|
Adi Sankaracharya once set out
to locate the ideal place for his first monastery (mutt). He wanted this to
be located in a place where each inhabitant lived in harmony and trust with
the other. His search culminated in a place, where he saw a serpent
protecting with its hood a pregnant toad from the falling rain. The fully
relaxed and trustful toad was basking under the shelter of the serpent,
which was otherwise its natural enemy and lived on such small creatures.
The narration, as above, is
illustrative of the fact that in a group where trust, understanding, love
and care reign, the atmosphere is charged with healthful and positive
vibrations. In such a place, each inhabitant supports and is supported by
the other. This naturally brings out the best in the concerned persons,
serving as it does to neutralise and cleanse all hostile feelings, which
verily are the greatest stumbling blocks to all progress.
This is also that state of
co-operation, in the spirit of mutual regard, which has been recognised over
the ages as the sinequa non for creating that synergy, where the final
effect and result of all the contributing factors could far exceed the sum
total of the strength of each factor. The modern management concepts also
recognise the importance of this synergy and teamwork for all organisational
effectiveness. Stephen Covey in his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective
People, refers to this virtue as 'inter-dependence'. This is the happy
outcome of a situation, where arrogance and desire for independence give way
to humility, besides readiness to help and be helped.
The power of synergy and
c-operation therefore has its roots in true friendship and good will, where
each person compliments and acknowledges the other, each wishing the other
well, happy in the other's progress and welfare. Such friendship (referred
to in India parlance as satsangati) is eulogised by many ancient and modern
writings. Bartruhari, the Sanskrit poet sums up, "Satsangati removes
laziness from the mind, sprinkles truth in one's words, shows the path to
upliftment and removes all sins. It pleases the mind and spreads one's fame
all over. Tell me what Satsangati does not do to man!"
Blessed indeed are the persons
and organisations, empowered by unity, friendliness and co-operation, which
certainly are the greatest allies to all progress! |
