Relevance of Indian religious traditions for international leadership wisdom

Relevance of Holistic Interpretations of Indian Classical Traditions for Modern Socio-Economic Leadership Wisdom This contribution will explore the holistic interpretations of Indian philosophical and religious traditions and apply them to modern socio-economic leadership wisdom. Other interpretations have already been considered in a previous contribution. Traditions like Sikhism, Sufi Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism (Vedic traditions and Vedanta) contain concepts and rituals which can be relevant not only for medicine or psychology, but also for contemporary business and leadership wisdom. All these traditions refer to a basic oneness of existence whereby the inner and outer worlds merge into one reality. The success of new religious movements (NRMs) and the New Age Movement (NAM), both frequently inspired by Indian traditions, in Europe and elsewhere since the 1960s reflects the need for the “unchurched but spiritual". However, the “integration of the whole person" has been interpreted either as “intensified concentration" and eventually as “greater job efficiency", or as a way for extreme alienation from society. My methodology is to go to the origins of concepts, principles, and rituals, and thereby uncovering their spiritual meanings and their relevance for mainstream socio-economic ethics, and observe if there is any difference with mainstream West-European Christian inspired humanism. It involves the concept of “self-help through remembering God" (constant remembrance and respect for origin and historical perspective), the concept of “Darshan" (seeing the divine image in everything and its implications for ecological awareness, e.g. the Rajasthani community of Baishnoyis), the concept of “Prasad" (blessed offering to the God as a reflection of the right product, salary and price), the tradition of gurus and pilgrimages (e.g. the Maha Kumbha Mela for rishis or gurus which every 12 years attracts up to 30 million people starting from Jan. to April 2010, allowing both gurus and followers to cleanse themselves, reflecting the need of mutually beneficial interactions, e.g. fair play relations), the principle of Ahimsa (reflecting non-violent interactions), connected to the law of “Karma" (of cause and effect, e.g. violent interactions invite more violent interactions), and the concept of “Dharma" (emphasizing the “path", e.g. the way of doing business , rather than the outcome, e.g. the profits). There may also be a common reference point in the concept of the duality of action/Karma and structure/Dharma. It is argued that the duality of action-structure is a particularly fertile 'bridgehead' for cultural translation and comparison between Hinduism and capitalism. Finally, also the essence of the Hindu goddess of Wisdom, Saraswathi (female consort of Brahma, representing the creator) will be explored. Interestingly Brahma himself is not worshipped but only Saraswathi, as she translates spiritual wisdom in worldly arts, literature, and the academic field.status: publishe