Spiritual Guidance in Achieving and Sustaining Organizational Excellence-Jain View

Abstract

Jainism is one of the oldest religious traditions of India. It preaches and practices the work ethics to achieve one's objectives, be they to attain liberation or to be happy in worldly affairs and simultaneously first and then assist others (Live and help live or parasprograha jivanama). The focus is on attaining excellence (knowledge and bliss) at individual level so that one can attain the state of Bliss forever. The paper reviews the Jain doctrine and ethics in its philosophical and history literature to show that the same principles which are aimed at achieving individual excellence hold true to attain organizational excellence and sustain
the same over a long period. The guiding principles of Jainism, be they metaphysical concepts like definition of reality; or the karma doctrine or its life style principles namely Ahinsa (non violence), Anekant (multiplicity of viewpoints), Aparigraha (limiting possessions or greed) and the ethics for householders in the form of five minor vows if practiced can make an organization excel and sustain the same for long periods. Jains are known to be highly educated, reasonably successful, non violent and peace loving people who are conscious of their social obligations as well and contribution to words the same with open heart. This to some extent supports the claims made and shown in the paper to some extent.