#204 Annual reviews and the framework of Vedanta
It is that time of the year when lists are generated – Best books of the year, best movies of the year, most significant events of the year and so on. It is also that time of the year when we are prompted to review the year that has gone by.
For most of us, a review or evaluation reminds us of the report card at school, the performance appraisal at work. A lot of these experiences have not been exhilarating, shall we say. Often times these moments were dreaded either because we had not done as well as expected or the teacher or boss’s bias and poor leadership would determine our scores/reviews/salary raise. There may well be an unpleasant lingering taste from the hangover of past reviews. Of course during the pandemic we did hit the pause button and reviewed what we wanted from life and where we were going. Some shifts resulted and some other shifts were short lived.
Atma, the limitless being does not need a review. There are no Key performance Areas for the Atma and hence no key performance indicators. There is no need for an annual review or performance appraisal either for the limitless. No bonus or stock options needed either.
The jiva who is the karta and bhogta, the doer and the experiencer can certainly do with an annual review. Seeing oneself as the Atma cannot be reviewed. However clearly seeing oneself as the limitless being rests on the foundation of adhikaritvam, preparedness. Annual reviews of our lives help us to reflect on the past year and do course correction for the future.
Being creatures of habit we tend to cruise in the inertia mode of a certain way of doing things until we are jolted into seeing that maybe our ways of doing are not working for us. Perhaps these behaviours need to change – the hours spent on social media or unhealthy eating habits or the trigger to anger in the presence of a particular family member or the books purchased but not read or being over-consumed by work.
An annual review is an opportunity to be grateful for this blessing called life which we take for granted.
Given how short and unpredictable life is, we want to make the most of the time that we have on this earth. We want to not leave behind a trail of regrets.
An annual review is a good time to pause and press the reset button. As you soar above the year like a majestic eagle, you have the vantage point of objectivity to look at that duration called the year.
And the good news is that you decide the framework you want to use.
Framework of key events and accomplishments – A common framework is to look back at your calendar from the past year or think of the key events that occurred – good, bad and ugly. Some examples are – paid off the loan, started a new class, got back in touch with school friends, started a new job, got a promotion, the keto diet that you began, the vacation that had to be cancelled last minute, the loss of a loved one.
For a Vedanta student the larger framework is of self mastery born of Karma Yoga. Was I able to align my karma to Dharma and offer it to Ishvara? Was I able to see events as prasada shaped by the laws of Ishvara? What did I resist which created reactivity and conflict? The replies to these questions is not so much in a yes or no as much as it is to dwell on one’s disposition of Karma Yoga permeating all areas of life.
The disposition of Karma Yoga helps us to have self-mastery of the doer and experiencer.
The stressed out doer is replaced by Ishvara arpana buddhi which loosens kartratvam, the strong sense of doership – ‘I am a doer’.
The conflicted and restless bhogta, experiencer of experiences is replaced by Ishvara prasada buddhi, which loosens bhogtratvam, the sense of ‘I am an experiencer’.
This growing self- mastery paves the way to see that the self is indeed Ishvara in the light of Vedanta.
And then one can also use the
Framework of different life dimensions in the year – and the application of Karma Yoga. We do this through reflecting on these questions.
Physical well-being – How was my health? Any Illness/Accident requiring attention, How was my exercise routine, my sleep routine, my eating habits, my rest and relaxation? Was I able to practice aasanas and pranayama?
Emotional well-being – In the context of my different roles as a son, daughter, parent, professional, friend, student I ask – Do I express my emotions appropriately? Do I feel loving, loved and secure in my relationships? Am I free from the hangover of guilt and hurt that would have arisen this year or am I holding on to it? Am I more accepting of myself and others? Am I able to see that I am independent of the experience of all emotions?
Professional well-being – What did I gain and what did I contribute in my professional role? How am I applying karma yoga in my role? Which skills have I picked up?
Financial well-being – What is my current financial position in terms of assets and liabilities? How am I applying karma yoga in my strategy of managing the money I have? Investments, savings and expenses. What is my relationship with money like? Is it a source of security or it is neither a source of security or insecurity but a means to acquire things to live comfortably?
Intellectual well-being – Whichever domain is of interest to me, how has my skill or knowledge in that domain expanded? Was I able to give that domain the interest and time that it required?
Spiritual well-being–As a Vedanta student, did I make adequate time for Shravanam, which is the main sadhana? Listening to podcasts or discourses, attending regular Vedanta classes and camps. In terms of allied sadhanas, am I doing japa of the mantra I received? Am I learning Sanskrit or other chanting? How am I bringing in the various values and attitudes as mentioned in the 13th chapter into everyday life? Please secure a copy of ‘The Value of Values’ – Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Overall, through this annual review, we have growing clarity about the extent of our antah-karana shuddhi, the extent to which we are free from the binding effect of our strong likes and dislikes.
We also have clarity about the extent of our antah-karana naischalyam, the steadiness of our minds despite endless distractions internally and externally.
In many ways this annual review is an exercise in Viveka, a discerning between what is eternal and what is temporary leading us to Vairagya, an objectivity born of clear thinking. Reflecting on the year gone by may help us to appreciate Kshama and dama, psychological resolution and restraint of unnecessary use of our sense organs. We can review and appreciate our titiksha, forebearance of the different situations as we pay attention to uparatti, performing our dharma in different situations. We can also review and appreciate our growing samadhaanam, one pointedness and shraddha towards the Shaastra and Guru.
We appreciate how well we have done with Ishvara ‘s grace and seek his grace in our journey of self-mastery.
