CNV3-I1-13-Executive Health

"In every one of us there are two ruling and directing principles, whose guidance we follow wherever they may lead; the one being an innate device of pleasure, the other an acquired judgment, which aspires after excellence. Now these two fundamental principles at one time maintain harmony, while at another they are at feud within us, and now one and now the other obtains mastery"

--Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

Introduction

If one sits back and stretches old childhood memories, he would find how he, as a child, easily ignored mother’s instructions to get up early, to go for morning walk/jog, to do some exercise, have home-made breakfast, and go to school on time in order to avoid late mark in school diary. How easily and stupidly he used to enjoy some extra minutes of morning sleep; how he used to skip exercise and breakfast in a hurry to catch up with school time; how the school authorities punished him for reaching late.

During one’s college days, how he ignored parents’/teachers’ advise to do regular studies all throughout the year so that at the annual exams there would be no hurry and anxiety to cope up with the vast studies.

During one’s middle life how smoothly and tactfully he ignored wife’s advice not to go for drink parties with friends very often; until the increased cholesterol and sugar appeared in the annual health check-up report. As a senior citizen, how he ignored the health instructions given by family doctor for avoiding tasty junk food from road side eateries thereby attracting some health issue.

What it is?

अन्यच्छ्रेयोऽन्यदुतैव प्रेयस्ते उभे नानार्थे पुरुषँ सिनीतः । तयोः श्रेय आददानस्य साधुर्भवति हीयतेऽर्थाद्य उ प्रेयो वृणीते ॥ १ ॥

One is good while another is pleasant. These two, serving different ends, bind men; happiness comes to him, who, of these, chooses the good; who so chooses the pleasant forfeits the true end.

श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतस्तौ संपरीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः । श्रेयो हि धीरोऽभिप्रेयसो वृणीते प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्शेमाद्वृणीते ॥ २ ॥

Both the good and the pleasant approach the mortal; the intelligent man examines and distinguishes them; for, the intelligent man prefers the good to the pleasant; the ignorant man chooses the pleasant for the sake of his body.

— Katha Upanishad, 1.2.1-1.2.2

Preyas are those human activities which are attractive, fascinating, easy, pleasurable in the beginning but lead to frustration, misery, turmoil, repentance in the longer run.

Shreyas are un-attractive, difficult, non-pleasurable, painful in the beginning but lead to fulfilment, satisfaction, joy, happiness, peace in the longer run.

The original idea of duality of life may be found in Katha Upanishad which defines the two paths of Convenience and Righteousness. It has inspired many Western scholars of the past like Charles Johnston, William butler Yeats, George William Russel, Elizabeth A. Schlitz who compared it with Plato’s Phaedrus Theory.

Four Stages of Human Life

Human life is divided into four major stages viz. Brahmacharya (Student-up to 24 years), Grihastha (Householder-25 to 48 years), Wanprastha (Old age-49 to 72years) and Sanyasa (Renunciate – over 72 tears). During all the four stages we listen to the dictates of our senses to choose between the likes and dislikes driven primarily by the sense-satisfaction.

Dilemma of Nervous System

Our nervous system is conditioned to face one-way traffic – away from what we dislike and towards what we like. Pleasure exists so long as everything goes in our way of likes and pain begins when many things do not match with our stream of likes. Then our nervous system screams in protest, which we experience in various physical symptoms: tension, anxiety, headache, ulcer, asthma, numbness etc. Life situations compel us to make our choice from likes and dislikes. The duality of life exists is at every stage of life. We must select our path of the Convenience (Likes) or the path of Righteousness (Dislikes). Delusion arises from the duality of attraction or Preyas and aversion or Shreyas which a lifelong phenomenon.

A child forgets mother’s advice not to eat chocolates and candies, which are harmful for dental health because they create cavities in teeth besides putting on fats which cause many disorders. This pleasurable activity leads to forced visit to dental clinic.

Effect on Social Relations

Likes and dislikes in the eating habits lead us to physical disorders and similar preferences of likes and dislikes exist in our social relations too; which result in strained social relations.  Many a times we must work closely with those people who are in the list of dislikes. Such forced working together creates tension inside and if it is not handled properly it leads to uncalled for explosion at times. In our work life or family life we experience in our daily life. Most effective way to reduce such situations is to deliberately start mixing and to start liking the company of people in the list of dislikes. One of the most effective way to reduce tension is to learn harmoniously even with such people. It is an opportunity to draw close to others and to drive away ego-based hatred. Thus, we can try to reverse the process of estrangement, bring a small joy to others which in turn reciprocate and help to reduce interpersonal tensions and avoid major break-ups. One may try this trick on immediate boss to witness rewarding outcome. Even in the strained relations of husband and wife this strategy works effectively.

Bhagvat Gita’s Message on Duality of life

(Bhagvad Gita Chapt.7:27 )

Meaning: Delusion arises from the duality of attraction and aversion. O Bharata, every creature is deluded by these dualities from birth.

Many people do not understand the true nature of dualities of life. They remain deluded and dwell in dualities of sensual pleasure and pain, misery and happiness, ego-oriented honour and dishonour; get carried away by momentary pleasure, which is sure to fade soon and develop hate towards longer lasting happiness and joy of life.

Can it be applied to Business processes?

Yes certainly, Preyas in business processes means choosing easier path of diluting quality norms in order to increase profit margins; allowing mixing of substandard ingredients providing substandard services; not responding to customer grievances, this is all for saving cost to earn profits in short run.

‘Shreyas’ approach in business processes are somewhat tougher and difficult to administer. They are adherence to strict quality norms; rejecting any substandard ingredient; providing best after-sales service; establishing regular dialogue with customers etc. The list is merely illustrative and not exhaustive. These are all slower methods of increasing business and customer base.

The business houses who adopt to ‘Preyas’ approach often lead to increased profits in the initial years but in the longer run they lose customer satisfaction which is followed by tarnished brand image.

The business houses which adopt to ‘Shreyas’ work silently but lead to increased customer base, business growth and strong brand image. Hence, let us commit ourselves to adopt principles of Shreyas and earn long-lasting happiness.

Prof Arjun Naik , HOD Life Style Management, ITM B-School, Kharghar