Controlling the "Indriyas": Vedic Methods of Emotional Control for Leaders Tired of Losing Their Head
The Indriyas--Sense Organs--how they set and pull us into traps--and how a leader can control them.
Good Leadership and the Importance of Emotional Control
Self-control is the foundation of good leadership. The practice also has a long and varied history in Vedic thought, with shastras like the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, and the Upanishads providing various personal practice methods.
What are the Indriyas?
The word' Indriya means 'faculty.' They are our sense organs and faculties, comprised of our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin—called Jnanendriyas. They also include motor functions like speaking, grasping, and evacuating waste. There are many more—22—from gender to feelings and spiritual faculties.
So what's the problem? For instance, what makes the tongue a root cause of negative behavior? The truth is the senses aren't inherently evil—it's what you do with them. Leaders, in particular, are prone to blindly following the Indriyas as they accumulate power, and this can lead to something called 'the arishadvarga or the Six Enemies.'
The Six Enemies
The Six Enemies function as snares within the mind. These six vices can cause a world of suffering for the leader. That said, these things are only enemies because they exist in excess. Lust isn't a problem when you control your sexuality. Anger is sometimes appropriate, and ambition is only an issue if it becomes greed.
Kama (lust)
It's not my job to beat you over the head with morality, but when the lust of any kind rules your life, it becomes a burden. Desire is bottomless—there is no end in sight. Lust (or greed) for money, sex, and more can cause you to exhaust yourself in the pursuit of something that has no end.
Krodha (anger)
When unrestrained, anger destroys everything in its path. Before you act in anger, it's essential to take a step back. Anger promotes bold action but often at the expense of relationships. Think about a CEO who yells at his employees, causing them to walk on eggshells. That would damage the culture and create an environment of distrust.
Lobha (greed)
Greed, like lust, is endless. You can never have enough. Alex Hormozi, a phenomenal entrepreneur, described a billionaire who felt he was broke and needed to make more money. This is a person who's seized by the enemy of greed. When this enemy is in place, you need more than what you do, and you never have time to enjoy the fruits of your efforts.
Mana (pride)
Adi Shankara states, "The mental attitude is born as 'I am a great person. I am healthy, rich and a great soul who is equal to me on this earth,' is spoken of as Mada or Pride by the learned ones."
Great pride is confidence in its extreme—in Shankara's case, it's based on birth, wealth, or other factors. Pride blinds one to inner faults and causes one to surround oneself with Yes Men. Hubris becomes a prison where one can never be wrong and has an inflated sense of importance. This is detrimental for a leader who strives to see things clearly. If you're seized by pride in any capacity, you might as well have blinders on.
Mada (arrogance)
Mada makes you feel pride for accomplishments you've attained and attributes you don't possess. You might feel you're smarter than you are or more athletic. Regardless, arrogance can cause you to overextend yourself in various ways that are dangerous for you in the long run—especially since you think you have abilities and attributes that aren't actually grounded in the elements.
Harsha (foolhardiness)
To be reckless in business and life—especially after a victory—can cause all the progress you've made to be crushed instantly. The best antidote to the poison of Harsha is self-control and measured decision-making. Harsha can also be attributed to constantly going after new ventures—' shiny object syndrome.' Sticking with things is important, rather than flitting about from place to place.
Controlling the Six Enemies
These are enemies we must face and conquer daily, but how? There are various methods that yogis and householders alike can use to wrangle these tendencies and eventually purify them entirely. Don't just practice these for yourself—do it for the people you work with and who work under you.
Vichara: This perfect method for business leaders and politicians is deliberation or self-inquiry. Vichara is deliberating on determining the karmic roots of a behavior or situation. It involves untangling various beliefs, emotions, and ideas to get to the root of who you are. Neti-neti or 'not this, not that.' It is a popular yogic method of inquiry but can be applied in many ways. You can ask yourself about the root of anger, for instance, and get to the bottom of any preconceived notions about a situation. Vichara is a significant key to mastery.
Icchashakti-Inner will: Train your will. Doing little things to improve willpower Shakti daily is a force multiplier for strengthening the self and the power you wield in the world. Begin to say 'no' to things you want—especially if they aren't good for you. Get up earlier each day, and incorporate meditative exercises into your work week.
Kumbhaka-Breath Retention: Pranayama has a long and vital role in Vedic thought, but I want to expand Kumbhaka to include breathwork of all kinds. This includes Holotropic Breathwork, the Wim Hof method, Tummo, or the Cyclic Sigh. Making breathwork a daily part of your schedule for 10-20 minutes per day will make you more centered overall.
Dama-Restraint: Restraining yourself is the key to controlling the arishadvarga. It's just as important to know when to stop doing something as when to start. Learning to say no and emotional control is key here. If you feel like you're about to speak out of anger, for instance, pause and ask if what you say is necessary or if it'll damage the situation even worse than it already has. Always place a filter of restraint on your behaviors, and the enemies won't touch you.
Pratyahara—Abstention: Pratyahara is the 5th limb of Yoga. It means 'withdrawal of the senses'. It means experiencing external stimuli but not allowing them to control your mind. In my experience, the best way to do this is to observe the contents of the stimuli while not identifying with them. For instance, if something makes you feel anger, it's important to recognize that. You are not 'angry'; you feel anger. Distancing yourself from the stimuli is key to mastery.
Vairagya and Tyaga—Detachment and Renunciation: You don't have to become a hermit before you ask. Inner renunciation means rejecting these 6 enemies and detaching yourself from the fruits of your results in the process of your service. If you find yourself, for instance, focusing solely on money, you might be on the way to feeding the enemy of greed. Instead, shift your perspective and focus on how you can help serve others. Relinquish the fruits of your efforts. When you serve selflessly, the money will come.
You'll become stronger by eliminating the six enemies and forge an ironclad will and Being. Conquer yourself!