CHAPTER – VIII

CONCEPTS

HARMONY WITH ENVIRONMENT

The term can be best described as “Ethico moral reponsiveness of business to all the members of the environment.”

Man and nature are deeply interconnected and interdependent. The social responsibility of business must ensure that dealings and transactions with its stakeholders are ethico-moral. Ecology or nature is also an important stakeholder. Hnece there is no such right to exploit nature for purely selfish motives.

As some one rightly said, “Man, nature, divine are one, attack one, the other two get the impact. They are part of a grand cycle. Hold a global vision and do not be greedy. Dependence of any business on its social and ecological environment is so complete that the very existence, survival and growth of any enterprise depends upon its acceptance by society and environment (who provide all inputs of resources). If it outlives its utility to the Society and environment it has no place and reason to exist.

Today, we insist on the social responsiveness and awareness, the ability to relate the plans, policies and programmes to the social environment in such a way that these are mutually beneficial to the organization, society and ecology. The current trend is an organizations’ involvement in social actions. The mission and vision of any organization must express deep involvement in social actions to improve the quality of life in the society and quality of the environment.

SELF CONTROL

Controlling is an important function in management. But to perform this effectively, one should be self-controlled. This implies that one must have control over desires, which arise, at the mental level.

A person having self-control is detached form the sense objects, free of desire and anger and remains engrossed in the bliss of the self. He who thus remains absorbed in the self may be considered without doubt to have a stable intellect and insight.

• It indicates maintaining a balance against the pairs of opposites like joy and sorrow, success and failure, praise and insult, victory and defeat and so on. Feeling of stability in the mind helps to achieve inner peace and happiness. Worldly sorrows do not enter a cheerful mind.

• It implies performing duties with full concentration and dedication without having any attachment to the result thereof.

• It also implies ones perfect control over Raga (attachment), Krodh (anger) and Bhava (fear) in ones day-to-day life.

Self control helps a person to resolve conflicts in life and create a balance between him and his desires.

DHARMA, SWADHARMA AND DETACHMENT

Dharma: (Lit, that which holds up the existence of a thing) Essential quality; religion, code of duties, duty. The law of being. Our religious scriptures have laid down the duties for different varnas-classes of people and ashrams-stages of life.

The most central and core concept of Hindu philosophy is known as Dharma. All the other principles and values flow from dharma. The word Dharma is formed from the root, dhr and literally means to hold, sustain and maintain a thing in its being. There is no accurate translation of the word into English but it an be termed as a right action, right conduct, virtue, moral law etc. Every form of life, very group people has its Dharma, which is the law of its being. Dharma is the duty or the path of righteousness. Dharma comprises of Satya (truth), Yagna (dedication) and Tapas (sublimation). The basis of Dharma is Truth. Dharma or virtue is conformity with the truth of things; a dharma or voice is opposition to it. Dharma or ‘duty’ is at the center of the Hindu way of thinking, with its stress on personal responsibility, the concept gives to Hinduism its particular stress on the centrality of humanity in the universe.

Swadharma: Gita emphasizes that Swadharma (one’s duty based on one’s Swabhava inclination and aptitude – one the work that falls into one’s lot by virtue of one’s placement in the society) should be carried on for the general welfare of the society and as worship of the Divine, as our offering to God. The will to support and actively co-operate in the Divine’s evolutionary design and to live with the mother earth, safeguarding her grand ecological balance.

Detachment: It refers to detached involvement also known as Niksham Karma. It is among the most surest and most enduring preventive methods against stress and burnout in situations faced by us. According to this theory one has to engage in quiet inner sadhana to appreciate the true meaning, for it does not hold out a technique but beckons towards anubhuti, a deep inner feeling. Detachment helps one to keep out speculation about gain or losses from his work / activities. One can look after family with all love and care they need, because it’s one’s duty to do so. Possessions including relations and friends are transient in nature. They do not last. Neither should one be ecstatic at having it nor be horrified at losing it. It is only when one is very proud of his possessions that he gets depressed at losing them. Detachment is one of the simplest techniques to maintain equanimity.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PERSONALITY

The holistic approach is based on the principle of unity, oneness, non-dual or Advaita concept: jiva, jagat, jagdish are one. Under the principle of unity, the universe is an undivided whole where every particle is interconnected with every other particle and forms a golden chain. Hence, entire humanity is one.

The only dharma or law of life is the offer of service to others. I cannot cheat you without cheating myself, it is a holistic world. The management must recognize the Oneness of Humanity. Respect the divine in all beings. See yourself in all selves. This is the yoga of the highest order. Let the inner beings or higher consciousness assume the managerial leadership to manage and lead effectively your physical, vital, mental, intellectual entities. Your inner beings is the delegate of the divine.

Such an integrated human personality of self-developed manager and worker an assume best and competent management of any enterprise, involving collective works and efforts. The refined or higher consciousness will adopt holistic attitude. It will bring out the divine in man. It will achieve perfection or excellence in whatever you do. We shall achieve Peace, Harmony and Prosperity in our internal world and in our external world simultaneously. This is the idea of Indian Ethos. Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha (for gaining perfection in individual life, as well s for the welfare of the world). This is the motto of the Ramakrishna Order founded by Swami Vivekananda. The holistic approach of management will not exploit shareholders, employees, customers, society and nature.

Dharmic Leadership

Dharmic leadership combines ethical decision-making and ethical behavior, and it occurs in both an individual and an organizations’ context. Dharmic leadership emphasizes perfection of the self through planned self-development as a whole human being man in the manager first and then blending work ethics. A dharmic leader is someone who “supposedly tells the people the difference between right and wrong”. A major responsibility of a dharmic leader is to make ethical decision and behave in ethical ways and to see that others understand and practice the ethical code.

The Indian Ethos of Management contains principles to guide one’s life. These principles are described in the Upanishads and Geeta. The following are certain principles as per Indian wisdom and insight.

CONEPT OF DIVINITY

These texts do not refer to any God, but to a certain divinity, which pervades all beings. According to this concept all people are equal and divine to be dealt with equal respect. This attitude at work serves the interests of both the workers and customers.

Discriminatory remuneration packages will be avoided, trust and support will improve, the sense of concern would be avoided, trust and support will improve, the sense of concern would make counseling and development more natural and managers will find it easy to take disciplinary actions as there would be no feeling of remorse if severe action becomes necessary. This would greatly improve the atmosphere at work. It is the respect to divinity, individually, which assures maximum productivity in them and Total Quality Minds. Truth, divinity and culture are more powerful than money. Civilization is the manifestation of divinity in man. Hence, entire HUMANITY is ONE.

CONCEPT OF MAN

Man is constituted of various sheaths. The grossest of them is the physical body called “annamaya” which constitutes of matter created by food. The second sheath covering the physical body is the “pranamaya” which is related to the breathing. The third sheath is “manomaya” which is the mind. The forth sheath is the “vijnanamaya’ – the power of discrimination. The final sheath is the “anandmaya’ – eternal bliss. Every person has the capability to move from the constraints of the physical sheath and live in eternal bliss. Human being is not just a body. Within the physical body there lies the “SELF” – the HRAHMAN – Knowledge, Existence and Bliss – (SAT, CHIT and ANAND). This is the real nature of a human being. Every man has immense potentiality and divine spirit. Our Upanishads repeatedly say, ‘I am Brahman”. That is why Shankaracharya sang, “CHIT ANAND RUPAH SHIVOHAM SHIVOHAM”. Vedanta brings expansion of the mind, breaks down all the barriers and brings out the GOD in MAN.

CONCEPT OF KARMA

According to this concept, the future of an individual depends upon what he does or does not do with his life. His actions (Karma) and the consequences of his actions shape his future. The cycle of birth and rebirth has the concept that each action (karma) one takes, causes other actions one takes in the future and has been caused by actions in the past.

Since one assumes this life as a necessary consequence of previous lives and previous actions, it follows that one should perform the prescribed duties of life unflaggingly.

A major facet of karma is the work one does, and the attitude with which he goes about his duty. To work for selfish reasons, such as to be able to afford luxuries such as convertible cars is bad karma, especially when one craves these possessions to gain stature in society. Actions such as materialism restrain one from furthering his place in life and from attaining an honest satisfaction with his spiritual growth. Good karma and advances towards knowledge are achieved first through the freedom to make personal decision to work for the sake of getting the job done in a selfless manner. Only when a person handles a duty in this fashion will he find himself in progression.

CONCEPT OF DHARMA

Dharma: (Lit, that which holds up the existence of a thing) Essential quality; religion, code of duties, duty. The law of being. Our religious scriptures have laid down the duties for different varnas-classes of people and ashrams-stages of life.

The most central and core concept of Hindu philosophy is known as Dharma. All the other principles and values flow from dharma. The word Dharma is formed from the root, dhr and literally means to hold, sustain and maintain a thing in its being. There is no accurate translation of the word into English but it an be termed as a right action, right conduct, virtue, moral law etc. Every form of life, very group people has its Dharma, which is the law of its being. Dharma is the duty or the path of righteousness. Dharma comprises of Satya (truth), Yagna (dedication) and Tapas (sublimation). The basis of Dharma is Truth. Dharma or virtue is conformity with the truth of things; a dharma or voice is opposition to it. Dharma or ‘duty’ is at the center of the Hindu way of thinking, with its stress on personal responsibility, the concept gives to Hinduism its particular stress on the centrality of humanity in the universe.

CONCEPT OF YOGA

The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit, one of the world ancient languages. In its simplicity, Yoga means – “a bringing together of the parts in order to create a union or balance of a person’s body, mind and spirit. Yoga teaches guidelines and values to follow, and practices for purification for the body, mind and spirit.

The roots of Yoga evolved from the spiritual and metaphysical disciplines of the Vedas and Upanishads, a sacred text from near 600 B.C. Yoga, however, rejects the pursuit of metaphysics, and sticks to the practical path of transcending the ego in order to awaken the center self, the pure being of consciousness and awareness. Yoga looks top engage in the spiritual path rather than to speculate about it. The term YOGA indicates a special condition of the mind-tranquility of the mental composure – in such a condition one can perform desire less action.

There are various forms suited to the different natures of practitioners. Three paths have been delineated to achieve this purpose. Bhakti Yoga – The way of Devotion, Karma-Yoga-action, clarity of thinking and Jnana yoga – knowledge. Once these are realized employees contribution to corporate’s objectives can be achieved. To the customer sub-standard products will not be sold, warrenties would be respected, there will be no over pricing, misrepresentations or compromises with safety, environmental protection will be avoided.

CONCEPT OF ATTACHMENT

Attachment is the band of desire we form with things of the outside world. The gunas are responsible for the attachment. Those who are deluded remain attached to those modes and actions. The senses play a very important role in the development of attachment. The individual, thinking of sense objects, develops attachment with them. From attachment are born various desires. From desires arises anger. From anger comes delusion, and from delusion arises confusion of memory. From confusion of memory comes loss of intelligence and when intelligence is lost the breath of life is also lost.