Vedic Principles of Decision Making
Vedic Principles of Decision Making
Every minute of our life we decide what to do or what not to do. We find ourselves in situations that were created by our behavior and thinking in the past. We often can see that some situations appear again and again. This means that some patterns were created, which need to be taken care of (See: Law of Karma; Fulfillment of All Desires is the Cosmic Law).
When making the choices of today we write a scenario of our future life. That’s why it is so important to be responsible in what we are doing not only at some special moments, but on a daily basis as a routine: what time we get up and go to bed, what we do in our spare time, what are our patterns in relationships with our nearest and dearest.
For example, going to bed before 10 pm gives us an opportunity to use the only time (10-12 pm) when brain and mind can effectively process impressions and ideas of the day and be prepared for right choices the following day. Getting up before 6, automatically places you into Sattvic period of the day, and naturally evokes our inner optimism, enthusiasm and discrimination power (see Time – the most Powerful Force; The Three Gunas).
Vedic approach to decision making is based on the three essential needs of a living being in the material world:
Health.
Prosperity.
Spiritual contentment.
Health is the foundation of every happiness. Without good health we are unlikely to enjoy life to its full extent. Being healthy facilitates our ability to prosper.
Prosperity makes our life comfortable, free of stress and competition, and gives us the time and energy to progress spiritually.
The following quiz can help evaluate the outcome of a decision and find out whether or not it fulfills all three basic needs (health, prosperity, and spirituality). After counting Yes and No answers you will have more understanding of the rightness of your decision from Vedic point of view.
As a result of this decision:
My health improves.
Yes
No
The health of my family members improves.
Yes.
No.
The health of human society improves.
Yes.
No.
Environmental situations change for the better.
Yes.
No.
This decision raises the quality of my life, leads to prosperity.
Yes.
No.
This decision results in a sufficient amount of money.
Yes.
No.
This decision promotes non-monetary positive changes.
Yes.
No.
The results are real, not imaginary.
Yes.
No.
Such decisions were profitable for people who made them in the past.
Yes.
No.
The well-being of the whole planet will improve.
Yes.
No.
This decision is moral.
Yes.
No.
I can gladly tell my mom about it and she will be proud of me.
Yes.
No.
My intention is legal in country I plan to accomplish it in.
Yes.
No.
Theoretically my decision will be approved by God.
Yes.
No.
I would like such a decision being made towards me.
Yes.
No.
TODAY’S TIP: We are free in choice making but not free of the consequences of those choices. It is said that when we pick up a stick by one side we unavoidably pick up the other side of the stick as well.
some time when we make decisions, some people do not like for whom we care. they feel neglected and unimportant though the decision will improve me and my self and i will in turn improve them.
then what should be done?
We almost always do not know the results of our decisions. The mind is prone to justify the pursuit of pleasures and reject what actually will benefit us. We need to consult spiritually mature persons and the Holy Scriptures in order to make the right things.
We deserve all our relatives, friends, bosses, enemies etc. The only person we can change is ourself. If we change to the better we automatically will deserve better people around us and they will change themselves or leave. We should be patient and persistent. Out close relatives represent our deepest karma and will change in the last turn.