Tag: business

Does an Employer take the Employee’s Karma?

A devotee grapples with the weighty concerns of karma and how it burdens employers through their employees’ actions. His anxiety reflects a larger existential dilemma: can sincere devotion offset the negative karma from associates who resist spiritual growth? Replies from spiritual leaders emphasize that true surrender to Krishna liberates one from such burdens. However, they also underscore personal accountability in leadership roles, balancing professionalism and compassion. Ultimately, the discourse reveals a timeless struggle: navigating spiritual principles in the cutthroat world of business while striving to uplift those around you.

Bhakta Sunil, 29 September 2014

Hare Krishna

Please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Prabhu ji I have few doubts

a) How much percentage of karma does employer take of each of his or her employee

b) If employer is sincerely practising Krishna Consciousness , though not at the place of work with employee ( not with employee , but on own ) then karma from employee to employer is reduced or nullified?

I am a bit worried because we have two employees at shop. I tried many times to directly or indirectly share Krishna Consciousness with them.

Sometimes they paid attention , but one of the employee returned the book which I gave and I am not sure if they practice God Consciousness.

At times I have noticed them behaving rudely or not giving due respect to customers. So I am worried if we have to take their karma.

I have put Prabhupada’s books and photos at place of work and often played kirtana at place of work

your insignificant servant,

Bhakta Sunil

Srivatsa Das, 03 October 2014

Dear Bhakta Sunil

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Gurudeva 

The employer, if he is surrendered to Lord Krishna, he need not worry about karma, or law of nature or destiny and all such complications, since Krishna has already declared that His devotee never perishes.  And also in BG 18.66, Krishna tells, “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”  We will be free from fear up to the extent we have faith in the Spiritual master and Krishna.  So it is very important to develop faith in them. 

We cannot force anybody including our children to lead Krishna Conscious life unless they are attracted themselves to Krishna Consciousness.  Everybody has been given the required free will to surrender to Krishna and they are supposed to use it for that purpose and unfortunately, they can even misuse it also by not surrendering to the Lord.

Regarding the rude behaviour, it can be due to many reasons.  In this material world, a lot of people are frustrated due to many miseries, that could be one of the reason for their rude behaviour.  But, in most of the cases, the problems can be solved just by hearing their worries patiently at suitable location.  We need not talk in many cases, but sometimes we need to encourage them to talk. Just hear their worries patiently and attentively.  Most of the times, they themselves will arrive at the solution and thank us too !!! or they will ask for some suggestion, then, at that time we can give some suggestions that can help them to lead a Krishna Conscious life.  Sometimes, we may have to correct ourselves too based on their input, so we should be prepared for some adjustments.  This is one way of solving the issue.

Sincerely,

Srivatsa Das

Bhakta Sunil, 04 October  2014

Thank you Srivatsa Prabhu

Superb answer!

your insignificant servant,

Bhakta Sunil

Gusti Nyoman Ambara, 04 October 2014

Hare Krishna!

Dear Sunil Prabhu

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Gurudeva and  Srimati Gurumataji,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have no qualification at all to share my opinion with you, but I would humbly try to do it as per my capacity.

Srivatsa Prabhu have nicely given the explanation upon your doubts. It is true that if we are fully surrender to the Lord, we do not have to worry about karma and such things anymore. Always try to focus in making the Lord happy by executing our prescribed duties at our best and offered the result to Him no matter what it is. Then there will be no more anxiousness.

You also nicely show the symptom of a devotee by having compassion on your employees and try to share Krishna-consciousness to them. Indeed, it is the most important thing. I think you have correctly tried to do it by putting some Prabupada’s book and playing some kirtans at the place of work, because hearing (sravanam) is the most potent way for us to open our consciousness to Krishna. I myself also have proved this method.  My mother started to chant Mahamantra on beads about a year ago. She told me that she was inspired to do so soon after she heard it played in my car stereo during our 8-hours journey from Bali to Surabaya.

If those things still do not work with your employees, I suggest you to give another try by using prasadam. It is also a powerful way to share Krishna-consciousness to the whole world. You can make some prasadam in the form of candies or sweets and put some of them at the place of work, so that your employees can have and taste them. You will gradually see the effect and surely you will no longer have any worries. Thank you very much.

your insignificant servant,

Gusti Nyoman Ambara

Bhakta Sunil, 06 October 2014

Dear Gusti Prabhu

Hare Krishna 

Please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Thank you very much. Your answer is great!

Prabhu ji , I now understand that karma of one’s employee would not act for one who is practising Consciousness

Gusti Prabhu ki Jaya!

Your insignificant servant,

Bhakta Sunil

Tirtharaja Dasa, 07 10 2014

Hare Krishna Prabhu,

My take is from a different angle and might not be absolute but good for debate.

It is said that anybody in a position of leadership attracts both positive and negative karma in proportion to position held.

In a business situation if you are the chief executive then there definitely be a degree of karmic reaction just as much as the spiritual master who accepts a disciple has accruing karma until the disciple is liberated so in similar positions of leadership especially in situations where as devotees we are DE-facto spiritual masters, then there is definitely some accruing karma.

That’s why a devotee will not mind what position or circumstances he has in life but will always serve Lord Hari unconditionally.

Regards,

your Lowly Servant,

Tirtharaja Dasa.

Mahabhagavat Das SDA, 08 October 2014

Dear Bhakta Sunil,

Hare Krishna!

All these perspectives are wonderful. What I was feeling I was unable to articulate, until I read Tirtharaja Prabhu’s masterful writing. His response is befitting a senior devotee in our movement.

What I was thinking is that all those people we interact with, either as family members, community, relatives, colleagues from school, college, or work, we are already karmically bound with them. We have taken birth in similar circumstances just to enjoy or suffer collective karmas, and also repay various karmic debts. But this is a never-ending cycle… in this lifetime, we have some set of karmic debts to pay, in another cycle, it is some other set.

So, while it is true that as long as we are on the material platform, we are exchanging karmic debts, as long as we can leverage our present circumstances to drive devotional service, the situation cannot be rectified.

On a professional level, your staff need to get good training, good pay,  etc., and in the worst case, if there is no progress or improvement, they would need to be fired, let go, etc. If I pay someone for a kilo of good vegetables and the person gives me only rotten vegetables, would I continue to pay that person? So inspite of giving good training, good pay, etc., if someone is not doing what I need done, then why should I continue to pay that person? Another example, ISKCON is building the Temple of Vedic Planetarium, the world’s biggest temple, we are taking full care that the engineers are qualified, the architects are qualified, the laborers are also fully qualified, the concrete is high quality, steel is perfect, etc. Of course, even though the workers are receiving payment, they are still getting the benefit of rendering devotional service.

In ISKCON Toronto, we are working on some school projects – the administrators, teachers, etc., need to be devotees, BUT they also must be professionally qualified in their specific field and be professionally competent… you could consider that, maybe there are professionally competent devotees who can also be your employees?

However, devotee or not, in the best case, even if your staff might not know or express interest in devotional service, if they are perfectly professional, and they facilitate your involvement in devotional service, they will also get some “ajnata sukrti”, or credit obtained by performing devotional service unknowingly.

Of course, you don’t expect that we will tell you how to run your business, right? You please take all these perspectives and do what is best for Krishna consciousness.

Sincerely,

Mahabhagavat Das

Bhakta Sunil, 18 October 2014

Thank you  Tirtharaja Prabhu and Mahabhagavat Prabhu for discerning the conversation even further

I had heard in Bhagavatam lecture , that king collects karma from citizens and similarly for employers from employees

Thus I asked here to clarify

After reading  Tirtharaja Prabhu and Mahabhagavat Prabhu’s reply , it further clarified what I understood in the lecture and what to do in such a situation

Tirtharaja Prabhu and Mahabhagavat Prabhu ki Jaya!

your insignificant servant,

Bhakta Sunil

Please subscribe to daily inspirational emails from His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari (Writings and lectures archived at www.ecstaticmedia.com), written fresh every day from his travels around the world sharing the highest spiritual knowledge with everyone. Sign up now at www.joincourse.com

Why Do Spiritual Practitioners Face Illness and Pain?

If someone practices spiritual practices, then should their karmic reactions not get destroyed? Why do they suffer? Though the spiritual path can lead through suffering, it’s seen as a test of devotion rather than a punishment. Suffering serves to deepen one’s faith and understanding. Embracing challenges as divine mercy can transform experiences, encouraging resilience and growth. Ultimately, the journey fosters strength, love, and connection to God.

Jaanvi, 22 September 2014
Dear All,

Could you please tell me why do some people who are on the spiritual path i.e. going to temple, satsang, kirtan, seva and praying, get seriously ill and need to be hospitalized and suffer terribly.

Now, despite being on the Godly path..why so much suffering, I would assume the karmic reactions should be nullified for such people?

Hare Krsna.
Jaanvi

Anuja Raghuvanshi, 23 September 2014
Dear Jaanvi Mataji,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Praphupada.

The problem you have mentioned has happened to me but i did not get seriously ill. I had fever and i had sore throat for a month, but i got over it. I realized in my mind that I was feeling an absolute lack of love in my life. Emotionally, it was like I needed a shelter.

I have always known that it’s an emotional lag in me. It created that upsurge internally. I consciously put in my 100% in Sri Krsna. I begged for his mercy to cleanse all my sins and bestow unlimited love.


I became absolutely all right and stronger. Sri Krsna, under his mercy, got me upright and fresh. It was almost as if he took my hand and drove me out of that dark night of my soul. Swami Radanath jee mentioned in one of his books that even if we feel loveless, it’s a dark night of the soul. We may feel dry during this time. At that time, one almost feels as if no Krsna exists. Krsna does exist, and we just have to keep strong and ask for his mercy.

I am sorry i am unable to quote the exact book in which i read this particular colored reference. Tomorrow I will be able to tell you better where exactly I read this above reference. Since I gave you my personal experience, I hope you can wait.

Hare Krsna ,

Warm Regards,
Anuja Raghuvanshi

Rathin Mandal, 23 September 2014
Hare Krishna,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Gurudeva and Srimati Gurumataji,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This is a nice question. And the answer to this also have very deep meaning.
I can share my thoughts with my realizations.

It is true that even advance devotees seems to suffer like ordinary people externally. But it is not like the suffering of ordinary people. It is like when you switch off the fan, it loses its rotating energy. But still the fan makes few more revolutions before coming to a full stop. Similarly the suffering of a pure devotee is only residual. While a karmi is destined to suffer perpetually.

But we should not always see the suffering as a pain. There are devotee who embrace that suffering. After all that happened, Mata Kunti still prays to Sri Krishna. She says, “It is better to suffer so that I can remember you.” A pure devotee enjoys whatever he gets. Whether it is good or bad, doesn’t matter to them.
MayaDevi may test the devotee. She wants to see if his devotion is sincere towards Sri Krishna. It checks if he is just faking it. During a test is becomes easier to see who a pure devotee. Otherwise, people will exploit it as a business. They will think that I chant Hare Krishna and expect Sri Krishna to do the work for me.

I can tell you a incident that I witnessed. Some Devotee’s house was burned down in lightening, he said that he any-ways wanted to remodel the house. So Sri Krishna has made it easier for him now. 🙂 We don’t hear this from regular people. 🙂

your servant
Rathin

Jaanvi, 23 September 2014
Dear Matajis,

Thanks so much for your reply and experience.

However, what if the living entity is unable to tolerate the height of pain and suffering?

At that time, any other material person would say it is better to be attached to material life. They would argue this rather than follow the spiritual path.

Hare Krsna.
Jaanvi

Mahabhagavat Das, 24 September 2014
Dear Mother Jaanvi,

Hare Krishna!

It is said that one definition of madness is to do the same thing and expect a different result. If I keep doing the same thing, what right do I have to expect a different result? If following the material path ensured avoidance of suffering, that may have been a reasonable strategy. Regardless of someone’s material expertise, suffering is inevitable. It arrives inevitably, like night follows day.

In the material world, sufferings are inevitable. No one can be spared this. This material world is a prison, it is not a pleasant place. If it were completely pleasant, it could not be material. That is the definition of the spiritual world “vaikuntha”, “vai + kuntha” or “vai=without + kuntha=suffering”.

To the materialist, the suffering is just reward. In trying to avoid the suffering, the materialist digs themselves deeper into the net. To the spiritualist, the suffering is motivation to hasten the journey back to Krishna. So the spiritualist simply tolerates and changes course to spiritualize all thoughts, words, and deeds.

When advanced spiritualists apparently suffer, it is to teach others who to behave in such situations. Krishna provides a token reaction when beginning spiritualists suffer. This reminds them that past actions have resulted in current misery. Therefore, they should not return to their previous pattern of lifestyle.

A person who cannot genuinely take responsibility for their own suffering often returns to a materialistic life. This is similar to an alcoholic or drug addict. Instead of actively facing life’s problems, they choose to remain in a drunken stupor to forget. However, “material intoxication” also causes suffering. This happens because everything one is attached to is snatched away at the moment of death. This occurs no matter how “important” someone may be.

The wise person prepares for this eventual forced eviction from this body here and now.

Sincerely,
Mahabhagavat Das

Kamal Caran Das, 28 September 2014
Hare Krsna.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Gurudeva & Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to Sri Gaur Nitai.

Sri Krsna very nicely explains in very first stage of Gita that all the sufferings are due to the assumption of that self is the body (BG 2.13 & 14 ). Further He explains that never try to have right over the fruits of action as well never consider yourself the cause of the result ( BG 2.47 ).

Next He explains that what so ever is happening around us is the ‘act’ of the three modes of nature, which are under direct supervision of Supreme I.e. Himself (BG 3.27 & 7.14 ).

He also ensures that
“ananyas cintanto mam, ye janah paryupaste; yes nitya abhiyuktanam, Yog ksemam vahami aham”..

If we carefully ponder this with all our experiences openly, while keeping hari nam japas regular, we can easily see the real picture of the material world. This helps us develop the strength to face any tough situation in life.

One shall not think that he will get rid of suffering because he is doing bhakti. This is the most important thing. Thinking so will not n bhakti but business. Running away of sufferings is the by product only.. Not the right but the causeless Mercy…

Please forgive me for the errors in message & may correct me..

Hare Krsna.
your servant.
Kamal Caran Das

Sacinandana Das, 8 November 2014
Hare Krishna Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Gurudev and Srimati Gurumata.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This material world is like a jail. How can we expect good things happening in jail. This material world is full of suffering. If we are expecting good result while doing some devotional services, it is not pure devotional service. It was our choice to become God. That is the reason why we have to come to this material world. Now we have to suffer like anything. Actually its horrible. A pure devotee takes everything as a mercy of the Lord. Actually suffering is also a mercy of the Lord. We all should become pure devotees for the pleasure of Sri Guru, Krishna and Vaishnavas.

your servant,
Sacinandana Das


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From Schadenfreude to Compassion: A Journey (part 1)

Compassion is a complex and often misunderstood concept, as it calls for empathy towards all individuals, regardless of their circumstances. Balancing compassion for various groups can present challenges, especially when faced with conflicting needs and situations. Ultimately, striving for universal compassion is essential, despite the inherent difficulties in this pursuit. However, if we want to act with universal compassion, we should start with understanding what compassion is not! Schadenfreude, certainly not. Alas, it is more common than we think!

Compassion, this word is used very often. Someone wants us to have compassion upon the downtrodden and poor. Someone else wants us to have compassion upon the rich and powerful. Some want to be compassionate towards people with black skin. Others want to be compassionate upon the war veterans. Someone is working intently upon manifesting compassion towards those battling cancer.

This is part 1 of a 3 series of articles. Part 2 is here, and Part 3 is here.

I agree with them all. We should be compassionate with everyone in the whole world.

Do you agree that all those living entities mentioned above deserve to be treated with compassion? What about those not mentioned above? Do they deserve to be treated with compassion?

But for example, suppose I dedicate my life to, say, feeding hungry people. Now, all of my efforts are spent in finding the hungry, acquiring food and feeding them… how would I help the sick children, the war veterans, the people with black skin, and the cancer patients?

Or, if I invest all my time in trying to find a cure for Cancer… now how would I feed the hungry, take care of the sick children, the war veterans, the people with black skin?

Or maybe I do a little bit to help them all… donate to feed a few hungry people, donate to a charity helping war veterans, volunteer for a hospital that treats people with cancer… but then I notice that there are many more hungry, many more war veterans, many with cancer and many disadvantaged people with black skin!

What’s more, I find that the charity feeding the hungry is slaughtering innocent animals… the war veterans who are injured actually committed atrocities upon other people who are left in worse shape than them, some of the the people with cancer happened to be those who smoked all their lives, and some of the people with black skin are of poor character and have harmed many others…

Now what do I do?

Do I prioritize the “innocent” disadvantaged over those with a criminal background? Do I overlook Diabetes or Hypertension in my obsession over cancer? Do I ignore the elderly in my quest to help the children?

It appears that being compassionate is more difficult than it sounds at first!

It’s all extremely confusing and difficult to sort through!

I am just one teeny little soul, a tiny jiva, one little spirit soul among unlimited spirit souls. I have limited energy, limited time in this life, and very limited resources, power and influence in the world. And yet I want to be compassionate to all.

I don’t want to be compassionate to one group of living entities, say, sick children, and not be compassionate, say, to poor children who are not sick but lack education. I don’t want to be compassionate upon the hungry people of the world, and end up slaughtering animals to help temporarily prevent their hunger.

Do I have any hope of attaining my goal of being compassionate towards everyone then?

Can I be compassionate towards ALL souls?

Yes, in the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna speaks about compassion for all souls.

daya bhuteshu - compassion for all living entities, a quote from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 2

दया भूतेषु – dayā bhūteṣu – compassion for all living entities

https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/16/1-3/

More specifically, Krishna stresses that this quality, among a total of twenty size qualities, belong to those godly souls endowed with a divine nature.

So, clearly it is not hopeless to strive to be compassionate towards one and all.

In our present context though, we may not be “godly souls”, and we may not (yet) be endowed with a “divine nature”… what can we do?

First and foremost, we need to understand what compassion is not!

Yes, if we understand what is not compassion, then we should be able to steer our thoughts, words, and deeds in the direction of compassion.

Let’s look at the most obvious example of what is NOT compassion.

Schadenfreude (German) - pleasure derived from the misfortune of others.

The American Heritage Dictionary Defines Schadenfreude as follows:

schadenfreude /shäd′n-froi″də/

noun

  1. Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.
  2. Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else’s misfortune.
  3. Delight in another person’s misfortune.

We can safely say that someone who is feeling schadenfreude is not being compassionate!

Hey, I’m not like that!

So we may think. But here are just a few examples when we indulge in Schadenfreude…

  1. Sports – what happens when a team you support wins, and a team you oppose loses? Do you feel happy?
  2. Exams/Competition/Contests – what happens when you beat other competitors in an exam or competition? Do you feel elated?
  3. Business – what happens when you defeat a competitor, win a contract from an opponent, or put another company out of business? Do you celebrate?
  4. War – say the country you live in is at war with another country… no matter whose “fault” it was… if your army scores a “win”, does that not mean that someone on the other end is mourning a loved one?
  5. Politics – say the party you support wins an election and comes to power… does that mean that the defeated parties had nothing good to offer to the world at all?

When we examine our world, we find that…

In fact, our whole world, our society is built on top of deriving pleasure from the misfortunes of others.

Where does it all come from, one would wonder…

Schadenfreude comes from envy… “I wish that you don’t have what you have, I wish I have it instead, and you don’t”… it originally begins with Envy of God, but that is a discussion for another article.

Where there is envy, there can never be true co-operation, there can only be competition, sometimes, cut-throat.

Countries, communities, clubs, societies, networks, organizations are formed on the basis of envy against others. The envy may be based on race, religion, nationality, language, education, political, cultural or economic factors. It does not matter what the criteria separating the “us” and “them” are. And all of them engage wholesale in this schadenfreude.

We’re all members of such propagators of schadenfreude whether unwillingly or not!

So we can think about how to live in a world where competition is the name of the game!

Compassion means the exact opposite of Schadenfreude… to feel pain at the sufferings of others.

OK, let’s say we do somehow get past the most obvious schadenfreude. How to act with compassion?

For example, what if I’m trying to “help” someone, but I only end up hurting the person I’m trying to help?

How do we know if something we are thinking, feeling, willing, saying, or doing is helping or hurting?

Watch out for Part 2 of this series of articles…

In that post, we will go deeper into understanding how our intent to help can actually hurt.