Abstract
Mindfulness and non-harming are traditional Indian virtues. In modern times, more emphasis has been placed on mindfulness than non-harming. Mindfulness has become an important practice of many successful entrepreneurs, CEOs and other leaders. Mindful leadership is based on mindfulness, which is defined as intentionally paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way. Mindfulness can be a key competence of leaders through which they can gain courage, enthusiasm and awareness. Leaders, now more than ever, cultivate mindfulness for the purpose of bringing their mind’s capabilities to bear on the practice of leadership.
The most influential leader to integrate the principle of non-harming into daily practice was Mahatma Gandhi, who practiced non-harming as a fundamental governing principle for activity. Today non-harming is more important than even before, especially now that humanity has the power and technology to influence and change the vital functioning of the planet. The authors describe business models whose goal is to practically implement the principle of non-harming: Community Supported Agriculture, Ethical Banking and The Slow Food Movement. They also present cases of entrepreneurial initiatives that are based on the goals of non-harming: Windhorse Evolution, the Apopo Foundation, Interface and the Social Venture Network. Non-harming seems to be indispensable for the creation of a sustainable world. The balance between mindfulness and non-harming should be re-established.
References
Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. (2005). Resonant leadership: Renewing yourself and connecting with others through mindfulness, hope and compassion. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Buchanan, D., & Huczynski, A. (2004). Organizational behaviour, an introductory text. Essex: Prentice Hall.
Carroll, M. (2004). Awake at work: 35 practical Buddhist principles for discovering clarity and balance in the midst of work’s chaos. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications.
Carroll, M. (2007). The mindful leader: Ten principles for bringing out the best in ourselves and others. Boston, MA: Trumpeter Books.
De Clerck, F. (2009). Ethical banking. In L. Zsolnai, Z. Boda, & L. Fekete (Eds.), Ethical prospects. Economy, society and environment (pp. 209–228). New York: Springer.
Doyle-Corner, P. (2009). Workplace spirituality and business ethics: Insights from an eastern spiritual tradition. Journal of Business Ethics, 85(3), 377–389.
Duncan, R. (Ed.). (1951). Selected writings of Mahatma Gandhi. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Dundas, P. (1992). The Jains. London: Routledge.
Fischer, L. (1950). The life of Mahatma Gandhi. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers.
Fry, L., & Kriger, M. (2009). Towards a theory of being-centered leadership: Multiple levels of being as context for effective leadership. Human Relations, 62(11), 1667–1696.
Gandhi, M. K. (1957). An autobiography or the story of my experiments with truth. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Hanh, T. N. (2008). The art of mindfulness. New York: Harper One Publishers.
Harvey, P. (1990). An introduction to Buddhism. Teachings, history and practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Honey, M. (2008). Ecotourism and sustainable development: Who owns paradise? Washington, DC: Island Press.
Hopkins, E. W. (1977). The religions of India. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.
Ilies, R., Morgeson, F. P., & Nahrgang, J. D. (2005). Authentic leadership and eudaemonic well-being: Understanding leader-follower outcomes. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(3), 373–394.
Jindal, K. B. (1988). An epitome of Jainism. New Delhi: South Asia Books.
Kernochan, R., McCormick, D., & White, J. (2007). Spirituality and the management teacher. Journal of Management Inquiry, 16(1), 61–75.
Kumarappa, J. C. (1951). Gandhian economic thought. Bombay: Vora Publishers.
Lynch, J. J. (1991). Ethical banking: Surviving in an age of default. London: Macmillan.
Marques, J. (2008). Awakened leadership in action: A comparison of three exceptional business leaders. Journal of Management and Development, 27(8), 812–823.
Marques, J. (2012). Consciousness at work: A review of some important values, discussed from a Buddhist perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 105(1), 27–40.
Narayanasamy, S. (2003). The Sarvodaya movement: Gandhian approach to peace and non-violence. New Delhi: Mittal Publications.
Prabhu, R. K., & Rao, U. R. (Eds.). (1968). Mind of Mahatma Gandhi. Ahmedabad: Navajivan Publishing House.
Proudfoot, I. (1987). Ahiṁsā and a Mahābhārata story. Canberra: Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University.
Pruzan, P. (2008). Spiritual-based leadership in business. Journal of Human Values, 14(2), 101–114.
Rahula, W. (1974). What the Buddha taught. New York: Grove Press.
Richards, G. (1982). The philosophy of Gandhi. A study of his basic ideas. London: Curzon Press.
Saddhatissa, H. (1970). Buddhist ethics. London: Allen & Unwin.
Schubring, W. (1962). The doctrine of the Jainas. Described after the old sources. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
Schumacher, E. F. (1989). Small is beautiful. Economics as if people mattered (2nd ed.). London: Harper Perennial.
Schwartz, M. S. (2005). Universal moral values for corporate codes of ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 59(1–2), 27–44.
Schweitzer, A. (1936). Indian thought and its development. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Sethi, D. (2009). Mindful leadership. Leader to leader, 2009(51), 7–11.
Tencati, A., & Zsolnai, L. (2012). Collaborative enterprise and sustainability: The case of slow food. Journal of Business Ethics, 110(3), 345–354.
Walli, K. (1974). The conception of Ahimsa in Indian thought. Varanasi: Bharata Manisha.
Weaver, D. B. (Ed.). (2001). The encyclopedia of ecotourism. Wallingford: CAB International.
Zsolnai, L., & Podmaniczky, L. (2010). Community-supported agriculture. In A. Tencati & L. Zsolnai (Eds.), The collaborative enterprise: Creating values for a sustainable world (pp. 137–154). Oxford: Peter Lang Publishers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2016 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kovacs, G., Ocsai, A. (2016). Mindfulness and Non-Violence in Business. In: Chatterji, M., Zsolnai, L. (eds) Ethical Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60194-0_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60194-0_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-60193-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-60194-0
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)