SA business leaders will again benefit from the teachings of philosopher Swami Parthasarathy

SOUTH Africans are anxious about the future, given the numerous political and economic upheavals we’ve endured recently. What we can be certain of, however, is that by the law of karma, what is sown will be reaped.

One of the greatest philosophers of our time, Swami Parthasarathy, will explain the law of karma during his annual lecture tour to South Africa in August, and will also look at how to achieve a work-life balance, how to make relationships work, and how to optimise business while minimising stress.

“Whatever action you perform it will meet with the consequences that it deserves. If you rush into an action without the use of a discriminating intellect, it will meet with the result it deserves and not what you desire.

“Your past actions determine your present destiny. Selfish action leads to suffering and sorrow, while unselfish action engenders peace,” says 90-year-old Parthasarathy about the law of karma.

Parthasarathy has been visiting South Africa since 1986, disseminating the ancient knowledge of Vedanta from India, an ancient philosophy that dates back several thousand years.

It’s a scientific system of principles that govern human life – the digest of great thinkers and philosophers over countless generations. Its timeless principles transcend culture, race and religion, making Vedanta universal in its application.

The philosophy trains one to develop the intellect, the human faculty of reason and judgment. Thus Vedanta is a user’s manual for life that explains the human constitution and how to use the body, mind and intellect for maximum peace and prosperity. Selflessness is key to Vedanta. “One’s ego is accentuated when the emphasis is on one’s individuality. It becomes devastating when your accent is continually selfcentred, selfish.

The more one’s attention is on one’s own welfare and not on others, you would be disturbed, mentally agitated.

“Also, success of any action would be impaired,” says Parthasarathy.

During his lectures he will expound these founding Vedantic principles, focusing on selfmanagement, and how to effectively balance the needs of business and family. “The inability to maintain proper balance between work and relationships stems from an uncontrolled mind.

While at work the mind worries about home and while at home it worries about work. This rambling of the mind causes stress and disharmony,” he explains.

Apart from conducting lectures around South Africa, Parthasarathy can be found bowling a wicked offspin and wins many MVP (most valuable player) awards competing against players less than a third his age.

The secret to his success lies not in techniques specific to the game, he says, but in his dominant preoccupation, the knowledge of Vedanta.

“The knowledge of Vedanta teaches you the art of playing the game of life. Life is just a big sport, between you and the world. Sometimes you beat the world, sometimes the world beats you.

“But then, be a sportsman,” says Parthasarathy, who will be playing cricket with the Vedanta Academy cricket team in Durban in August.