Chapter 11-building on Core Competence, Learnings from Shankaracharya

For earlier articles, one may refer to the list in the introductory chapter. https://lnkd.in/dZDVTX-7

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Often Entrepreneurs find it challenging to identify the right core competence & build on the same. Many times entrepreneurs need to see how they can leverage core competence to build a strong platform and integrate multiple forces that influence their industry. Late we have seen how Google & apple leveraged their distribution strength to build the huge app economy. We have seen how government can leverage its infrastructure to directly deliver services to the poor. We have seen how brands leverage communities & platforms to scale themselves and create sustainable differentiation.

Shankaracharya perhaps provides us with some very interesting examples of how he used the power of integration at the philosophical level to bring changes in the country & the society

The last chapter we discussed how Shankaracharya used the concept of illusion or mayavada to prove the theory presented in Vedas & how Brahma is the ontological truth independent of mind,?

This theory which became the core competence Shankaracharya developed helped him to integrate diverse communities, sects & whole of our country.? By establishing a theory based on jnana Kanda Shankaracharya integrated diverse thoughts like Buddhists, the Mimansakas (proponents of Karmakanda ) and Uttara meemamsakas, The Shaivas, The Shaktas, The Ganapatyas, The Vaishnavas, and many others

Shankaracharya could seamlessly integrate multiple theories by taking the best from each one of them within the boundaries of Veda. Unlike Buddhists and Jains, he accepted the authority of Vedas. His effort was to reestablish the authority of Vedas.? His amazing Sanskrit shlokas are very much part of Upasanas. His exposure to Tantra perhaps when he spent his time in Varanasi, helped him integrate Tantra, Shakta (worshippers of goddess kaLi/shakti) & ganapatya (Worshippers of lard Ganapati) forms of rituals into the mainstream. He proposed formless divinity (nirguna Bramha) as the only reality which was closer to Buddhism.?

His stotras & systems not only brought intellectual acceptance to idol worship but also gave a lot more credibility to Puranas. He composed amazing poetries on Shiva, Vishnu, Saraswati, Ganapati, Shakti & many more.?

The strength of his theory could help him effortlessly integrate Vedas & Puranas. While he called the world an illusion, he made sure that there is a form to worship before the attainment of that jnana. 12 jyotirlingas, 18 shakti-peethas, and four Vishnu-dhaams which form the core of Indian pilgrimage even today were the result of Shankara’s travel & direction.? The World-famous Kumba mela has a lot of connections with Shankara. He traveled around India 3 times from Kerala to Kashmir, from Dwaraka to Assam. Perhaps, he remains as one who traveled the most at least by road. He truly demonstrated the meaning of Jambudwipa/ Bharata Varsha.?

Shankaracharya managed all his travel, all alone with one language that unified the country which was Sanskrit.?

In the previous chapter, we discussed the tension that prevailed in the Indian society during the post-fall of the Gupta empire between those who were after pleasures ( both in life & the afterlife) & sanyasis (hermits). There was chaos in Hinduism embracing more of Sanyasa & Buddhism embracing more of Hinduism through Mahayana, Tara worship, Shankaracharya’s life also gives a view of why Varanasi/ Kashi has been such an important place for centuries. Shankaracharya did most of his intellectual work in Kashi & his deep understanding of multiple faiths should be attributed to Kashi. After all, Kashi was not just a sacred place for Hindus but was equally important for Jains & Buddhists. Kashi was an intellectual capital where the best philosophers could debate & learn.

Again, it is important to remember that Shankaracharya lived for only 32 years, in a small village down south, to a poor brahmin family at times there was no transportation!!

Mant times westerners can't comprehend the diversity of India, they see chaos they wonder how things won’t break, but for us inside the country, we see the order in this chaos. Shankaracharya understood that & knew Vedas inherently capture this essence.?

His ability to integrate Saguna Brahma for those who are yet to attain Jnana & Nirguna Brahma which is pure knowledge was a masterstroke. It ensured the right balance. He understood the strength of karma Kanda & the weakness of Buddhism & vice-versa.?

Shankara’s core competence which was the Advaita ensured his ability to integrate multiple sects within Sanatana Dharma. He could balance the relationships of Hinduism with other breakaway groups like Buddhism & Jainism.

This integration ensured strength & a lot more conviction & confidence in normal citizens to stay in the fold of Vedic principles. This is what helped India fight the invasion from monolithic religions.

Perhaps this integration & message ensured the Vedic lifestyle survived against all future attacks by the invaders. These invaders had seen success in killing/ destroying many pagan religions in Rome, Egypt, and South America to name a few. Shankaracharya not only handled the competition of his time but ensured that Sanatana Dharma survives beyond his times.

He made a sizeable population understand the real value of what their legacy stood for and the importance of protecting knowledge. The knowledge that had paramount importance in Prastanatrayas (Upanishad, Brahma sutra & Bhagavadgita) & also by Shankara.

?Shankaracharya inspires us to build enhance & leverage our core competence to create a sustainable advantage against the competition who are both known & unknown. His life exemplifies how a strong platform can be built on core competence. Platform, that can integrate multiple and diverse views to build an incredible force.?

Pic source: https://swarajyamag.com/culture/tracing-adi-shankaras-trail-journeys-of-faith-and-unity