Qualifications and Certifications, does it matter?

 At one point, I did dream of getting a Nobel prize in physics. I am always in awe of Nobel prize winners. I have followed them year after year. Nevertheless, I didn’t do much in physics. Having won numerous other awards and educational qualifications, I realized a few things ten years back.

1.    I was getting qualifications year after year. Many of which I didn’t even bother to mention.

2.    I was wearing a mask. A mask to prove myself to people/ colleagues/ clients/ bosses. Instead of being happy within, my energy, efforts went into making them happy.

3.    Making others happy came at a cost. A cost of frustration, jealousy, resentment, anger, guilt, blame, worry and tension.

4.    I was getting certifications. Don’t know how earning those, has helped me here in India. I have yet to figure it out. It came to a point where I felt enough is enough-when for a job interview the interviewer asked me, ‘Do you have _____ certification’. He named few certifications. I told him that he had my resume already. I had written all my qualifications, certifications in it. Then if I did not possess the certifications they expected in the candidate, why did they call me and wasted my time. Are they even looking at the qualifications and certifications I have?

I realized that people most of the time point out the things you don’t have rather than what you have. “Oh, you only have these qualifications, you don’t have those qualifications”. Full stop. I realized that I need to refabricate and use the qualifications and certifications I have because no matter what I had there will be a set of people who will demand more.

Being in the OD/ HR/ L&D area and mindfulness coach, my main aim is to make my clients understand that happiness is the key. I work with clients to achieve mindfulness, which in turn will create value in their personal and professional life. It increases productivity, effectiveness, better decision-making, and better risk analysis.

And mind you, being mindful does earn sufficient money and far more, and the way you want to earn it. Being mindful, you do not have to worry about what people think. You know your job and you know for sure that your productivity and efficiency have increased.

So do I have a qualification in Mindfulness? Technically, yes, I do. I have already completed my basic, advance, Abhidhamma (all three levels completed) in Vipassana theory and practice to understand and dive deep into mindfulness. Do I need more certifications? No, what I need is how do I practice the skills I have gained over the years.

 Have your qualifications and certifications helped you and in what way? Why are you earning those in the first place? Qualifications and certifications, do they matter, and to what extent?

 With gratitude

Sonali Wagle

 

Application of the Bhayabherava Sutta in Daily life

 Dealing with Fear and Anxiety.

I presented a paper at the 'Antevāsikānaṃ Pāli Parisā' conference, University of Mumbai.
Title: Application of the Bhayabherava Sutta (discourse) in Daily Life.

We live in uncertain times. Changes are happening at the speed that they become blur before one can know what is happening. Most of us are scared and fearful of the events that have grasped us. One of the challenges that we face is how to handle such uncertainties that lead to fear. The citta (mind) like a pendulum dwells in one of the emotional states – fear, doubt, guilt, anger, and resentment. Out of this fear is the most captured of the emotion. Fear comes in
various facets. Fear of failure, fear of death, fear of losing a loved one, fear of loss, fear to suffer, fear of change, fear of unknown, and fear to face fear.
The Bhayabherava Sutta captures the essence of how to handle fear. It gives a direction on the process to be followed when one is in the fear zone.
To know more about how the Sutta can be applied in daily life to deal with fear and anxiety, do write to me on wagle.sonali@gmail.com

#leadership #motivation #life #change #mindset #mindfulnessmeditation #mindfulness #mindfulleadership #mindfulnessatwork #mindfulnesspractice #mindsetcoaching #coachingculture

Generosity and Kindness

 

Generosity and kindness examples could be seen today at Mahim, maternity nursing home, vaccination center, Mumbai. The BMC has made fantastic arrangement at the venue.

Outside in the premises, tents are built for people. There were two areas one for senior citizens above 70 years of age and the other age group. Water bottles were provided to all. Another area was made for people to wait for half an hour post the vaccination.

The staff was extraordinary good, polite, courteous. The police were humble. Never in my life have I seen the BMC so well equipped with so much of service a case study to look for.

This gives me the faith in humanity in human existence. Being a mindfulness practitioner, this is a classic case of the mindfulness shown by the entire BMC staff and Mumbai police.

With gratitude

Sonali Wagle

Does it matter in 2040?

It is 2040, and today I reflect the year 2020. Oh! my what a year it was, so many shocks. Covid19 pandemic shook the entire world. Hopefully, many of us came to our senses.

I still remember, people were fussing over many things then

• Not getting parmesan or cheddar cheese on pizza.
• How can I use red chili instead of green chili for the curry? (What difference does it make).
• I just cannot eat bland food. (Who cares?)
• Why that delivery boy has yet not delivered on time. (They are humans too).
• I have not seen a movie in three months. (Good you saved your/ parents/ spouse/ children’s hard-earned money).
• When will the school start? (Online learning was available).
• When will the house helper start coming? (She is suffering the pandemic too).
• Oh god everyone is at home, now double the work. (You made those choices)
• So much of household chores (It is your house, or are you doing household chores for others?)
•  Losing jobs. (So what, didn’t you save for the rainy day).
• I lost my one full year of academics. My engineering degree was delayed by one full year. (Check my article to be posted by end of July on this topic).
• Losing some revenue or not making money for a few months.

Do we even remember any such things now, in 2040? Does it matter in 2040?

Today I realize how much hue and cry we make without realizing that such things  may not matter in the future (another article on the topic, ‘so what matters’). The pandemic was just the tip of the iceberg. The way human beings have abused the environment, the future will tell.

So much have we abused nature

•  Building sky rises
• Huge houses even for one or two people
• Not thinking of sustainable development
• Not thinking of the larger good
• Harming nature to boost the so-called egos of the people in power
• Changing technology (mobile/ gadgets) in less then a year or two just because we want to be with the latest technology or for status
• Big cars only for one person

And all that was in 2020. Look at us, aren’t we still alive in 2040 having gotten over the pandemic. Have we learned something from it or all of it was just for the sake of hue and cry? Who knows what will happen in 2050? Many may argue that what matters is subjective. I do agree. To argue even on that, does it matter?

Do write what matters on contactus@exponentialadvisory.co.in

Measurements in Buddhism

We have a lot of literature available in Indian texts-  Veda and Buddhism texts. Today’s article focuses on the use of concepts of Buddhism in the corporate world.

Buddhism is divided into three areas. The Buddha talks about

• Pariyatti – The texts, literature, the study.
• Patipatti – The use of the texts in our day-to-day life. The Samatā and Vipassanā meditation form an integral part of patipatti.
• Pativedha – The nibbānic state, beyond mind and matter. The benefits of using patipatti in daily life.

Pariyatti consists of the texts called as the Tipiṭaka

• Vinay Piṭaka - code of conduct for the monks.
• Sutta Piṭaka - code of conduct for laypeople.
• Abhidhamma Piṭaka - texts covering aspects of mind and matter.

A lot to learn from the Sutta Piṭaka texts. The Buddha model covers all aspects of corporate management. Pariyatti covers the ‘Ariya Aṭṭangika Māgga (Eightfold noble path)’. Pattipatti covers the path and shows how walking on the path gives immense benefits that go beyond the human mind.

If seen minutely it can help us in the areas such as productivity, risk-taking, decision making, conflict resolution, revenue generation, handle stress, build resilience, generate empathy.

Only if we start using the concepts covered in Buddhist texts in our daily life personal and professional that results will be seen. Not just Human resources, training, and OD professionals but also other departments can use the content available in Buddhist literature. Though one may categorize Buddhist text as philosophy, when read and made use of in daily life, one realizes that it has major component of management.

Reference – Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Samyutta Nikāya SN 56.11)

The rest

The lion eats what he needs and leaves the rest,

we take what we need and the rest.

If only one can learn from nature,

the animals, the birds, the plants and the seasons,

there is no need to complain for any reason.

How do we come out of self-made blindfold to listen to stories untold,

for one does not know what is the best,

to take it and to rest.

The power of the powerless

I grew up listening and reading stories of Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata. Thanks also to the producers Ramānanda Sāgar and B. R. Choprā for having produced the epics. I remember elders used to tell that Sitā and Draupadi are the ‘Pati vratā’. Though never understood the meaning.

Sitā came from Dharti (earth). She is considered the daughter of the earth. She was found by her adoptive father Rājā Janaka. An epitome of sacrifice and purity, there are many verses of Sitā's life. Sitā went with her husband Rāma for 14 years of vanvās (exile), went through agni Parīkṣā an ordeal of fire to prove her chastity, was a single mother to her sons Luv and Kush. So powerful is she that in the end, when she could not bear the cruelties of the world and the blame of her husband Rāma that she calls to her mother earth and returns to the womb of the mother.

Draupadi came from Agni (fire). She is the daughter of King Drupada, the wife of Pāndavas. She is powerful being the daughter of fire. Yet, she had to suffer 13 years of exile. She also had to suffer the ordeal of Dushāsana’s attempt to disrobe her in front of a gathering. She then calls Śrī Krishṇā to save her from the plight. 

The two most powerful women have a lot to tell. Few questions come to mind.

• Sitā and Draupadi were both powerful. They were the daughters of Dharti and Agni. Daughters born with immense power. In spite of all the power, wonder they felt helpless and powerless whether it was Rāvaṇa or Dushāsana.
•  Did their power vanish or were they conditioned not to use their power in front of men and societal atrocities? If powerful women such as Sitā and Draupadi can fall prey to traps then what to say of the ladies who are vulnerable.
• Wonder why they required the support of Rāma or Krishṇa to save them from the clutches of men.
• How the epics portray women, that they can make them lame and societal pressures can crush them, this is the way society conditions the women for generations.
• If so powerful were they, why could not Sitā and Draupadi use their powers to defend themselves, why did they feel the need of men to save them or were they not aware of their powers.

Such questions remain unanswered. In the end, one realizes, Men wrote both the epics. Maharshi Vālmiki wrote Rāmāyana and Veda Vyās wrote Māhabhārata.