PUNE: Can understanding of our ancient scriptures reduce stress and bring emotional stability in our lives?

Swamy Parthasarathy, a philosopher and exponent of Vedanta, believes answers to our emotional hurdles lie in our ancient texts such as the Bhagwad Gita. His new book, ‘Governing Business and Relationships’, applies the wisdom of our scriptures to understand what ails us. The book will be launched on Monday at Balgandharva Rang Mandir on Guru Purnima.

“Businesspersons follow routine practices laid down by self-styled business schools. Spouses and parents are overwhelmingly impulsive in their behaviour with each other and their children. There is little reason governing actions.

We blindly adopt a life set by our predecessors. The intellect is hardly a part of our business and home. Consequently, families are torn apart, business houses collapse and nations are at daggers drawn. The solution is to develop a powerful intellect to gain suzerainty over the perennial confrontations,” says the Swamy.

He believes all of our difficulties arise as we do not possess intellect at all. “We have intelligence, not intellect. Intelligence comes from what you learn in school and college, and does not equip one to deal with day-to-day conflicts. That’s why, even on international levels, peace processes fail. At the personal level, divorce rates are rising. Intellect can come only when we question our institutions with a spirit of enquiry and not disregard. Why do we go to school? Why do we marry? Our intellect will develop only when we start questioning,” he says.

Currently, his Vedanta Cultural Academy at  Malavli near Lonavla attracts several youth and elite corporate professionals, who are regulars at the lectures conducted there.