Vijayata Nath

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Workplaces Chapter 17 – Śraddhā-traya Vibhāga Yoga: The Threefold Division of Faith Shlokas 21–25 After explaining sattvic charity, Krishna distinguishes rajasic and tamasic giving — and finally ties the chapter together with the purifying power of the sacred syllable OM TAT SAT. The teaching is simple: giving and action are elevated when done without ego, expectation, or impurity. In the workplace, this maps to how leaders give — whether knowledge, recognition, or opportunities — and whether actions are rooted in integrity or driven by show, neglect, or manipulation. यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ १७-२१ ॥ That charity which is given grudgingly, with the expectation of return or reward, or for fruit in return — is regarded as rajasic. अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते । असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १७-२२ ॥ That charity which is given at an improper place and time, to unworthy persons, without respect or with contempt — is declared tamasic. ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः । ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥ १७-२३ ॥ “Om Tat Sat” — this triple designation of Brahman was used in the beginning; by it the Brahmanas, the Vedas, and sacrifices were created. तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः । प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥ १७-२४ ॥ Therefore, uttering “Om” at the beginning of sacrifices, charities, and austerities as enjoined in the scriptures, the seekers of Brahman always begin their acts. तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः । दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥ १७-२५ ॥ Uttering “Tat,” without seeking fruit, acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity are performed by those who desire liberation. Rajasic Charity : Giving that seeks recognition or return — like mentoring for visibility or donations for PR — lacks depth and breeds transactional cultures. Tamasic Charity : Careless or disrespectful giving — misplaced incentives, token gestures — harms morale more than it helps. Om Tat Sat : These symbolize purity, universality, and truth. In modern terms: start actions with clarity of purpose (Om), free them from ego (Tat), and align them with higher values (Sat). Krishna shows that giving is not judged by amount, but by intention and alignment. Rajasic and tamasic giving corrupt relationships and trust, while sattvic giving uplifts both giver and receiver. “Om Tat Sat” is the timeless mantra for ensuring that actions — whether sacrifice, discipline, or charity — are anchored in sincerity, truth, and service. For workplaces: leaders should give with respect, without hidden agendas, and always rooted in purpose. When integrity anchors action, organizations move from transactional to transformational.

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I had the privilege of chairing a panel at this year's Resource & Waste Management Expo (RWM Expo) on Strength in Diversity: Building Sector Attractiveness   Joined by Emelia Peters, Bonni Jee and Veena Deepak Munganahalli we explored how we can bring in diverse talent to the sector.   A few key insights that stood out: Inclusion comes first - to achieve diversity, we must create environments where people feel safe to be themselves, valued, and heard. A multi-generational workforce is an asset - with five generations now working side by side, we have an incredible opportunity to learn from each other - whether it’s fresh thinking from early careers or the wisdom of experience. Younger voices are reshaping the sector - their passion for climate action, enthusiasm for sustainability, and vision of the world they want to live in must be nurtured and channelled. Practical initiatives matter - early careers ambassadors, return-to-work programmes, internships, employee networks, and volunteering opportunities are all tools that help us bring in diverse talent. However, we also highlighted the importance of having an inclusive workforce to retain that talent. Trust and agility are key - building sector attractiveness is about listening to people, understanding what they value, and providing flexible career paths that allow growth and opportunity. Above all, the conversation reinforced this truth: if we commit to inclusion, listen to our people, and live our values, our sector will not only be resilient, but diverse and truly attractive for generations to come.   A huge thank you to my fellow panellists and to everyone who contributed to the discussion. The future of our sector looks brighter when we build it together.

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