ONE of India’s leading spiritual leaders has spoken about the need to feed the human intellect and of being content in the moment,
in an address to followers at an event last week. Swami Parthasarathy, who is affectionately known as Swamiji, has spent more than 60
years researching the ancient Vedanta philosophy and has penned 10 books, including three bestsellers, earning worldwide acclaim.
Speaking to an audience of millionaires and successful business people at a gala event at the Dorchester hotel in central London last
Wednesday (11), the 87 year-old, who hails from a corporate family, explored the inate desire to keep acquiring more. As well as
giving inspirational talks around the world, Swamiji founded the Vedanta Academy in 1988, which offers three-year courses on the
ideology designed to develop the intellect.
Vedanta is regarded as the oldest philosophy and considered as a manual for a life free from stress and anxiety. Originating from
sacred Hindu texts such as the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita, its key principles include having empathy,
and appreciation of what you have. In his talk, Parthasarathy told the audience: “You are the architect of your fortune, you are the
architect of your misfortune, don’t blame the world.
“Almost everybody around the world is extroverts, trying to find peace, joy, happiness in the external world.
“If you can’t find peace and joy within yourself, you can never find it.
“A man goes to divorce his wife, another man is desperately waiting to marry the same lady. The lady produces ecstasy to one, agony
to another. It’s neither the object, it is not in any being, but what you make of it, how you live. And yet we try to make the
external world as attractive as possible.”
Among those listening to Swamiji were Aditya, son of steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, and his wife Megha. Despite being almost 90, Swamiji
still follows a daily regime of yoga and jogging, and is an accomplished sportsman, playing for his cricket team in the Malavli Hills
in Pune, near Mumbai.
He was born in south India into a business family, but said he began questioning the world around him from the age of seven. Shunning
the world of material possessions, the devout leader gave away his Rolls-Royce and dedicated his life to a noble cause.
The event was organised by Simrin Choudhrie, a former winner of the GG2 Leadership Awards, who is married to leading businessman
Bhanu Choudhrie, executive director at investment firm C&C Alpha Group.Simrin Choudhrie runs the Path to Success, an umbrella charity
which helps to educate youngsters and assists people with disabilities.
