We’ve reached the point in economic history where human consciousness is the raw material of innovation and ultimately of corporate money-making. Consciousness is now as valuable to business as mundane assets like capital, energy or even technology.

– Patricia Aburdene,
Business Journalist and the Author of the best seller Conscious Capitalism

Most of us live in our externalized minds and in a world dazzled by the marvels of technology. For all our needs we seek for external aids and instruments like books, teachers, mentors, gurus or the gizmos of technology.

The student seeks for knowledge and information in books and the Internet. The teacher tries to externally impose learning on the student by pushing knowledge and information into his cognitive throat. The manager tries to enhance his efficiency or productivity or decision-making through process improvement techniques like six-sigma or data analysis. The leader tries to lead through an externally imposed authority with rules, rewards and punishment. In relationships too, we try to resolve conflicts through outer expressions and behaviour. In health we seek a doctor or a healer. All these aids may be necessary and are undoubtedly helpful in our progress. But if we rely heavily or exclusively on these outer supports, we would prevent ourselves from exploring and harnessing the immense powers within us, in our consciousness.

Whatever we are seeking, in whatever field or activity, there are corresponding powers within our consciousness, which when fully manifested can help us to achieve the highest effectiveness in that activity. For example, an executive instead of relying solely on data and numbers, if he develops his inner power of concentration and begins to intuitively understand the problems before him, he can considerably enhance his efficiency and productivity as a manager. And a leader, instead of relying on external authority and position, if he can develop his power of inner awareness and self-mastery, he will be a more effective and natural leader.

As we have indicated earlier this doesn’t mean rejecting external aids or technology. What we are asking for is a shift of emphasis in our approach from an excessive reliance on outer aids to a much greater reliance on inner powers, with external aids or technology as instruments or supports for expressing or enhancing the efficiency of inner powers. In other words an approach which proceeds from within outwards.

Thus, all our human potentialities lie within us. If the highest aim of Human Resource Development (HRD) is to develop and actualize the total and highest potential of the “Human Capital” in the organization, the primary emphasis of HRD must shift from external organization to inner development of the powers, potentialities and faculties of human consciousness. In other words what we need today is a new Paradigm of Consciousness.