What the Thunder Says: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Workplace
How a 2,500-Year-Old Story Can Revolutionize Your Professional Life
The thunder that woke you up recently may have more to say than you realized.
For thousands of years, wisdom traditions have found meaning in nature's voice. In one ancient story, a simple thunderclap delivered three different messages to three different groups—all from the same sound.
What might you hear in the thunder if you listen closely?
For your life?
Your work?
Your relationships?
After a week of vacation, I wasn’t planning on posting this week. But when thunder rolled across the sky early yesterday morning, it didn’t just wake me up. It also inspired me (you’ll see why!) to write this piece, a retelling of a story from the 2500 year-old Brihadaranyaka Upanishad―teaching of the Great Forest―which I had revisited a few days ago.
What the Thunder Says
One day the children of the Creator―the devas, human beings, and asuras―came to their mother as students.
First, the devas approached. “Wise one, please teach us what we need to learn,” said these gods who possessed great powers.
The Creator answered through the cracking thunder with one syllable, “Da.”
“Do you understand?” she asked them.
“Yes,” the devas answered. “You have told us Damyata—be self-controlled.”
“You understand,” she said.
Next, the human beings came to their divine mother. “Please instruct us so we can fulfill our purpose here on earth,” said the humans, who were known for their incredible ability to acquire and manage resources.
Again the Creator answered thunderously with one syllable, “Da.”
“Do you understand?” she asked them.
“Yes,” the human beings answered. “You have told us Datta—give generously.”
“You understand,” she said.
Finally, the asuras—titans of intelligence, innovation, and ambition—asked the Creator, “Guide us with your wisdom so that we may live in alignment with our destiny.”
Their divine mother again replied with the thunderous rumble of a single syllable, “Da.”
“Do you understand?” she asked them.
“Yes,” the asuras answered. “You have told us Dayadhvam—be compassionate.”
“You understand,” she said.
To this day, the Creator reminds them of what she taught every time the sound of thunder rolls across the heavens:
“Da! Da! Da!”
“Be self-controlled! Give generously! Be compassionate!”
One Word, Three Interpretations
The devas, human beings, and asuras each received the same word.
But it challenged them in different ways.
As a result, they each returned to their daily activities with a new sense of clarity and conviction.
The powerful, privileged devas—prone to pride and overconfidence—received a call to self-restraint and humility. Be self-controlled.
The scrappy, competitive human beings—often tempted by scarcity and selfishness—received a call to abundance and sharing. Give generously.
The striving, achieving asuras—marked by destructive, self-sufficient tendencies—received a call to empathy, connection, and collaboration. Be compassionate.
Call them devas, humans, and asuras.
Or call them the Executives, Managers, and Creatives.
Or maybe administration, operations, and sales.
Or Pushers, Drivers, and Strivers. (Thanks, Elaine!)
Whatever you call them, these archetypes show up in companies, organizations, teams.
They show up in our families.
They show up within each of us.
Hearing the Thunder at Work
Consider what guidance these three profound teachings offer for your professional life:
1. Self-Control (Damyata)
Just like the devas who heard damyata, if you enjoy privilege and power in your professional spheres, you may need the reminder of self-restraint.
When you have resources, authority, or talent, the greatest challenge isn’t about unleashing more power. But channeling it wisely. Executives who master emotional regulation make better decisions. Managers who control reactive impulses build stronger teams. Creators who harness their energy strategically produce more meaningful work.
Self-control practice: Before responding to that triggering email or making a significant decision, pause. Take three deep breaths. Ask yourself, “How would my wisest self handle this?”
2. Generosity (Datta)
The humans heard datta—give. In a world of scarcity mindsets and fierce competition, generosity stands as a radical principle.
True innovation rarely happens in isolation. Think about it: you didn’t likely create what you’ve created or get where you are on your own. You received support, encouragement, mentorship. And it has made your work better. It makes you better. The most effective professionals understand that generosity isn't just altruism—it's strategy. Giving, sharing, helping creates networks of reciprocity that benefit everyone.
Generosity practice: Each week, identify one piece of knowledge, one opportunity, or one connection you can share with someone else without expectation of immediate return.
3. Compassion (Dayadhvam)
The asuras heard dayadhvam—be compassionate. Those who strive to achieve great things can often bring a creative spirit that challenges. Disrupts. Opposes. This serves a vital function in any system. But it also makes genuine care for others that much more important.
Because without compassion, brilliance can be harmful rather than helpful. Creative genius or technical excellence without human understanding leads to environments that nobody wants to be a part of and results that fall short of what is possible. The most transformative leaders balance challenging energy with caring presence.
Compassion practice: When facing conflict, practice perspective-taking. Ask yourself, “What might be happening for this person that I can’t see? What legitimate needs might they be trying to meet?”
The Thunder's Message to You
The brilliance of this ancient teaching is that it doesn't prescribe the same medicine for everyone. It recognizes that wisdom takes different forms depending on our nature and circumstances. The thunder speaks the same word to all, but what we hear reveals what we most need to develop.
When we integrate all three dimensions—self-control, generosity, and compassion—we become more complete humans and more effective professionals. We learn to harness our power wisely, share our resources freely, and understand others deeply.
What do you hear in the thunder today?
What do you need to learn the most?
Where do you need to begin?
The thunder still speaks, if we learn to listen.
Da! Da! Da!
As you move through your week, notice which of these principles feels most challenging or most necessary in your current situation. That's likely where your growth edge lies. And remember that all three work together—self-control without compassion becomes rigid, generosity without boundaries becomes depleting, and compassion without wisdom becomes enabling.
Let the thunder guide you!