Earn. Protect. Repeat. But.. What?

Life Insurance Corporation of India which happens to be the largest Life Insurance Corp in the world in terms of policyholders (about 290 million) has a motto in Sanskrit - 'योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्' [ Yoga Kshemam Vahami Aham ]

This means LIC assures the policyholders that it will take care of their 'Yoga' and 'Kshema' in case of any calamity falls upon them.

"Yoga" in this context means -To add

"Kshema" in this context means -To protect earned assets

LIC assures to be responsible in 'adding' promised amount policyholders' assets and also promises to take care of the assets held by the policyholders in case of 'End of Term' in literal or otherwise.

If you think from where this motto is being referred, it's not that hard. It's referred from none other than BhagvadGeeta.

Krishna Says in BhagvadGeeta -

अनन्यश्चिन्तयतो ये मां ये जना: पर्युपासते।

तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां 'योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्'।।

Chapter 9 Verse 22

This means -

Those who exclusively and consistently contemplate on the principles given by Krishna; while doing so who get engaged in "Nishkama Karma".

Those who revere the paths given by Krishna; Krishna makes sure that he will take care of their 'Yoga' and 'Kshema'

As Krishna says in the same BhagvadGeeta that he is equanimous in nature towards his followers and he is equally courteous to every follower of his; how will 'Krishna' will be able to take care of 'Yoga' and 'Kshema' ?

Let's dissect Krishna's statement with one by one concept.

What are the pragmatic aspects of - Nishkama Karma?

'Karma' is one of those borrowed terms/concepts from Indian scriptures. It's loosely translated as 'deeds' and with that 'Karma' are categorized with Good and Bad.

However, 'Karma' not only limited to just deeds and can be termed as a 'non-translatable' in English; but that's a topic of different discussion.

Same as of 'Karma', another concept borrowed from Indian scriptures is 'Kama'. Surprisingly it is most misconstrued term ever as it is mostly classified in categories of 'peculiar' desires.

Leave aside 'peculiar' - 'Kama' is just not about ONLY desires.

Let's understand it how.

If 'Kama' is just about desires - then 'Nishkama' is established as antonym of 'desires' - which means 'with no desires'.

So Nishkama + Karma = doing deeds with no desires ( of the results )

But is it really possible to do any 'Karma' without desiring the results?

Then, this concept becomes an 'idealistic' and 'bookish' concept which is not at all easy to follow in practical life. We cannot put even any tiniest effort without expecting an outcome from it. Then why Krishna is advising us to follow something which is not pragmatic?

The reason Krishna and BhagvadGeeta is extremely popular and followed by millions is - It is absolutely relevant and pragmatic in past, present and future.

so how can we define this 'Kama'?

Let's understand it with a situation - If we give a toy to a kid who is about 1-2 years old, the kid will be happy. If we ask the kid to give us the toy back, the kid will return it with a smile on the face. You return this toy to the kid and then ask the kid to give you the toy back. The kid will again return it with a smile on the face. You can repeat this activity several times and every time the kid will be playful and happy whilst.

What if the kid is about 3-4 years old?

When you handover the toy to kid, he/she will be happy but when you ask him/her to return the toy - the kid will not agree to return that toy.

Even if he/she agrees to return the toy, there will not be a smile on the face.

What happened? Here comes a 'Kama'.

'Kama' in this context is not desire but it is - possession, entitlement, authority.

If we consider this in context of adults - it is the most adored 'STATUS'.

The 'STATUS' which every man wears like a badge, which every woman adores like an ornament.

So how do we establish 'Nishkama Karma' --> It is working out your duties without considering the 'status' or Keeping your 'status' away while working with your teams/groups/organizations.

Let's assume that we get to put away our beloved 'Status' and work consistently towards the goals which align with our mission, but

1. What will be added ('Yoga') to What ?

2. What will be protected that is earned ('Kshema') until When ?

If we ponder upon these concepts from Indian scriptures we get an elaborate meaning of 'Yoga' and 'Kshema'

Now Yoga becomes - To add that is "Unearned"

so what is it that is 'Unearned' ?

If we think in a generic manner, according to earthly transactions we may infer that, this could be about Money/Assets.

But if we look closely, for someone who is either employed or who has a small business ( self employed ), Money is not something which is 'Unearned'. An Employee or a business-owner gets the money according to the price put on his/her services and/or products. Furthermore, whatever Money a person earns, he/she has to spend it on the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. Even if someone thinks that he/she will save some part of his/her earnings, it would be eventually to be spent on either a necessity or a pleasure. This doesn't qualify with definitions of 'Yoga' and 'Kshema'.

If someone thinks that this might be about 'Assets'; if someone invests his/her hard-"earned" money to buy a home or rather a palace, then also whatever loan was accrued to build this home/palace; installments must be paid to 'acquire' that property. Plus there would be additional taxes, maintenance and what not.

Considering this situation to 'protect' these assets itself one has to 'add' the earnings. This is exactly opposite of what is expected from 'Yoga' and 'Kshema'.

Overall if we look at it, anything that contributes to necessity and/or pleasure cannot be bucketed into 'Yoga' and 'Kshema'

So what is it Krishna is talking about?

Have you heard of the concept 'Yagya' / 'Yajna' ?

Krishna heavily promotes 'Yagya' / 'Yajna' and even discusses the outcomes of 'Yagya' / 'Yajna' in BhagavadGeeta frequently.

Some of the rational thinkers will say, how can anything be possible by just doing 'Yagya' / 'Yajna' ?

With 'Yagya' / 'Yajna' how one can earn the 'Unearned' and protect it?

These thoughts are racing up and down in your minds just because you savored a dogma about 'Yagya' / 'Yajna'.

'Yagya' / 'Yajna' is not just burning a holy fire [ Agni ] in the holy pit [ Yajna Kunda ] and chanting 'mantra' to please deities. It is a form of 'Yagya' / 'Yajna' but not the ONLY form of 'Yagya' / 'Yajna'.

So what is this 'Yagya' / 'Yajna'?

Have you heard of the terms - 'Vyashti' and 'Samashti' ?

Let me take you to the most known example of making a living.

There are 4 ways for a person to earn a living in this world.

1. Employee

2. Self employed ( Small Business )

3. Business Owner ( Big Business )

4. Investor

[ For that matter Robert Kiyosaki endorses these categories in his famous book - "Rich Dad Poor Dad"]

Let's take the first category of employee. An employee is a part of his employer's professional organization.

So Employee becomes 'Vyashti' i.e. Smaller Entity

Employer (organization) becomes 'Samashti' i.e Larger Entity

An employee exchanges his/her time and skills with Employer for an agreed upon 'Salary'

So an employee 'adds' up his/her skills to the organization's business activities in form of 'Yoga'.

The Organization in turn takes care of employee ( and his/her family ) by continuing to accept his/her services and the salary deposited in form of 'Kshema'

While performing the duties there is value 'add'ition in the employee's experience and skillset as form of 'Yoga'. And through a number of loyal employees for an org, that organization's investments and beneficiaries are protected in form of 'Kshema'

This is an ongoing cyclic process and this is nothing but a 'Yagya' / 'Yajna'.

Now one would think, who is really benefitted out of this cycle?

Outwardly, one may think that 'Employee' (Vyashti) and 'Organization' (Samashti) both are benefitted in equal form but when one scratches the surface one gets to know that 'Employee' is a temporary beneficiary while 'Organization' is a permanent beneficiary. This is because Organization has established this cyclic process in the form of a 'System'.

No matter even if the employee is working at a high position ( v-level or for that matter c-level ), still the artifacts and/or contributions created by the employee are in possession of the organization. Even if the employee leaves, organization can still use those artifacts/contributions and continue using it.

This is absolutely righteous since the employee is not a partner in the 'Risks' associated with the organization and thus an employee surrenders his/her 'powers' in exchange of the 'salary'.

And here comes Krishna's motivation - what if a person establishes this 'cyclic' system for his/her own?

If you follow the path enlightened by Krishna and have a little faith on yourself to start your own venture?

Within your own circle of influence you can be a 'Vyashti' ( Smaller entity ) and your 'own' venture will be Samashti ( Larger Entity ). You can be equal contributor and equal beneficiary in both the aspects.

You can do 'add'ition (Yoga) to the resources and mindset of your own and you can 'protect' (Kshema') your thought process and dreams from the 'external influences'

While doing a 'Yagya' / 'Yajna' of Entrepreneurship - You can add resources to your own Venture and your Venture will take care / protect you from unexpected situations.

So in a nutshell what Krishna is saying is --

"If you treat your business like your eldest son/daughter, your business will take care of you and your family like your eldest son/daughter."

Hare Krishna!

Prabhu.