Accomplishment in

1. Accomplishment in Chennai August 30-31, 2008

2. Day 1

3. Jane Austen & her novel • Daughter of English clergyman • Intelligent, progressive, romantic idealist • Never married • Represented by Elizabeth • Began P&P in 1796 • Sold P&P for £120 • Second most popular English novel of all time

4. P&P portrays • Intense aspiration • Blind egoism • Stubborn ignorance • Mean jealousy • Bitter conflict • Insurmountable obstacles • Success & failure • Impossible achievements

5. P&P reveals truths of • Social evolution • Individual accomplishment • Human nature & relationships • Character of Life • Spiritual progress • The process of creation

6. Spiritual truths in P&P • The Human Aspiration is Divine Will • We are blind to opportunities • Obstacles are what we create • Greater the opposition, greater the opportunity • Everything happens for our progress • The impossible is possible • It is not man who accomplishes, but Life. • Life is spirit evolving. • We can acquire mastery over life • Knowledge comes from viewing life as a whole • Power comes by aspiring for others to progress. • Knowledge & power can generate a movement of Spiritual Prosperity

7. Social Context

8. French Revolution & war • P&P is bristling with the energy of French Revolution • Its origin is a yogi in the Himalayas • Censorship prevented reference to war

9. Social Revolution • Intermixing of the social classes • Aristocracy is under siege • Middle Class is rising & clamoring for more status & power • Business people buy land & become aristocrats • Story reflects the social tension of rapid & radical transition

10. Indian social context today • Unprecedented freedom • Rising aspirations • Social barriers are collapsing • Love marriages • Women’s rights • Inter-caste marriages • Divorce and remarriage • Assertion against authority by youth, poor • Anyone can achieve prosperity • Social atmosphere for accomplishment

11. Seeing beneath the veil in P&P • What is left when you remove the individual characters? • The surging energy of social evolution preserving aristocracy from extinction. • What is left when you remove the social movement? • The evolution of consciousness from Ignorance to Knowledge releasing delight of existence.

12. P&P Family Tree #1

13. Start with a yogi in the Himalayas French Revolution Social evolution in England Mrs. B’s aspiration arises from the difference in values Mrs. B’s aspiration brings Bingley, Darcy, Collins & Wickham Eliza’s passionate urge for Jane’s marriage Violence of Bingley’s love for Jane Bingley’s response raises Mrs. B’s expectations Meryton resent Darcy’s aloofness Darcy insults Elizabeth Elizabeth dislikes Darcy Darcy is attracted to her fine eyes Relation of Bingley & Jane brings Elizabeth & Darcy together Caroline is jealous of Elizabeth & wants Darcy for herself Darcy responds to her sweetness & archness Mrs. Bennet presses for engagement Collins brings opportunity Wickham arrives & poisons Eliza against Darcy Wickham says Darcy is to marry Lady Anne Elizabeth & Darcy clash at Netherfield Ball Mrs. Bennet vulgarly broadcasts her success Darcy gets alarmed by Bingley’s love Darcy fears his own heart Elizabeth brings Wickham home Darcy & Caroline take Bingley to London Caroline claims Bingley will marry Georgiana Collins proposes to Elizabeth with insults Elizabeth violently rejects Collins Mrs. Bennet tries to force Elizabeth Mr. & Mrs. Bennet clash over Collins Collins feels angry & humiliated The intensity brings Charlotte Collins proposes to Charlotte Clip 1: Energy Flow in the Story – 1

14. Mrs. Bennet feels defeated Jane is deeply disappointed Elizabeth is deeply concerned for her sister Jane goes to London with Gardiners Three months of inner intensity, outer silence Wickham pursues Miss King Elizabeth meets Darcy at Hunsford Darcy proposes & they trade insults Her abuse increases his passion for her Darcy’s letter exposes Wickham Three months quietude Mrs. Bennet & Lydia insist on her Brighton trip Gardiners change their vacation plans Elizabeth meets Darcy at Pemberley They relate positively for the first time Caroline is intensely jealous Jane’s letter tells of Lydia’s elopement Elizabeth rushes home Bennets despair over Lydia’s fate Mr. Bennet & Mr. Gardiner fail to find her News arrives of settlement & marriage Mr. Bennet wonders how to repay Gardiner Newly weds arrive & depart in good cheer News of Bingley’s return to Netherfield Bingley & Darcy call at Longbourn Mrs. Bennet insults Darcy Darcy confesses to Bingley Darcy goes to London Bingley proposes Lady Catherine confronts Elizabeth Darcy returns Elizabeth offers gratitude Darcy proposes again Clip 1: Energy Flow in the Story – 2 • Mrs. Bennet feels defeated • Jane is deeply disappointed • Elizabeth is deeply concerned for her sister • Jane goes to London with Gardiners • Three months of inner intensity, outer silence • Wickham pursues Miss King • Elizabeth meets Darcy at Hunsford • Darcy proposes & they trade insults • Her abuse increases his passion for her • Darcy’s letter exposes Wickham • Three months quietude • Mrs. Bennet & Lydia insist on her Brighton trip • Gardiners change their vacation plans • Elizabeth meets Darcy at Pemberley • They relate positively for the first time • Caroline is intensely jealous • Jane’s letter tells of Lydia’s elopement • Elizabeth rushes home • Bennets despair over Lydia’s fate • Mr. Bennet & Mr. Gardiner fail to find her • News arrives of settlement & marriage • Mr. Bennet wonders how to repay Gardiner • Newly weds arrive & depart in good cheer • News of Bingley’s return to Netherfield • Bingley & Darcy call at Longbourn • Mrs. Bennet insults Darcy • Darcy confesses to Bingley • Darcy goes to London • Bingley proposes • Lady Catherine confronts Elizabeth • Darcy returns • Elizabeth offers gratitude • Darcy proposes again

15. Bennet Family

16. Clip 2: Bennet Family • Kitty and Lydia fight over a hat. Lizzie comes back from a walk and smiles at her father, who makes a face because of the noise in the house. Mrs.B cries out for Jane and Elizabeth, they go to her wearily • Mrs. Bennet announces Bingley's arrival, Mr.Bennet teases her • Mr. and Mrs.B argue. Lizzie and Jane smile at each other, Mary offers some advice, Lydia makes a face and announces that she is hungry • Jane and Lizzie talk about love and marriage. Lizzie says goodnight to her mother and sisters, Mr.Bennet is checking his accounts • Kitty and Lydia get excited about Bingley's arrival, Mr.Bennet announces that he has visited Bingley, Mrs. Bennet rejoices • Jane, Lizzie, Charlotte and Mary look at the newly arrived Bingley, his sisters and Darcy. • Jane and Elizabeth discuss the ball, Bingley, his sisters and friend. • Mr.B bids goodbye to Elizabeth before she leaves for Hunsford. • Mr.Bennet argues with Lizzie that it is better to send Lydia to Brighton

17. Bennet Family • Freedom • Energy • Cheerfulness • Absence of jealousy or meanness • Harmony • Tension & conflict between parents

18. Mr. Bennet • Most respectable person in Meryton • He planned to bear sons • Estate of £2000 entailed • Married Mrs. Bennet for her beauty & liveliness • Problems arise from his failure to assume responsibility & authority • He exhibits the pent up grievances of 25 years marriage • He is perverse, petulant, mocking, ridiculing, rude

19. Children • Jane – father’s breeding & education + mother’s beauty • Eliza – father’s intelligence, wit + mother’s energy • Lydia –mother’s favorite • Kitty – takes after Lydia • Mary – forgotten in the middle

20. Awareness & Aspiration

21. Accomplishment begins with awareness • Life evolves by consciousness • We are blind to the opportunities • When opportunities presents, we have to • recognize them • have faith in them • respond to them

22. Darcy tells Bingley the society at Hertfordshire will be savage, before renting Netherfield Darcy refuses to dance, and insults Mrs.B Darcy says it will be a punishment to dance with anyone at the assembly Darcy calls Elizabeth tolerable Elizabeth promises never to dance with Darcy Darcy criticizes the Bennets Elizabeth refuses to dance with Darcy Darcy confesses to Caroline that he's been admiring Elizabeth's eyes Darcy says Elizabeth looks better for the exercise Darcy tells Bingley that Jane has little chance of being married well Charlotte points out Darcy looks at Eliza a lot. E thinks it is contempt Elizabeth is attracted to Wickham, she smiles at him at her aunt's place Elizabeth gets angry with Darcy on hearing Wickham's lies Elizabeth confesses to Jane that she likes Wickham, and trusts him E complains to Char about D, he invites her to dance, she unwillingly accepts Darcy finds the behavior of the Bennets at the Netherfield ball intolerable E believes Wickham's explanation of his absence at the Netherfield ball E tells her father she believes Wickham has really been cheated by Darcy Clip 3: Blind to opportunities

23. What creates the opportunities? • Social climate bristling with energy • Positive family atmosphere • Positive attitudes • Individual aspirations

24. Mrs.B is excited by news of Bingley's arrival, asks Mr.B to call on him She is happy to hear that Mr.Bennet has called on Bingley She tells her daughters about Darcy’s wealth, then introduces her daughters to Bingley She narrates the events at the assembly to Mr.Bennet with gusto She reads Caroline's letter excitedly She enters Netherfield excitedly, to see Jane who is unwell When Mr.B mentions a visitor (Collins), she assumes it is Bingley and immediately plans the dinner Collins announces his plans to select one of her daughters, she tells him Jane is likely to be engaged, and encourages him to select any other daughter Admires Elizabeth and advises her to pay attention to Collins Forces Elizabeth to listen to Collins' proposal She is happy with Wickham, praises him to Mr.B. She wishes he had 5000 – 6000 a year, she would happily marry one of her daughters to him. She regrets Bingley’s going away Clip 4: Mrs. B’s aspiration

25. Aspirations • Mrs. Bennet wanted marriage for her daughters • Elizabeth & Jane wanted to marry for love • Collins wanted to please Lady Catherine • Charlotte wanted to marry for security • Wickham wanted relationship to Darcy • Lydia wanted the thrill of marrying first

26. Initiative

27. Initiative • We take initiatives all the time • Action is not the key to accomplishment • Accomplishment is causal, not physical • Process of Creation = Process of Accomplishment. • Process of creation starts in causal plane with Real Idea • Results often different from what we intend • Studying initiatives reveals laws of accomplishment

28. Subtle determinates of each act • Thoughts • Opinions • Beliefs • Values • Attitudes • Motives • Impulses • Skills • Quality of execution

29. Clip 5: Mrs. B’s initiatives • Mrs.B tries to make Darcy dance with her daughters, he walks away. She abuses him • While describing the first ball, she abuses Darcy • She makes Jane go to Netherfield on horseback • She gets offended by Darcy and criticizes him at Netherfield • She encourages Collins to select from her four younger daughters • She gloats about Jane and Bingley at Netherfield • Forces Lizzie to listen to Collins • She tries to make Mr.B persuade Elizabeth to marry Collins. Instead, Mr.B tells Elizabeth that he does not want her to marry him. Mrs.B is disappointed • Complains about Bingley, Elizabeth and the Lucases. She walks away on seeing Elizabeth come towards her with Wickham • She wants Mr.Bennet to take everyone to Brighton • She is happy when Lydia is invited to Brighton • She happily sees Lydia off, asking her to lose no opportunity to enjoy herself • She welcomes Darcy unwillingly, and is rude to him while mentioning Lydia's marriage to Wickham • Mrs.B says she always distrusted Wickham, but no one listened to her

30. Mrs. Bennet’s Initiatives • Dinner invitation to Bingley • Abusing Darcy • She expresses the attraction to him negatively because he will not receive it positively. • Eliza does the same and so does Darcy in response. • Sending Jane on horseback • Petty planning surely spoils • Mrs. Bennet spoils Jane’s chances, but rain and fever oblige her. • Her hopes were answered. It rained. • Even energy which is to fail ultimately may initial succeed. • Jane’s illness is her desire to stay at Netherfield. • Darcy’s passion brings Elizabeth to Netherfield, not Jane’s illness. • She forces Jane to remain longer at Netherfield • Mrs. Bennet uses intrigue to retain Jane at Netherfield. • Intrigue backfires on her. • Rudeness to Darcy • Refuses to send the carriage until Tuesday • Her exceeding her strength brings Collins arrival. • Speaks openly of Jane’s engagement at the ball • She postpones it 10 months • Insists on sending Lydia to Brighton • Insists on sending Lydia to Brighton

31. Clip 6: Failed Initiatives • Sir L tries to make Darcy and Elizabeth dance • Sir Lucas’ congratulations about Bingley and Jane • Sir L takes Elizabeth to Hunsford • Caroline asks Darcy how he found the Hertfordshire girls, hoping to hear criticism. He obliges. She is happy to hear him criticize Elizabeth • Caroline praises Jane • She asks Darcy if he finds the company tedious, he replies that he has been admiring Elizabeth's eyes • Caroline speaks badly of Eliza at Netherfield, and gets snubbed • Caroline tells Elizabeth about Wickham's treatment of Darcy • Caroline mentions Wickham’s name at Pemberley to taunt Elizabeth • Caroline criticizes Elizabeth and is snubbed by Darcy • At Pemberley, Caroline teases Darcy about his feelings for Elizabeth, he angrily walks away • Lady C invites Elizabeth to travel with her, Elizabeth turns down the offer • Lady C’s meeting with Elizabeth at Longbourn • Darcy’s later confession that it alerted him to possible success

32. Sir Lucas’s Initiatives • His goal is to be pleasant to everyone. • Life is pleasant to his family • Tries to get Darcy to dance with Elizabeth • His initiative failed when she refused • Speaks to Darcy about Jane’s imminent engagement • Lucas lacks strength promote Bingley’s marriage. • Takes Elizabeth to Hunsford

33. Caroline’s Initiatives • Praises Jane & befriends her • Speaks badly of Eliza at Netherfield • Warns Elizabeth about Wickham • Mentions Wickham’s name at Pemberley • Criticizes Elizabeth at Pemberley

34. Lady Catherine’s Initiatives • Invites Elizabeth to travel with her • Meets Elizabeth at Longbourn • Meets Darcy in London

35. Initiatives that succeed • P&P is full of initiatives, but very few succeed • Bingley’s initial visit to Netherfield and his final visit to Longbourn to propose. • Darcy’s effort to make Wickham marry Lydia

36. Initiatives with unexpected outcomes • Wickham’s attempt to become Darcy’s brother-in-law by eloping with Georgiana • Collin’s proposal to Elizabeth leads to his marriage with Charlotte • Collins eagerness to relate with Lady Catherine make her a relation

37. Initiatives with opposite result • Caroline’s sarcastic criticism of Elizabeth to Darcy • Lady Catherine’s threats to Elizabeth & advice to Darcy

38. Initiatives backfire, later succeed • Mrs. Bennet’s efforts to bring Jane and Bingley together • Sir Lucas’s effort to bring Darcy and Elizabeth together

39. Negative initiatives that end well • Elizabeth abuses of Darcy at Hunsford • Wickham elopes with Lydia for dissipation, not marriage • Fitzwilliam discloses Darcy’s interference with Bingley and Jane

40. Initiatives initially succeed, then fail • Wickham’s lies about Darcy • Darcy’s efforts to prevent Bingley’s marriage to Jane • Darcy’s concealment of Jane’s presence in London

41. Non-initiatives that succeed • Jane refuses to think badly of Bingley, Wickham or Darcy • Bingley submits to Darcy’s domination and ultimately succeeds • Mr. Bennet’s refusal to call on Bingley a second time • The Gardiners’ restrain in not asking Lizzy about her relation with Darcy

42. Non-initiatives leading to failure • Darcy refuses to expose Wickham publically • Elizabeth refuses to expose Wickham to her father • Mr. Bennet refuses to stop Lydia’s trip to Brighton

43. The Act

44. The Act as Microcosm • Every initiative consists of many acts • Acts link together in chains become actions • Repeating actions become activities • Acts get organized into systems & organizations • But at the base of all of these are countless individual acts. • Results of our initiatives depend on the quality of individual acts.

45. Act is the basic unit of accomplishment • Act is microcosm of life • Every act is infinite • Every act reflects the whole context in which it takes place. • Character of a person expresses in every act

46. Every act includes • Energy • Thoughts • Values • Beliefs • Attitudes • Feelings • Urges • Skills • Habits

47. ‘Tolerable’ "Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance." "I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with." "I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Mr. Bingley, "for a kingdom! Upon my honor, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty." "YOU are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet. "Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you." "Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt ME; I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

48. Darcy says Elizabeth is just ‘tolerable’ • Guests have condemned Darcy as proud, arrogant • Mrs. Bennet is violently annoyed with him • Passive Bingley is uncharacteristically assertive • Bingley is emboldened by his attraction to Jane • He knows he needs Darcy’s approval to get serious • He is first to link Darcy with Elizabeth • Bingley’s coaxing him to dance is repeated by Sir Lucas • Darcy is present because of compulsions to interact with lower classes • Darcy is blinded by surface appearances & prejudgment • He replies loudly because of excited atmosphere of dance • His criticism of her mimics Mrs. Bennet’s & Elizabeth’s own of him • Elizabeth laughs at his slight, but she is annoyed

49. Collin’s Proposal

50. Collins character • Son of an illiterate, thrifty, dominating father • Raised submissive, acquired sense of self-importance. • Energetic, dynamic, alert, resourceful & motivated. His energy and strength derive from the fact he is Mr. Bennet’s cousin • Collins has perfect organization. Compare Wickham and Collins:Collins achieves everything he set out to achieve • A snob & buffoon devoid of common sense & good manners • Collins & Mrs. Bennet are of same type • He is the perfect complement for Lady Catherine. Sir Lucas lacks the energy and strength to complement her.