CHAPTER 17
The Metaphysical Models and their Scientific Validation
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
- obtain a birds eye view of the models that have been called for consideration in this book.
- See consistency in the models and develop a platform from which to launch a serious inquiry.
- pursue the applications of the models/theories with greater vigor.
Retracing Back to the Relevant ‘Models’
Up to this point in the book in order to reach the core definition of a leader in the previous chapter, we have dealt with several ‘theories’ or ‘models’ that hope to describe phenomenon in the metaphysical world. These are likely to be familiar and unfamiliar at the same time because most of us can relate to the subject under discussion at a level of ‘feeling’ but all may not necessarily be familiar with the nitty-gritty of the models that have been discussed; may be the models have been alien to the cultural setting of the reader. Therefore, there may exist a need to take some time and effort to get accustomed. In order to help readers grasp the utility of the models better, it is important that we summarize by taking a bird’s eye view of all of them together. For one it will help the reader define the extent to which the process of model building has been taken and on the other hand it will help us address the question of their validity or invalidity taken as a set. With this purpose in mind let us again take a look at the models we have considered in the preceding sections. Briefly, the following are the models.
The Four Impeller Model of Motivation
This model states that there are totally four impellers that make a man act; Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. This theory raises Dharma and Moksha, which were considered as optional in earlier theories, to the level of equivalence with Artha and Kama. In fact, for true bliss Dharma and Moksha are considered the primary drivers—they are said to be unavoidable and powerful components governing human behaviour. A leader can truly succeed only if he understands and acknowledges this higher nature of man … .
The Common Soul Theory of Leadership
It introduces the concept of the ‘Common Soul’—impersonal and the same in everyone. It is supposed to be the chief mover in the person. A person who is aware of and is acting upon its wishes, without having misinterpretations at the level of the mind, exhibits the important trait we call leadership. Through Yogyathwa one is able to read what the ‘Common Soul’ wishes.
The Model of the Universal Brahman
The two eternal principles which are components of the Universal Brahman (entire universe) are prakriti and purusha. Every creature is a combination of the two principles. When a creature identifies itself with an illusionary individual who gets created in the meeting point of the two principles it is said to be in ignorance. The illusion clears when the creature understands that he is the impersonal purusha itself. And by this process, the highest potentials of the person is unleashed … Yoga helps him shift from the lower to the higher spheres.
The four models listed in this chapter and discussed earlier in this book, when seen together offer us a comprehensive insight into leadership that we have concluded so far.
Dharma and Its Four Components
This fourth model states that dharma has four components namely the Supreme Self, Authority of Rule-of-law, Transcending Duty and Era specific nature (now). Through this, we understand that a leader must establish and uphold dharma and instil the same in fellow humans so that their pursuit of Artha and Kama is transformed into a delightful pursuit of excellence—heading towards nirvana.
Important Conclusions from the Models
The Common Soul theory and theory of the Universal Brahman models suggest that the person who has come out of ignorance, or whose inner channels between the Common Soul and the mind are clear, achieves excellence. The person becomes worthy of leadership and his many talents bloom to the full. In this, while the one soul theory merely distinguishes between people who are endowed with leadership and those who are not, the theory of the Universal Brahman also hints at a process by which a person can shift from one state to the other. According to this model, ignorance can be dispelled when a person ‘realizes’ his true nature. Therefore, this model shows us that self-perception plays an important role in setting the destiny of an individual.
The theory of the Universal Brahman further suggests that the process by which a person may realize ‘his true nature’ are twofold. One is the method of reason and thought, called path of knowledge and the other is called path of yoga. Yoga in turn consists of ‘exercises’ which an ignorant person can take up which will automatically land him into ‘wisdom’ eventually—even if just temporarily.
It has only been suggested in the Common Soul theory of leadership that the attribute/characteristic of a person, that enables/facilitates him to move into the higher state (higher in the sense that such persons are more effective and joyous in practical life) of existence is called ‘Yogyathwa’. And in the theory of the Universal Brahman as inner mechanizations which Yogyathwa achieves, are revealed.
Finally, the totality of the models suggests that Yogyathwa and dharma are the key principles which a leader must be conversant with. While Yogyathwa is capable of lifting a person to touch his highest potentials, the pursuit of dharma is capable of lifting a group/team of people to their highest potential. In fact, if wise men of the past are to be believed, then lives without either Yogyathwa or dharma are supposed to have been lived in vain … .
Lives without Yogyathwa or Dharma are said to have been lived in vain.
This more or less summarizes the main contentions of the various models that have been taken up in the book. And while summarizing here it is also apt that we look again into a special question that keeps popping up … ‘What about the proof?’
Credibility of these Theories/Models
The above four models consist of various terms like Common Soul, supreme self, dharma, kama … one can definitely wonder whether all these words are mere contraptions or whether they are observables. If they are observables how does one locate them and therefore obtain proof for the elaborate nature of these proposed theories? Definitely, this is no mean task. And it is said that sages have spent lifetimes over it … and yet others say that it is close at hand and all it takes is a ‘eureka’ effect. In fact, if dharma has been designed in a manner that it can be practiced by lay persons in society, there must be something to it that is within an average man’s grasp.
In any case, since the book purports to take to rational analysis, it is important at this stage to draw a parallel with an important theory in physics so that the rational thinker may be facilitated to give the above models more than a second thought … .
Schrödinger was a research student who in the mid 1930’s went to his guide and said that he had a gut feeling that if he mathematically represented matter particles as waves subjected to some kind of equations then there is a likelihood of coming up with a mathematical explanation to their basic behaviour. If one is aware, it was about the time (early 1930’s) when physicists had come up with experimental observations that matter particles behaved as if they were waves. In any case, his guide probably felt that it was a little over the top but nonetheless encouraged him to pursue it further. What finally resulted was the Schrödinger wave equation (The guide is eventually known to have kicked himself that he did not take it up himself); it turned out to be a mathematical marvel. Schrödinger proposed a whole set of rules as to how this wave must be mathematically treated in terms of ‘differential equations’ (don’t bother what it is if you are not too keen on mathematics) and how some parts in it must correspond to energy, others to time and still others to space and so on and when the mathematical equations he developed so were ‘solved’ they gave out results and figures that were easily correlated with observations in nature.
Till date no one knows why a certain energy term must be constructed in a particular way or why a certain constant must be used and not another … but it works! Though the wave is bang in the middle of this theory, there is no physicist in the world who knows what this wave is composed of—they will give some technical mathematical probability distribution pattern for an explanation but they will not be able to say what the wave contains—like it is easy for us to say that light waves consist of electric and magnetic fields. And yet the wave approach of quantum mechanics is an accepted theory today.
The reason for its acceptance is that it has successfully explained large volumes of observed data … that is, the theory’s application is remarkably accurate. So no scientist can truly call to question this theory; all they can do now is to wonder what this wave could possibly be but grudgingly admit that there is truth in it. But the sum of it is that they do not know what is ‘matter wave’ and still it is at the heart of the theory they have come to accept.
The schrödinger wave equation in Quantum mechanics explains many observed phenomenon in nature and yet no scientist knows what the wave is composed of. Similarly it is not un-scientific to postulate models and then check for internal consistency, observably and applications.
The point being made here is that though the four models summarized here above do not subject themselves to mathematical analysis, and though they use seemingly non observables like Common Soul, they do lead to reasonable applications that can be truly observed. It is true that Yogyathwa in a leader definitely inspires followers—and that would, in turn, make us wonder whether this elaborate theory and model of the universal Brahman may have some truth in it after all … Nations, kingdoms, kings, people in general who have taken to dharma truly have seen excellence, peace and prosperity … The application works … .
Even so there is one important consolation—that many of the postulates made here, including that of the ‘Common Soul’ are in fact observables! They are not observables in the same sense as the material observables but in some other way—as claimed by many eminent men. We can set that aside for the moment though.
The argument that is being proposed here is that even without accepting the basic postulates, the theory finally does give out applications that can be tested and it can satisfy the student that the models hold some weight. And even more importantly, if the reader/student searched smartly, in the right places, even the postulates will be obvious.
Even without having proofs for the models/theories, the reader can surely benefit from the applications.
The reader/researcher must therefore inquire into the internal consistency of the models proposed here and thereafter look upon the applications, observe them, try them out with the initial ‘faith’ that there may be truth in the models. Or even better still, take on the disciplines proposed by illustrious teachers (beware of ending up before half-baked Gurus) and observe the truths by themselves.
The reader must inquire into the internal consistencies of the models and try to observe the truths by themselves.
Ultimately, the point to be noted is that the link between Yogyathwa and leadership is obvious and the huge volume of knowledge and information on Yogyathwa can be used to one’s own betterment as a leader and for the betterment of the world in which the leader operates … why not make the best of it?
Once the link between Yogyathwa and leadership is established then the volumes of insights on Yogyathwa can be tapped by a leadership aspirant.
Exercises
- Analysis: Create a mind map showing all the important concepts in the four models. Study their relationship.
- Analysis: Pick up a religious scripture of your choice and list out the elements that would go under the categories, postulates, theories and applications (not more than 700 words). Check these using the four fold proof for metaphysical realities.
- Analysis: Study about a leader who has inspired you to find out the elements in his life that come under the description of (1) Yogyathwa and (2) dharma; be it in beliefs, personal behaviour, events, or in his work. (3000 to 5000 words)