Mahabharata: A Mirror to the Self | Raghu Ananthanarayanan | TEDxCBIT

all of us

all of us have dreams

have dreams

have dreams and all of us

and all of us

and all of us heroic potential in us

heroic potential in us

heroic potential in us but unfortunately

but unfortunately

but unfortunately it isn’t always that we trust it

it isn’t always that we trust it

it isn’t always that we trust it it isn’t always let me invest in it and

it isn’t always let me invest in it and

it isn’t always let me invest in it and interestingly there’s been research done

interestingly there’s been research done

interestingly there’s been research done on this and what we find is that in Ivy

on this and what we find is that in Ivy

on this and what we find is that in Ivy League colleges also a very small

League colleges also a very small

League colleges also a very small percentage of people really believe in

percentage of people really believe in

percentage of people really believe in themselves and have a vision for who

themselves and have a vision for who

themselves and have a vision for who they can be and interestingly the

they can be and interestingly the

they can be and interestingly the percentage of people have a vision for

percentage of people have a vision for

percentage of people have a vision for themselves always accomplished much more

themselves always accomplished much more

themselves always accomplished much more than people who don’t have a vision for

than people who don’t have a vision for

than people who don’t have a vision for themselves and it’s not as though they

themselves and it’s not as though they

themselves and it’s not as though they achieve everything that they set out to

achieve everything that they set out to

achieve everything that they set out to achieve but their achievements and

achieve but their achievements and

achieve but their achievements and accomplishments are significantly higher

accomplishments are significantly higher

accomplishments are significantly higher than people who do not make this

than people who do not make this

than people who do not make this commitment is there a way an easy way by

commitment is there a way an easy way by

commitment is there a way an easy way by which we can do this the answer is yes

which we can do this the answer is yes

which we can do this the answer is yes and interestingly the puranas and the UT

and interestingly the puranas and the UT

and interestingly the puranas and the UT Haase give us a very interesting way of

Haase give us a very interesting way of

Haase give us a very interesting way of working with this the word if the Haase

working with this the word if the Haase

working with this the word if the Haase means Wow is that the way it was and

means Wow is that the way it was and

means Wow is that the way it was and that excites us to start listening these

that excites us to start listening these

that excites us to start listening these very beautiful stories the word purana

very beautiful stories the word purana

very beautiful stories the word purana means para apena vom buddha means old

means para apena vom buddha means old

means para apena vom buddha means old and nagham means nation now how can

and nagham means nation now how can

and nagham means nation now how can something which is old written for 5000

something which is old written for 5000

something which is old written for 5000 years ago be Mason and the way we agreed

years ago be Mason and the way we agreed

years ago be Mason and the way we agreed the Puranas makes it present now one of

the Puranas makes it present now one of

the Puranas makes it present now one of the ways in which it’s often used is to

the ways in which it’s often used is to

the ways in which it’s often used is to project ideals and ask you to imitate

project ideals and ask you to imitate

project ideals and ask you to imitate the ideal

the ideal

the ideal and that’s not what the Piranha was

and that’s not what the Piranha was

and that’s not what the Piranha was designed for piranhas a design for a

designed for piranhas a design for a

designed for piranhas a design for a slightly different purpose you read the

slightly different purpose you read the

slightly different purpose you read the piranhas and the first thing that

piranhas and the first thing that

piranhas and the first thing that strikes you is you are excited by the

strikes you is you are excited by the

strikes you is you are excited by the character and you ask yourself can I be

character and you ask yourself can I be

character and you ask yourself can I be like this so there’s an identification

like this so there’s an identification

like this so there’s an identification and then if you start working with it a

and then if you start working with it a

and then if you start working with it a little more you can get into an

little more you can get into an

little more you can get into an immersion into the character and then

immersion into the character and then

immersion into the character and then you work with it a little more you get

you work with it a little more you get

you work with it a little more you get into self mastery so the piranhas are

into self mastery so the piranhas are

into self mastery so the piranhas are actually meant to be mirrors unto

actually meant to be mirrors unto

actually meant to be mirrors unto yourself and to enable you to touch the

yourself and to enable you to touch the

yourself and to enable you to touch the seeds within and nurture them yeah

okay I’m going to take you through a

okay I’m going to take you through a very quick taxol of how you can do this

very quick taxol of how you can do this

very quick taxol of how you can do this so I’d like you if you willing to just

so I’d like you if you willing to just

so I’d like you if you willing to just close your eyes and follow me when I’m

close your eyes and follow me when I’m

close your eyes and follow me when I’m talking and see what happens and the

talking and see what happens and the

talking and see what happens and the heroes I’m going to talk to you about

heroes I’m going to talk to you about

heroes I’m going to talk to you about are not gender sensitive because while

are not gender sensitive because while

are not gender sensitive because while at the surface they look as though

at the surface they look as though

at the surface they look as though they’re heroes

they’re heroes

they’re heroes you’re actually talking about archetypal

you’re actually talking about archetypal

you’re actually talking about archetypal energies and archetypal energies are

energies and archetypal energies are

energies and archetypal energies are present in all of us yeah I am you

present in all of us yeah I am you

present in all of us yeah I am you district I am the one who is called to

district I am the one who is called to

district I am the one who is called to bring order into society whenever there

bring order into society whenever there

bring order into society whenever there is disorder I awaken I am disciplined

is disorder I awaken I am disciplined

is disorder I awaken I am disciplined I understand tradition I bring in rules

I understand tradition I bring in rules

I understand tradition I bring in rules I bring in standard operating procedures

I bring in standard operating procedures

I bring in standard operating procedures and sometimes I get caught with rigidity

and sometimes I get caught with rigidity

and sometimes I get caught with rigidity and role boundedness

I’m Deema I am the one who is called to

I’m Deema I am the one who is called to adventure I live a life of passion

adventure I live a life of passion

adventure I live a life of passion challenges awaken me but there are times

challenges awaken me but there are times

challenges awaken me but there are times when I have become very caught with my

when I have become very caught with my

when I have become very caught with my impulse ability and don’t always

impulse ability and don’t always

impulse ability and don’t always exercise for thought

exercise for thought

exercise for thought I am Nikola I am compassionate I am

I am Nikola I am compassionate I am

I am Nikola I am compassionate I am drawn to the suffering of people and I

drawn to the suffering of people and I

drawn to the suffering of people and I serve me I bring about inclusivity I

serve me I bring about inclusivity I

serve me I bring about inclusivity I create themes I make people feel a sense

create themes I make people feel a sense

create themes I make people feel a sense of belonging but in my eagerness to

of belonging but in my eagerness to

of belonging but in my eagerness to offer I sometimes forget to replenish

offer I sometimes forget to replenish

offer I sometimes forget to replenish myself

I am Sahiban I am the one who gets

I am Sahiban I am the one who gets extremely triggered by intellectual

extremely triggered by intellectual

extremely triggered by intellectual problems I’m a great problem solver I

problems I’m a great problem solver I

problems I’m a great problem solver I think of the things I make things better

think of the things I make things better

think of the things I make things better I am very innovative but I too can get

I am very innovative but I too can get

I am very innovative but I too can get caught with my intellectualism and

caught with my intellectualism and

caught with my intellectualism and forget pragmatism

and I’m a little different from my

and I’m a little different from my brothers while I’m also very similar to

brothers while I’m also very similar to

brothers while I’m also very similar to them I am talented enough to be any of

them I am talented enough to be any of

them I am talented enough to be any of them and therefore often I am the one

them and therefore often I am the one

them and therefore often I am the one who orchestrates these four

who orchestrates these four

who orchestrates these four so when Dima goes out and conquers new

so when Dima goes out and conquers new

so when Dima goes out and conquers new territory I am there to help my brother

territory I am there to help my brother

territory I am there to help my brother yudishtir to create order bring an

yudishtir to create order bring an

yudishtir to create order bring an administration if a Sahadeva invents

administration if a Sahadeva invents

administration if a Sahadeva invents something I convert it into a production

something I convert it into a production

something I convert it into a production of scalable items but I’m also different

of scalable items but I’m also different

of scalable items but I’m also different from them in the sense that I am the one

from them in the sense that I am the one

from them in the sense that I am the one who steps outside the system and I asked

who steps outside the system and I asked

who steps outside the system and I asked very deep questions I often ask the

very deep questions I often ask the

very deep questions I often ask the question in doing what we are doing what

question in doing what we are doing what

question in doing what we are doing what are we really doing what am i part of

are we really doing what am i part of

are we really doing what am i part of and when I ask these questions I delve

and when I ask these questions I delve

and when I ask these questions I delve into them anew

since I’m not just a hyper masculine

since I’m not just a hyper masculine hero I also invest in the feminine side

hero I also invest in the feminine side

hero I also invest in the feminine side of me I’m a great dancer

of me I’m a great dancer

of me I’m a great dancer I love the aesthetics and I’m capable of

I love the aesthetics and I’m capable of

I love the aesthetics and I’m capable of understanding many things that happen

understanding many things that happen

understanding many things that happen simply because I spend time in

simply because I spend time in

simply because I spend time in understanding myself Carla is a great

understanding myself Carla is a great

understanding myself Carla is a great hero he’s exactly like me

hero he’s exactly like me

hero he’s exactly like me but since garner has had to live a life

but since garner has had to live a life

but since garner has had to live a life where he faces deprivation and denial

where he faces deprivation and denial

where he faces deprivation and denial and discrimination day in and day out he

and discrimination day in and day out he

and discrimination day in and day out he has developed strong armors and defense

has developed strong armors and defense

has developed strong armors and defense mechanisms around himself

mechanisms around himself

mechanisms around himself and he is also very compulsive about

and he is also very compulsive about

and he is also very compulsive about giving perhaps because he’s searching

giving perhaps because he’s searching

giving perhaps because he’s searching for affirmation and society will not

for affirmation and society will not

for affirmation and society will not give it to him

give it to him

give it to him I understand draupadi the vulnerability

I understand draupadi the vulnerability

I understand draupadi the vulnerability of a woman who at the point when she’s

of a woman who at the point when she’s

of a woman who at the point when she’s being humiliated finds no help coming

being humiliated finds no help coming

being humiliated finds no help coming forward neither us the protectors could

forward neither us the protectors could

forward neither us the protectors could do anything now the holder of the law

do anything now the holder of the law

do anything now the holder of the law ESMA

and now if you’ve been with me you can

and now if you’ve been with me you can take the next step the next step is to

take the next step the next step is to

take the next step the next step is to turn around and ask ourselves how do we

turn around and ask ourselves how do we

turn around and ask ourselves how do we action these people inside us how do I

action these people inside us how do I

action these people inside us how do I look at my society am i creating a

look at my society am i creating a

look at my society am i creating a society where merit is honored am i

society where merit is honored am i

society where merit is honored am i creating a society where vulnerability

creating a society where vulnerability

creating a society where vulnerability protected Who am I

and once some of these seeds of heroism

and once some of these seeds of heroism in ourselves has been touched we can

in ourselves has been touched we can

in ourselves has been touched we can take the next step and the next question

take the next step and the next question

take the next step and the next question is how do I know these and again the

is how do I know these and again the

is how do I know these and again the piranhas come to our aid because there

piranhas come to our aid because there

piranhas come to our aid because there are several situations there are

are several situations there are

are several situations there are hundreds of situations where the heroes

hundreds of situations where the heroes

hundreds of situations where the heroes and they counterpoint nor the Kauravas

and they counterpoint nor the Kauravas

and they counterpoint nor the Kauravas are very very similar to the Pandavas

are very very similar to the Pandavas

are very very similar to the Pandavas but every point of a hero is an equal

but every point of a hero is an equal

but every point of a hero is an equal cordova hero what’s the difference the

cordova hero what’s the difference the

cordova hero what’s the difference the difference is that whenever a situation

difference is that whenever a situation

difference is that whenever a situation happens the Carrabba’s seemed to react

happens the Carrabba’s seemed to react

happens the Carrabba’s seemed to react very immediately and they failed to sit

very immediately and they failed to sit

very immediately and they failed to sit back and ask the question in doing what

back and ask the question in doing what

back and ask the question in doing what I’m doing what am I really doing they

I’m doing what am I really doing they

I’m doing what am I really doing they failed to listen to wise people the same

failed to listen to wise people the same

failed to listen to wise people the same wise people are available for both sides

wise people are available for both sides

wise people are available for both sides for the Kauravas and the Pandavas and by

for the Kauravas and the Pandavas and by

for the Kauravas and the Pandavas and by asking these questions of themselves

asking these questions of themselves

asking these questions of themselves they’re able to deal with life because

they’re able to deal with life because

they’re able to deal with life because the seeds have to be nurtured in life

the seeds have to be nurtured in life

the seeds have to be nurtured in life your seeds are not nurtured in some

your seeds are not nurtured in some

your seeds are not nurtured in some quiet nursery corner so life will

quiet nursery corner so life will

quiet nursery corner so life will continuously throw up surprises some of

continuously throw up surprises some of

continuously throw up surprises some of these surprises will be beautiful

these surprises will be beautiful

these surprises will be beautiful wonderful some of them will be scary

wonderful some of them will be scary

wonderful some of them will be scary some of them will invite you to be

some of them will invite you to be

some of them will invite you to be courageous how do I discover the ability

courageous how do I discover the ability

courageous how do I discover the ability to nurture the seeds as they grow and

to nurture the seeds as they grow and

to nurture the seeds as they grow and here again the Puranas give you many

here again the Puranas give you many

here again the Puranas give you many many situations when both sides had to

many situations when both sides had to

many situations when both sides had to deal with them one set of people learnt

deal with them one set of people learnt

deal with them one set of people learnt and the others didn’t and it’s only what

and the others didn’t and it’s only what

and the others didn’t and it’s only what I am able to ask these three questions

I am able to ask these three questions

I am able to ask these three questions and answer them clearly if I can act

and answer them clearly if I can act

and answer them clearly if I can act with conviction

with conviction

with conviction I have to answer the question Who am I I

I have to answer the question Who am I I

I have to answer the question Who am I I have to understand the situation and say

have to understand the situation and say

have to understand the situation and say where am I finally ask myself why am I

where am I finally ask myself why am I

where am I finally ask myself why am I here an act from that deep conviction so

here an act from that deep conviction so

here an act from that deep conviction so the world around us is constantly

the world around us is constantly

the world around us is constantly changing

changing

changing we can’t make decisions which are

we can’t make decisions which are

we can’t make decisions which are calculations of the external reality we

calculations of the external reality we

calculations of the external reality we have to have an internal compass and

have to have an internal compass and

have to have an internal compass and these three questions are the internal

these three questions are the internal

these three questions are the internal compass now when I learn to ask these

compass now when I learn to ask these

compass now when I learn to ask these questions of myself and use the Puranas

questions of myself and use the Puranas

questions of myself and use the Puranas as a mirror I discover something very

as a mirror I discover something very

as a mirror I discover something very beautiful about my life every day is

beautiful about my life every day is

beautiful about my life every day is actually a small struggle in itself so

actually a small struggle in itself so

actually a small struggle in itself so do I make my life of kuruksetra a

do I make my life of kuruksetra a

do I make my life of kuruksetra a meaningless struggle a reactive struggle

meaningless struggle a reactive struggle

meaningless struggle a reactive struggle and one side which constantly acted from

and one side which constantly acted from

and one side which constantly acted from egocentric motivations created a

egocentric motivations created a

egocentric motivations created a Kurukshetra and it’s only because an

Kurukshetra and it’s only because an

Kurukshetra and it’s only because an Arjun I was able to ask the question is

Arjun I was able to ask the question is

Arjun I was able to ask the question is this the right war with the whole

this the right war with the whole

this the right war with the whole battlefield become a Dharma chatter and

battlefield become a Dharma chatter and

battlefield become a Dharma chatter and when we stop to ask these very difficult

when we stop to ask these very difficult

when we stop to ask these very difficult questions they’re actually questioning

questions they’re actually questioning

questions they’re actually questioning our whole life and they’re very

our whole life and they’re very

our whole life and they’re very stressful situations and you find that

stressful situations and you find that

stressful situations and you find that Arjuna had to encounter all the symptoms

Arjuna had to encounter all the symptoms

Arjuna had to encounter all the symptoms of deep stress he had high blood

of deep stress he had high blood

of deep stress he had high blood pressure his BP was very high

pressure his BP was very high

pressure his BP was very high his muscles wouldn’t work

his muscles wouldn’t work

his muscles wouldn’t work even this falls at the right moment

even this falls at the right moment

even this falls at the right moment right yeah and his vision became

right yeah and his vision became

right yeah and his vision became extremely narrow he couldn’t understand

extremely narrow he couldn’t understand

extremely narrow he couldn’t understand things properly but he had the ability

things properly but he had the ability

things properly but he had the ability in him the physical ability his

in him the physical ability his

in him the physical ability his emotional ability and the mental

emotional ability and the mental

emotional ability and the mental capability to ask these questions deeply

capability to ask these questions deeply

capability to ask these questions deeply ask them anew and find meaningful

ask them anew and find meaningful

ask them anew and find meaningful answers for it

answers for it

answers for it that’s how each of us becomes a leader

that’s how each of us becomes a leader

that’s how each of us becomes a leader we’ve become a leader by being able to

we’ve become a leader by being able to

we’ve become a leader by being able to ask deep questions of ourselves the way

ask deep questions of ourselves the way

ask deep questions of ourselves the way our genetics have a physical mastery and

our genetics have a physical mastery and

our genetics have a physical mastery and emotional mastery and a mental mastery

emotional mastery and a mental mastery

emotional mastery and a mental mastery which allows us to ask this question to

which allows us to ask this question to

which allows us to ask this question to its final death every one of us has the

its final death every one of us has the

its final death every one of us has the seeds every one has these resources and

seeds every one has these resources and

seeds every one has these resources and it’s up to us to make the commitment to

it’s up to us to make the commitment to

it’s up to us to make the commitment to self mastery how do I know everyone can

self mastery how do I know everyone can

self mastery how do I know everyone can do it because I’m helping hundreds of

do it because I’m helping hundreds of

do it because I’m helping hundreds of leaders in all walks of life every year

leaders in all walks of life every year

leaders in all walks of life every year to look at themselves ask these

to look at themselves ask these

to look at themselves ask these questions and I am constantly helping

questions and I am constantly helping

questions and I am constantly helping them to immerse themselves in the

them to immerse themselves in the

them to immerse themselves in the Mahabharata in the Puranas and discover

Mahabharata in the Puranas and discover

Mahabharata in the Puranas and discover how they can encounter very small

how they can encounter very small

how they can encounter very small challenges in life learn self mastery

challenges in life learn self mastery

challenges in life learn self mastery and become capable of taking very strong

and become capable of taking very strong

and become capable of taking very strong important conviction based actions all

important conviction based actions all

important conviction based actions all you have to do is to make a commitment

you have to do is to make a commitment

you have to do is to make a commitment and start and every one of you I am sure

and start and every one of you I am sure

and start and every one of you I am sure can do it

can do it

can do it thank you