At Bṛhat, while we take on the ambition of designing the self-perpetuating civilizational moment, we are humbly mindful that our ācāra-vyavahāra must be refined. The values an organisation imbibes define its character, and on matters of value and ethic our tradition has much to offer- a single chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā lists 26 virtues for example. Our values are thus a minimum benchmark- a threshold we profess to keep sacred as individuals and organisation even as we strive for more.
1 - Satya and Maitri (Truth and Kindness)
Articulation of truth should be kind. Our fundamental identity is a sincere pursuit of truth, and the ability to live that with kindness. There are facts, and there is truth. Facts are true when transposed via kindness, and one must cultivate the ability to discern this.
सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम्प्रि । यं च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥
Speak what is true; and speak what is agreeable; speak not what is true, but disagreeable; nor speak what is agreeable, but untrue; this is the eternal law.
2 - Saundarya and Samiti (Beauty and Harmony)
Whatever we do, there will be emphasis on beauty and harmony- these are complementary. There will be beauty in our living, in our research, in our writing. Whatever processes that bṛhat wants to design into the civilizational moment need aim for these.
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना विशाल कुलसम्भवाः ।
विद्याहीना न शोभन्ते निर्गन्धा इव किंशुकाः ॥
Though one be endowed with beauty and youth and born in noble families, yet without education they are like the Palasa flower which is void of sweet fragrance.
3 - Vyaṣṭi and Samaṣṭi (Fractal and Networked)
We understand linkages between things and how they group up. bṛhat will grow by an ability to integrate. None of us is better than all of us, and our collective output will be larger than the sum of us. A civilizational mahāvākya leads us here.
यथा पिंडे तथा ब्राह्मण्डे ।
यथा ब्राह्मण्डे तथा पिंडे ॥
As in the microcosm, so in the macrocosm; as in the macrocosm, so in the microcosm.
4 - Medha and Viveka (Wisdom and Discernment)
To deliberate upon and cultivate excellence actively is a given at bṛhat, but what informs our discernment? How and when do we say yes or no to a project, a person, a plan? When and where do we say this? An ability to emphasise on discernment is the key to our fourth cornerstone. A differentiated, contextual and sustainable framework based on dharma will be our solution.
आमां मेधा सुरभि-र्विश्वरूपा हिरण्यवर्णा जगती जगम्या ।
ऊर्जस्वती पयसा पिन्वमाना सा मां मेधा सु॒परतीका जुषन्ताम् ॥
May that Sarasvati, who is intelligence personified, who is fragrant, who is all pervading, who has a golden complexion, who is the earth, who is accessible to all; who is full of vigor, who is overflowing with the nectar of knowledge, and who is beautiful; come to me and bless me with intelligence.