Fundamentals of Spiritual Leadership in Vedas

Chanakya Neeti

In our last article we discussed a lot about Capitalism and Vedic Arthashastra as its alternative. We also determined that all the world wide chaos aroused from the cocktail of global capitalists and politicians. The final out come of our last two articles” Political Leadership: An Obsolete Concept (Part 1and Part 2) is that the present day leadership is unbale to establish peace, prosperity, sustainable development in accordance with nature and even can’t prevail the justice. 

If it is so, then which kind of leadership can provide everything mentioned above? The answer is, only Spiritual Leadership can prevail the Peace, Prosperity, Justice and off course all-around human development and integrated growth. Integrated growth includes total wellness. 

Here, we must learn the real meaning of Spiritual Leadership. According to Vedas Spiritual Leadership means the leadership motivated, inspired and driven by four core principles of Vedas viz. Dharma (The Path of Righteousness), Artha (Economics), Kama (Lust, Greed, Anger, Ego, Infatuation and Jealousy), and Moksha (The Final Liberation from Worldly Bondages). By following these four principles one can triumph on his/her basic evil instincts but as a matter of fact none of the political leadership is neither competent and eligible to do so nor they can develop such abilities. Even in India which is heart land of Vedic civilization who can assume that political leadership is capable to follow these above mentioned core concepts of Vedas or rule of Dharma (Dharma doesn’t means religion in any sense). 

Only Spiritual leadership can render their selfless services for the entire humanity without discriminating humans on the basis of their religion, cast, creed, nationality, language, and region. Vedas give the complete idea on Spiritual Leadership and concept of Nation. 

To grasp the principles of the Vedic approach to Spiritual Leadership - it is necessary to understand five Sanskrit words in relation to the Artha Sutras found in Kautilya's Arthashastra: Sukham, Dharma, Artha, Rajyam, and Indriya-Vijayi. This is because these words are frequently (or brutally) mistranslated, making comprehension of the broader knowledge nearly impossible. Happiness is translated as Sukham (Happiness). Religion is a mistranslation of Dharma. Economy is the literal translation of Artha. Rashtra is taught as a 'Nation' or a 'Nation-state,' whilst Rajyam is translated as a 'State.'  

These translations, as you can see, are just partially correct - at best. When you properly comprehend these five words, you will have a firm grasp on key fundamentals of Spiritual Leadership, which also embody beliefs and ideals of good governance. Kautilya includes a number of Sutras in his Arthashastra. 

Good Governance is built on the first five sutras, which are listed below:

1. Sukham (Happiness) is the goal of life:

2. Dharma ( Path of Righteousness) is the foundation of Sukham

3. Artha (Economics) is the foundation of Dharma

4. Dharma’s foundation is Rajyam (Nation or State)

5. Rajyam’s (Nation or State) are well administered by those who are Indriya Vijayi ( Those who have Conquered their senses and got triumph over evil instincts)

1. Sukham is the goal of life:

Sukham translates to Happiness in English. To be happy is to feel pleasure, contentment, satisfaction, joy, delight, and felicity. Everyone has their own beliefs and perceptions of happiness. For some, it is significant wealth, a large house, and contentment. Some people define success as having a huge house, a little automobile, or a piece of great jewellery. Whatever one believes will make him/her happy is what he/she seeks. There's nothing wrong with hoping for and working for things that you believe will make you happy.

The goal of the Governing Establishment and leaders is to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to pursue their happiness. People who seek their target of happiness by deceitful ways, such as by harming others, are on a clear route to crime. Stopping such crimes, or having them brought to justice when they are committed, is the ultimate goal of leaders and people in government.

According to Niti Shastras, pure and blissful happiness is attained when the Arishad Vargas - six innate enemies to happiness ingrained in humans - are removed. Kama (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Infatuation), Mada (Ego), and Matsarya (Jealousy) are the six obstacles. If whatever one desires lacks these six characteristics, that desire qualifies as an object of true happiness. If not, that object is the personification of greed, capable of wreaking havoc if pursued. Even today, if you look closely, all of humanity's troubles, both micro and macro, can be traced back to these Arishad Vargas.

In Arthashastra, Kautilya plainly indicates that one who has vanquished these Arishadvargas is better equipped to lead. He further argues that leaders with Arishadvargas are doomed to trigger not just their own demise, but also the demise of the institution they serve. Such leaders should be avoided. Leaders who have mastered themselves are well prepared to deal with rivals and enemies. It is impossible to dominate others unless one has conquered oneself. This is the unchangeable truth.

After overcoming the six natural obstructions or enemies, it becomes the leader's responsibility to lead his people in the direction of wisdom, health, riches, and success. Knowledge and information are important tools, but the strength of leaders comes from their wisdom. It is through this insight that a better person, family, society, city, state, nation, and world can be realized.

Leaders influence the fate of themselves and their people by realising that the goal of life is to pursue happiness rather than greed. 

2. Dharma is the Foundation of Sukham:

Dharma is a Sanskrit word that, according to linguists, has no equivalent in any other language. To interpret Dharma as ‘religion' would be a huge blunder. Bhishma describes Dharma in the Mahabharata chapter Shanti Parva as follows: "It is most difficult to define Dharma." Dharma is defined as everything that aids in the upliftment of all living creatures. As a result, Dharma is unquestionably that which ensures the well-being of all living beings. Dharma, according to the knowledgeable rishis (sages), is that which endures. 

Dharma is defined in the Mahabharata's chapter Karna Parva as "Dharma sustains society, maintains social order, ensures the well-being and progress of humanity; Dharma is undeniably that which offers ways to achieve these objectives." According to Jaimini, author of Purva Mimamsa and Uttara Mimamsa, Dharma is that which the Vedas suggest as beneficial to the larger welfare. at his commentary on Parashar Smriti, Madhvacharya, an influential minister at the court of the Vijayanagara Empire's founders - Hakka and Bukka - notes: Dharma is that which sustains and ensures the prosperity and wellbeing of all in this world... Dharma is communicated in the form of positive and negative commandments, Vidhi and Nishedha.

Dharma, then, can be regarded as an individual's moral obligation, acts of generosity to the deserving, and organizations and institutions dedicated to the eternal benefit of all beings without distinction. Dharma is also synonymous with universal compassion. As a result, Dharma is unquestionably the foundation of Sukham.

Continued….