This is what Sri Sri Ravi Shankar called about 70-hour workweek
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar responded to the call of Narayana Murthy for 70 -hour workwack by highlighting mental clarity and rest.
In short
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emphasized mental presence for effective work
- He compares the work without rest to drive a car without oil
- He warns that rest is ignored
In response to the ongoing debate for the 70-hour workwack by Infosys founder Narayan Murthy, spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Ravi Shankar said that long-term working does not guarantee better results unless it supports mental clarity, energy and balance.
The spiritual leader said the importance of comfort and mental appearance at work, suggesting that quality, not quantity, should define our professional contribution.
“Work-life balance is very important,” he said in a special interview with Sneha Mordani of India Today.
He said, “If you keep driving the car without oil, it is obliged to break. It’s not about how many hours you spend, it is mentally present during those hours,” he said.
At an event in November 2024, his comments after the idol months later, reiterating their belief that young Indians should work 70 hours a week to help the country grow financially.
“I have not changed my view. I will take it with me to my grave,” Murthy said.
But Gurudev Sri Ravi Shankar offered a different view.
He said, “Many people are present in their offices, but their minds are elsewhere. It takes them 2-3 hours to draft a simple letter because they are not fully present. That kind of work requires quality time and attention,” he said.
Using a vivid analogy, he explained that the way a car needs to stop and fuel, people also have to take time to recharge.
He said, “You have to stop the car, fill petrol, and start again. If you say,” I don’t have time to have fuel, “you will be trapped in the middle of the road,” he said.
He said that by taking deep rest, one can actually make a person more productive: “If you have good energy and you are dynamic, whatever a person does in 7-8 hours, you can do in 3-4 hours. It’s about you what you complete, not how long you sit on your desk.”
The founder of the Art of Living Foundation insisted that the work becomes smart about your own energy limits. “It’s one thing to work hard, but to do smart work, you need to see your energy level. The quality of work will be damaged if you don’t take time for yourself,” he said.
