5 lessons from Ramayana

Diwali is around the corner, and this day marks the victory of light over darkness. Since ancient times, Diwali has been seen and celebrated in every part of India and is known to be the most important festival. People often wait for this time of the year as they get to make memories with their loved ones and celebrate it with devotion and happiness. Beyond all the festivities and celebrations, Diwali also contributes to the realization of changing the path of life towards being more positive and responsible and focusing on prosperity and good health.

From a religious point of view, Diwali is celebrated widely, with the belief that this festival commemorates the return of Lord Rama from his fourteen-year-long exile and the conquering of the demon - King Ravan.

Ramayana is one of the sacred and greatest epics of Hindu Mythology. It is not just a story but an educational medium that helps modern learners gain accurate and in-depth life lessons. The ancient sages use lessons from Ramayana to embrace the importance of performing your dharma (duty), and each story in it has a deeper meaning.

To instill and learn from the story of Ramayana and go beyond it takes a wise person who is seen to educate oneself and embark on the life journey using the words written in this legendary epic story. The Indian epic tale of Ramayana has innumerable lessons to teach; it has leadership, entrepreneurship, governance, philosophy, spiritual significance, and management. As per history, Ramayana is branched into 7 Kandas or chapters, and this Diwali, let’s explore the wisdom this great epic has endured and provided us with the key to success.

LESSON ONE- BAL KANDA

"Never Promise What You Cannot Deliver"

The first lesson in this epic is named Bal Kanda, the outcome of Kaikayi, who used these boons to send Rama away for 14 years in the forest and make Bharat, the Kind of Ayodhya.

ACTION- Dasrhrath promised 3 blank promises to Kaikayi

In life, defeat and failure are evident; however, it is not continuous. Whenever you face failure or defeat in life, shape your mind to an understanding that this is not something that has happened overnight. There is a series of events, and failure/defeat is the outcome. We face so much in life, and every challenge we face has a consequence that leads us to this path. Recall the Domino effect, where one event sets off a chain of similar events. Sure, you take wrong decisions or make bad judgments, may even try some unethical or mean ways to achieve something, or did any such relatable acts in life; what you are facing is the outcome of those acts that you’ve done in the past.

You might have heard the saying, ‘What goes around comes around.’ Well, the entirety of this lesson lies in it. During Professional situations, people commit to their partners, customers, and subordinates without actually understanding the repercussions of those commitments. And when you do, you tend to fail in fulfilling your commitments. Looking at the bigger picture before making such commitments can go a long way in preventing failure/defeat in life.

LESSON TWO - AYODHYA KANDA

When Working with Unknown Variables, Don’t Take Risks Without Complete Data. Take Time to Swot Up a Situation.

The second lesson from Ramayana talks about the reckless acts which can result in dire consequences. In the story, Ram reacts instead of responding and was deviated, leaving his front unguarded.

ACTION- Sita saw a beautiful deer, which was actually a demon called Maricha; she demanded Rama to get it for her. Though he realized something was erring, Rama went to chase the deer to charm Sita.

The Professional world is dynamic; every day brings some unknown variables which are not known and not predicted. For instance, while working with new markets, competitors, etc., leverage your strengths, plan by researching and gathering information, and respond. It is smart to act after analyzing the situation rather than acting upon it in a hurry. Also, influence plays a major role when you find yourself in such situations. Therefore, understanding your limitations and controlling the circle of influence can prevent you from becoming a target of unforeseen events.

LESSON THREE- ARANYA KANDA

Always Stick to the Plan Or Pivot? Take a Judgement Call Based on Tangible Facts, Not Emotions

The third Ramayana lesson for entrepreneurs is based on making a decision based on full-proof knowledge or facts, not emotions. In one of the stories in Ramayana, Ravan used an opportunity and abducted Sita when Laxman aborted the plan against his will.

ACTION - When Sita heard the demon, she called out Laxman’s name and shouted for help, which forced Laxman to go in aid of Ram, even when Ram had drawn out clear instructions to be followed by all of them. Laxman had to stand guard; however, Sita gave him new instructions based on little knowledge, and Laxman’s patient counseling against it did not convince her he had to abort the plan against his will.

When you are confused or facing a dilemma, it is best not to react. Understanding the situation through facts, weighing the pros and cons, and then taking action is an appropriate course of action. Making decisions based on specifics like-Building the plan on traceable milestones and making sure to deal with reality. Assumptions are natural, but keep them updated.

Plan with your assumptions and concrete specifics with the reasoning behind them. Also, identify if there are changes to those assumptions, review, and analyze where you are going wrong or is it about the timing?

Lastly, evaluate the execution. Evaluation will help you understand where you were lacking and what is going according to the plan. At this point, use your judgment to highlight the difference between the plan and the actual results. TRACK EVERYTHING!

LESSON FOUR- KISHKINDA KANDA

"Empower Your Team Members and Help Them Achieve Their Potential"

The fourth lesson to learn from Ramayana is to build an empire by empowering them to their utmost potential. In the stories, Ram had a team of monkeys who helped defeat Ravan’s team of professional warriors because Ram empowered his team with their true potential.

ACTION - When Bharat was assigned to manage the empire while Hanuman was in charge of the search mission, Jamvant, the manager for Hanuman, made Hanuman realize his unknown abilities.

In the Professional world, teamwork is crucially important to achieve a common goal. If your team is empowered and motivated to make decisions, they perform to the best of their potential and achieve the hardest, impossible goals. Give them the power to act, make them part of the decision-making process, and ask for their input or feedback, ideas, thoughts, and insights. Additionally, encourage them to mentor their peers and rule open communication. Entrusting the authority to your team members without checking their backs will definitely stimulate success.

LESSON FIVE- YUDDHA KANDA

Keep Away ‘Yes-Men’

The fifth lesson of the Ramayana instills the position of power and how pleasing powerful people can be a ruin for them. In a story, Ravan lost the war because he had the power but was misguided about what was not needed at the time.

ACTION - There were many people around Ravan (except his wife and brother) who gave him advice that he wanted to hear instead of telling him what should be done in this situation, resulting in misguidance and losing the war.

When you have the power, people will often say or do things to please you only to gain something out of it. They will tell you exactly what you want to hear and not what the reality is. To ensure a realistic and reliable picture, create an environment of freedom and trust where your peers or team can communicate openly and freely about the issues without feeling the sense of harassment and discrimination.

This year on Diwali, let us take some deeper learning from ancient relics of Ramayana and incorporate them into our lives to create positivity and data-driven decisions. If you’re looking to gain more knowledge about similar lessons through sessions, games, programs, and courses for yourself, your students, and your faculty, feel free to reach us at: https://www.skilleit.com/connectwithus