John
Peter Vallabadoss
St.
Francis College, Janampet
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Paper
Title: Dharmārtha Mārga: Path of Management Gurus with Success Mantras
Abstract
The rise of modern gurus
taking inspiration from ancient wisdom is a unique phenomenon in contemporary
world. In Vedic tradition of India, both dharma and artha are one
of the supreme goals of human life. What we mean by ‘Dharmātha Mārga,' is
the path conceived and paved by modern gurus catering to the
aspirations of humans for material growth without compromising spiritual
values. Reading the signs of the time, especially in developed and developing
countries, the gurus from religious, spiritual and secular spheres have been successfully
addressing the needs of their contemporaries. Mind management, leadership, human
resource management, conflict solution techniques, stress management, personal
excellence, successful living, psycho-spiritual wellbeing, material progress
and spiritual upliftment, etc., have become popular themes in their writings,
public talks, workshops, training programmes, retreats and spiritual camps. Are
they seeking solutions for contemporary issues in and through the ancient spiritual
and religious texts and traditions? How far they are successful and can this
phenomenon be sustainable? The paper intends to highlight and critically
appraise the dialectics at play in their discourse, the interplay of the
spiritual and the material.
John Peter Vallabadoss is a
capuchin priest. He holds a doctorate in Indian philosophy from Madras
University and has served as lecturer and Dean of studies at St.Joseph’s Philosophical
College, Kotagiri and has been a consultant in philosophy at Indira Gandhi
National University (IGNOU), New Delhi; Presently he is the Registrar and
Professor at Department of philosophy, Vijnananilayam Degree College, Eluru,
Andhra Pradesh. He is also Treasurer of Association of Christian Philosophers
of India. Email: petercapu@gmail.com