Leadership—A By-Product of Spirituality
It was the eve of the opening of a super-specialty hospital, a unique institution providing free major surgery of all internal organs. This hospital of gigantic size, beautiful architectural design, and state-of-the-art equipment from all over the World was being completed round the clock. There was tremendous excitement among people gathered from various countries of the world to Watch this event.
One morning, the Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University [Sai Baba] came and stood near the post-graduate students. He was carrying a letter in His hand. ln a casual manner, He mentioned to the students that the letter was from the President of India. The President had been the guest of honor a year ago when the foundation stone of the hospital was laid, and it was declared by the Chancellor that the hospital will start functioning exactly a year later. For a variety of reasons, the construction work could not start for about six months.
It was then that the Chancellor intervened, and the project started and was about to be completed on schedule. The President of India had written in the letter that completion of the project in five months was a miracle. If this project were to be undertaken by the Government of India, it would have taken at least five years to complete!
The Chancellor was about to walk away when the author, sitting nearby, said that this achievement would make an excellent case study on leadership for the M.B.A. students of the university. The Chancellor paused, looked hard at the author and said, “No, it is not management,” and then raising His eyes to the far, far horizons He recited the ancient Sanskrit sloka [verse of praise] from Vedas [scriptures] given to humanity thousands of years ago:
“Na Karmana, na prajaya, dhanena. Thyagenaike amrutatwa manshu.”
[Not by action, not by progeny, not by wealth, but by sacrifice alone can self-realization be achieved.]
Tyaga is the key word in this stanza. It is not easy to translate this Sanskrit word into English. Its sense is contained in sacrifice, selflessness, and renunciation of self-interest. It is this virtue which enables a leader to achieve the impossible.
But what is spirituality? And what is self-realization?
Spirituality is to rise above religions marked by purely ceremonial aspects of the church, mosque, or temple. It is to understand and then experience that the Creator and His creation are ONE. The following observation by Sai Baba makes the process and the end of spiritual growth absolutely clear:
“It is good to be born in a religion, but not good to die in one. Grow and rescue yourself from the limit of regulations, doctrines that fence in your freedom of thought, the ceremonies and rites that restrict and direct. Reach the point where churches do not matter, where all roads end, from where all roads began.”
Spiritual growth can be achieved if we live our worldly life in accordance with Human Values. The spiritual growth culminates in the experience of our reality. This universal experience has been described by saints and seers of all faiths thus:
“I and my father are one“—Jesus Christ
“Annul Haqq”-I am the truth—Islam
“So Hum”-I am that—Sanathana Dharma (The eternal faith of India).
-Lieut. Gen. (retd.) Dr. M.L. Chibber
Source: Sai Baba’s Mahavakya on Leadership
