Mind Over Money: How meditation & Lord Buddha's teachings inspired this CEO

“I remember one statement, which is attributed to Lord Buddha in which he says, “If you want to see the bottom of the pond, the water has to be still. I think this one sentence would define enlightenment in itself. You understand it as you read deeper,” says Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.

In an interview with ETMarkets, Singhel said: “Meditation is not about just one thing, it is a way of life and if you are successful in imbibing in whatever you do, you can meditate 24 hours a day,” Edited excerpts:

This is the last part of our 2-part series with Tapan Singhel.

I was going through your profile and what I like the most is the series that you started - breaking the bias. What gave you the motivation to start that?
Nobody wants to have biases; nobody wants to hold biases against something. Everybody is a good human being. However, over time, biases are developed.

Each one of us would build some biases over time. It just happens without even our knowledge. And if you look back, you'll see that at some point of time there will be some bias that influences your decision-making, all your thinking, all your views.

Also Read: Mind Over Money: Meditation is like going to gym for your mind, says Tapan Singhel

So, the conversation of breaking the bias is very critical and that is where you get people to talk about. You cannot walk up straight to a person and address their biased nature.

At times it gets difficult when your close and loved ones put you in that place. That is when my thought process was like you cannot directly tell people that they have a bias.

So how do you bring up relevant topics? How do you discuss it, which you feel would be a common, prevalent bias, and how do you break it and just put it in a subtle way to make them understand? So, I think that is what our endeavour was.

What is your motivation or what is the one thing that inspires you the most?
I think when I was younger, I did not think so much. I was like any normal young person, very rash, and very angry. I did not care if I hurt somebody or not.

However, somewhere down the line, I realised that this is not the kind of life that I want to lead. The life I want to lead is where I can make a difference in people's lives, where I can be with them in their bad times, good times, and stand by them.

In addition, once I had that feeling, then I also started thinking that even for people who harm me, I should think good for them.

Therefore, this process takes time; it’s not an overnight process and I also think to do good deeds for others. On the other hand, I also think about how can I make a difference in their lives?

It is not about just giving charity or giving money, but my strong belief is that you have to work on building competence; you have to work on building skills, and you have to work on building those kinds of capabilities that should be sustaining.

So, I think this transition happened to me over time, and this is how my thinking has evolved and that is the way my behaviour has changed over time.

So, it's just a natural progression. I think most people go through this; I have also gone through this natural tradition.

Did any books contribute to that particular change in the process?
After changing the process, obviously, I started trying to figure it out. I got inspired by understanding what exactly spiritual Yoga is. A lot of us do not really understand yoga, we just see its physical form, and this is a part of it, but that is not all.

That made me a curious person by nature. I read many books and understood philosophy instead of the science of spiritualism.

People do not understand that it is a very simple scientific process. It is not a very complicated process. I remember one statement, which is attributed to Lord Buddha in which he says, “If you want to see the bottom of the pond, the water has to be still”.

I think this one sentence would define enlightenment in itself. You understand it as you read deeper and you look at different philosophers like the Patanjali Yogi and the way he speaks about the concept of how do you still your mind completely.

Hence, that takes you to the path to enlightenment. It is so fascinating and let me tell you, one experience and learning is, it is a very scientific process -- any person irrespective of who he or she is can become spiritual in a very scientific process. I think that is what my learning has been.

How has meditation helped you look inward, especially in tough times?
I think to me meditation is not about looking anywhere. There are many techniques, there is not just one. So, some people go through chanting, some do breathing techniques and some do prayers - these are the formation of meditation.

I think if you do any work that in itself is meditation. Therefore, meditation is not about just one thing. It is a way of life and if you are successful in imbibing in whatever you do, you can meditate 24 hours a day.

So, I think something that’s how you start enjoying over time, gives you more focus, more clarity.

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