April 11, 2025
Project and Personnel Management From the Viewpoint of the Spiritual Seeker
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 2, Looking at Oneself and Others, pp. 47-48
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/04/09/project-and-personnel-management-from-the-viewpoint-of-the-spiritual-seeker/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:06,720
Being a spiritual seeker and a
manager of a business or a unit
2
00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:11,520
or department or program are not
incompatible activities.
3
00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,680
The question that seekers raise
is how to find the proper
4
00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,480
balance that allows the work,
including the management work
5
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,320
that they do, be part of their
spiritual sadhna.
6
00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,120
If they are interpreting that
work according to a fixed
7
00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,120
guideline of right or wrong,
they frequently opt toward a
8
00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,360
more severe and less forgiving
form of management.
9
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,200
The manager's methodology is
very much dependent on the guna
10
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,480
that predominates in his nature,
as well as the standpoint of the
11
00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:46,520
manager with respect to the
spiritual sadhna.
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,240
The vital nature is a natural
seat of rajas, and when rajas is
13
00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,000
in the forefront, there can be a
tendency toward bullying,
14
00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,080
domineering spirit and exercise
of control or power.
15
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,360
What we call in the animal
Kingdom the enforcement of a
16
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,680
pecking order.
We see this very clearly in
17
00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,560
terms of military training and
hierarchy as well, where the
18
00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,200
lower orders of participants are
harassed and bullied and berated
19
00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,480
into compliance with the
authority of the manager in that
20
00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,680
circumstance.
This is in fact a very common
21
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,840
management method found widely
throughout the world.
22
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,880
For the spiritual seeker,
however, who wants to develop a
23
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,640
different way and who
understands that the
24
00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,040
relationships and stress that
develop under this method are
25
00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,160
actually counterproductive and
the opposite to what he wants to
26
00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:45,560
encourage in his spiritual
growth, it is easy for the vital
27
00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:50,360
nature to generally convince the
mind to support its desires, so
28
00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,480
there are no end of arguments as
to why this may be the best
29
00:01:54,480 --> 00:02:00,080
approach to develop the work.
In the end, however, the seeker
30
00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,320
finds that he needs to shift his
standpoint to the parts of the
31
00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,880
being that more directly align
with his spiritual aspirations,
32
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,240
and that means with the
emergence of the psychic being
33
00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,600
and the increase of its
influence upon the outer nature.
34
00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,040
It is with the emergence of the
psychic being that a new
35
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:26,520
emphasis arises for harmony,
cooperation, goodwill, and
36
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,920
empathy.
When the seeker is oriented from
37
00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:33,800
this direction, his entire
approach to working with others
38
00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,920
and managing processes and
projects undergoes major changes
39
00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:42,520
and adjustments.
There is more emphasis on people
40
00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,400
learning and growing during the
process, a concerted effort to
41
00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,520
achieve harmonious and willing
cooperation rather than
42
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,280
obtaining grudging support
through pressure and domineering
43
00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,920
controls.
The goal can be kept clearly in
44
00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:01,920
focus and a clear sighted
understanding can be applied to
45
00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:06,200
move the project forward without
harming the development of
46
00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,960
others who are participating in
the process.
47
00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:14,160
This also takes more trust in
the process, the participants
48
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:20,000
and the efficacy of the means
over the long term, Fierrobindo
49
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,320
observes.
Quote Each human being is
50
00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,280
composed of different
personalities that feel and
51
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:30,320
behave in a different way, and
his action is determined by the
52
00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,960
one that happens to be prominent
at the time.
53
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,880
The one that has no feelings
against anyone is either the
54
00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,240
psychic being or the emotional
being in the heart.
55
00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:46,840
The one that feels anger and is
severe is a part of the external
56
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,280
vital nature.
On the surface, this anger and
57
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,760
severity is a wrong form of
something that in itself has a
58
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:58,040
value, a certain strength of
will and force of action and
59
00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,320
control in the vital being,
without which work cannot be
60
00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,840
done.
What is necessary is to get rid
61
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,720
of the anger and to keep the
force and firm will, along with
62
00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,080
a developed judgement as to what
is the right thing to do in any
63
00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,079
circumstances.
For instance, people can be
64
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:22,040
allowed to do things in their
own way when that does not spoil
65
00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,000
the work, when it is only their
way of doing what is necessary
66
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,800
to be done, when their way as
opposed to the discipline of the
67
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,120
work, then they have to be
controlled.
68
00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,880
But it should be done quietly
and kindly, not with anger.
69
00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:42,160
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother,
70
00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,960
Looking from Within, Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
71
00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,480
pages 47 to 48.
00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:06,720
Being a spiritual seeker and a
manager of a business or a unit
2
00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:11,520
or department or program are not
incompatible activities.
3
00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,680
The question that seekers raise
is how to find the proper
4
00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,480
balance that allows the work,
including the management work
5
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,320
that they do, be part of their
spiritual sadhna.
6
00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,120
If they are interpreting that
work according to a fixed
7
00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,120
guideline of right or wrong,
they frequently opt toward a
8
00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,360
more severe and less forgiving
form of management.
9
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,200
The manager's methodology is
very much dependent on the guna
10
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,480
that predominates in his nature,
as well as the standpoint of the
11
00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:46,520
manager with respect to the
spiritual sadhna.
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,240
The vital nature is a natural
seat of rajas, and when rajas is
13
00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,000
in the forefront, there can be a
tendency toward bullying,
14
00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,080
domineering spirit and exercise
of control or power.
15
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,360
What we call in the animal
Kingdom the enforcement of a
16
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,680
pecking order.
We see this very clearly in
17
00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,560
terms of military training and
hierarchy as well, where the
18
00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,200
lower orders of participants are
harassed and bullied and berated
19
00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,480
into compliance with the
authority of the manager in that
20
00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,680
circumstance.
This is in fact a very common
21
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,840
management method found widely
throughout the world.
22
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,880
For the spiritual seeker,
however, who wants to develop a
23
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,640
different way and who
understands that the
24
00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,040
relationships and stress that
develop under this method are
25
00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,160
actually counterproductive and
the opposite to what he wants to
26
00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:45,560
encourage in his spiritual
growth, it is easy for the vital
27
00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:50,360
nature to generally convince the
mind to support its desires, so
28
00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,480
there are no end of arguments as
to why this may be the best
29
00:01:54,480 --> 00:02:00,080
approach to develop the work.
In the end, however, the seeker
30
00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,320
finds that he needs to shift his
standpoint to the parts of the
31
00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,880
being that more directly align
with his spiritual aspirations,
32
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,240
and that means with the
emergence of the psychic being
33
00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,600
and the increase of its
influence upon the outer nature.
34
00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,040
It is with the emergence of the
psychic being that a new
35
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:26,520
emphasis arises for harmony,
cooperation, goodwill, and
36
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,920
empathy.
When the seeker is oriented from
37
00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:33,800
this direction, his entire
approach to working with others
38
00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,920
and managing processes and
projects undergoes major changes
39
00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:42,520
and adjustments.
There is more emphasis on people
40
00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,400
learning and growing during the
process, a concerted effort to
41
00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,520
achieve harmonious and willing
cooperation rather than
42
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,280
obtaining grudging support
through pressure and domineering
43
00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,920
controls.
The goal can be kept clearly in
44
00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:01,920
focus and a clear sighted
understanding can be applied to
45
00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:06,200
move the project forward without
harming the development of
46
00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,960
others who are participating in
the process.
47
00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:14,160
This also takes more trust in
the process, the participants
48
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:20,000
and the efficacy of the means
over the long term, Fierrobindo
49
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,320
observes.
Quote Each human being is
50
00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,280
composed of different
personalities that feel and
51
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:30,320
behave in a different way, and
his action is determined by the
52
00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,960
one that happens to be prominent
at the time.
53
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,880
The one that has no feelings
against anyone is either the
54
00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,240
psychic being or the emotional
being in the heart.
55
00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:46,840
The one that feels anger and is
severe is a part of the external
56
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,280
vital nature.
On the surface, this anger and
57
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,760
severity is a wrong form of
something that in itself has a
58
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:58,040
value, a certain strength of
will and force of action and
59
00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,320
control in the vital being,
without which work cannot be
60
00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,840
done.
What is necessary is to get rid
61
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,720
of the anger and to keep the
force and firm will, along with
62
00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,080
a developed judgement as to what
is the right thing to do in any
63
00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,079
circumstances.
For instance, people can be
64
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:22,040
allowed to do things in their
own way when that does not spoil
65
00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,000
the work, when it is only their
way of doing what is necessary
66
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,800
to be done, when their way as
opposed to the discipline of the
67
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,120
work, then they have to be
controlled.
68
00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,880
But it should be done quietly
and kindly, not with anger.
69
00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:42,160
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother,
70
00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,960
Looking from Within, Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
71
00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,480
pages 47 to 48.