAN

SPIRIT Selflessness

Movement from gross

to subtle

Impact of Change in Perception

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Selfishness driven by Desire, Anger, Attachment, Greed, & Ego Selfishness driven by Desire, Anger, Attachment, Greed, & Ego

Driven by Righteousness, Co-existence, Co-creation & Co-evolution Driven by Righteousness, Co-existence, Co-creation & Co-evolution

(-) Lower Consciousness

(+) Higher Consciousness

“I-Me-My” Life Focus

“We – Us – Ours” Life Focus

Means to an End

An End in Itself

Cohesiveness & Orderly

Divisiveness & Chaotic

Social Wealth Creation Focus

Individual Wealth Creation Focus

Society Society Man Man Money Money Business Business

Con

scio

usne

ss

(Consciousness behind all forms of slavery)

(Consciousness behind all forms of evolution)

Consciousness Influences Even Business Performance

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Firms of Endearment (FoE) out performed the S&P 500 by 14 times and Good to Great Companies by 6 times over a period of 15 years (1998 – 2013)

Cumulative Performance 15 Years 10 Years 5 Years 3 Years

US FoEs 1681% 410% 151% 83%

International FoEs 1180% 512% 154% 47%

Good to Great Companies

263% 176% 158% 222%

S&P 500 118% 107% 61% 57%

(Source: ‘Firms of Endearment’ by Raj Sisodia, page 20)

Attributes of FoEs

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Characteristics of FoEs: Interests of all stakeholder groups brought into strategic alignment so that all

prospered simultaneously Functional and psychological needs of stakeholders were met in ways that

delighted them and engendered affection for and loyalty to the company

Selected FoEs: 3M, Amazon, Google, Fedex, Boston Beer, IBM, Colgate, Disney, Southwest

Airlines, SAS, Jordan, Prana, Tata (India), BMW (Germany), Posco (S.Korea), Ikea (Sweden), Honda (Japan), Unilever (UK)

“It is not necessary to choose between consciousness & capitalism, self-interest and the broader interest, or personal development or services to others; they are all

inextricably connected , and they all serve one another” Schwartz

Conclusion

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“Consciousness in intrinsic to the grand cosmos, both at macroscopic as well as microscopic levels. Man, a creation on planet Earth happens to be a perfect microcosm of the macrocosm. Spirit-mind-brain consciousness interaction are at the microscopic levels is analogous to consciousness interaction between Supreme Being (Universal Spirit) – Universal Mind – Physical Universe at the macrocosmic levels”

His Holiness Prof. P.S. Satsangi, 2010

(Prof. Satsangi is the 8th Spiritual Leader of Radhasoami Faith, Dayalbagh, Agra)

Consciousness Training Culture Process Mind-Set

Thank You

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