Capital market and the path to nirvana Manish Chokhani
The sentiments readers associate with the capital market are greed, fear, loathing, envy and jealousy. But these are a reflection of our collective biases stemming from headline events etched in our memory. However, if we step back and view the market as a metaphor for life, our approach may be different. I can vouch that it’s the best place to test oneself and prepare for the very purpose of life — self-realisation and discovering the infinite within. Here’s how... Remember the adage: ‘Life’s a stage’? Indian scriptures speak of us being sent into the world to be schooled by life and learn its lessons. Each one of us is born with differing fortunes and circumstances. Our past progress determines the path we tread now. Our choices and responses in this lifetime determine whether we advance further. Those who invest in the capital market are similarly tested and measured on a continuous and real-time basis. However, unlike other slower moving professions, people here are faced with a fast-paced laboratory where periods of stress bring out spiritual realisations that include gratitude, consciousness, detachment, renunciation, humility, self-awareness, equanimity and selfless service.
• The capital market is a place where financial rewards are completely out of proportion with skill sets and effort. Thus, in the market, the fortunate have a sense of gratitude for what they have received — a chance to work with and invest in enterprises created by some of the finest minds in their generation. These winners seek to hone their abilities to stay deserving of this good fortune, rather than constantly shop around to maximise their immediate gains.
• The market is a place where the spiritual ideal of complete awareness and consciousness gets honed to the utmost. Investors encounter external factors that affect local stock prices. This consciousness is the first step towards realising the basic reality and oneness pervading our universe. People refer to it as globalisation and liberalisation when they gain from it and contagion when the market comes crashing down. But the fact that events, economies, companies and investors are all connected is inescapable.
• As one moves up the wisdom curve, detachment emerges. As one realises that desires do not equal outcomes, acceptance of the reality of the ‘here and now’ emerges. Every impulse arises, matures, fades and then arises elsewhere. This applies to events, to markets, to companies and to economies. The realisation that ‘this too shall pass’ allows detachment. Investors are fortunate in the sense that they can ‘let go’ without emotional attachment to businesses or assets they invest in. While this sounds callous, it is a reality that there are no permanent friends or foes or blue chips and dogs in the market. The market serves to remind us of the two universal principals:
• The market is a place where the spiritual ideal of complete awareness and consciousness gets honed to the utmost. Investors encounter external factors that affect local stock prices. This consciousness is the first step towards realising the basic reality and oneness pervading our universe. People refer to it as globalisation and liberalisation when they gain from it and contagion when the market comes crashing down. But the fact that events, economies, companies and investors are all connected is inescapable.
• As one moves up the wisdom curve, detachment emerges. As one realises that desires do not equal outcomes, acceptance of the reality of the ‘here and now’ emerges. Every impulse arises, matures, fades and then arises elsewhere. This applies to events, to markets, to companies and to economies. The realisation that ‘this too shall pass’ allows detachment. Investors are fortunate in the sense that they can ‘let go’ without emotional attachment to businesses or assets they invest in. While this sounds callous, it is a reality that there are no permanent friends or foes or blue chips and dogs in the market. The market serves to remind us of the two universal principals:
a) Rit-a: The law of rhythm, cycles (‘this bull/bear phase too shall pass’)
b) Yajna: Sacrifice of what you hold dearest (‘let go’) A truly detached investor sees a bull market for what it really is — inflation in asset prices.
• The market is a place where humility gets inculcated quickly. One realises that doers are the entrepreneurs, investors’ rewards are a function of many external factors, and that any egoistic pretensions of being a winner are delusional.
• The ideal of ‘self-awareness’ gets realised as one begins to play to one’s strengths and builds a ‘circle of competence’ and an equanimous temperament that is not swayed by events, personalities, emotions or ego. Only when one learns how to remain calm and composed under all sets of circumstances, does the real test of winners — an equanimous temperament — emerge. This temperament is not captive to IQ, luck, desire or need. It is shaped by ideals and a passion to stay ahead in one’s chosen vocation. The concepts of detached passion and deserving destiny become real.
• At the zenith of success on this path, winners are overcome with the wisdom that the real purpose of life is to achieve oneness with the world. This wisdom allows one to give back in untold measure — selflessly. This is manifested in many forms. Some teach, many start seeding deserving entrepreneurs, while some move on to philanthropy.
• The market is a place where humility gets inculcated quickly. One realises that doers are the entrepreneurs, investors’ rewards are a function of many external factors, and that any egoistic pretensions of being a winner are delusional.
• The ideal of ‘self-awareness’ gets realised as one begins to play to one’s strengths and builds a ‘circle of competence’ and an equanimous temperament that is not swayed by events, personalities, emotions or ego. Only when one learns how to remain calm and composed under all sets of circumstances, does the real test of winners — an equanimous temperament — emerge. This temperament is not captive to IQ, luck, desire or need. It is shaped by ideals and a passion to stay ahead in one’s chosen vocation. The concepts of detached passion and deserving destiny become real.
• At the zenith of success on this path, winners are overcome with the wisdom that the real purpose of life is to achieve oneness with the world. This wisdom allows one to give back in untold measure — selflessly. This is manifested in many forms. Some teach, many start seeding deserving entrepreneurs, while some move on to philanthropy.
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