Could Buddhism Help Your Business?

[Klein]

Using Buddhist wisdom to enhance employee performance is becoming more popular. Companies are realising an increase in their bottom line. As Beth Burgess wrote, "If you still think that Buddhism is all bosh, consider that big businesses such as Google, Apple and Procter & Gamble have all introduced the Buddhist practice of Mindfulness meditation into their offices as a way to reduce employee stress."

For more of the article, click here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/beth-burgess/could-buddhism-help-your-business_b_4537135.html

Beth Burgess

[dondrup]

Buddhism is about transformation of the mind. The Eightfold Noble Paths stresses the development of discipline, concentration and wisdom. These are important qualities of the mind that businesses would want to ensure their employers and employees develop so that they become more productive and efficient.  Improved human resource performance causes the businesses to improve their profitability.  More and more businesses have recognized the benefits of incorporating Buddhist principles and practices into their operations.

[rossoneri]

Some people say Buddhism is not a religion but is a way of life, which i do agree to that because Buddha teaching us to be more than someone who only do spiritual practises and focus only towards one self. There are a lot of mind transformation lessons and practices which can e found in Buddhism which teaches us to be more caring, calm and be honest on whatever we are doing, and all these lessons can be use and adapt into our daily lives. If one can gain enlightenment with Buddhism why can't it help your business to grow.

[pinecone]

“To achieve your strategic objectives, you first need to learn what motivates employees and employers to work to their full potential. Secrets of Motivation will teach you how to become a leader who is known for getting results through people. You’ll learn to build effective relationships, encourage commitment, and innovation in your work environment."

Understand how to engage your employees and employers by becoming better able to spot the signs of discontent, and identifying the most common reasons for disengagement. “
The above quotes are from an online motivation workshop course and the methods and principles are similar to the Buddhism teachings and practice. Both the employee and employer will be able to transform beyond the limit imposed by normal perception of human capacity and will thereafter lead to a harmonious working environment and productivity. Further, Buddhist practices like meditation are meant for changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, focus, kindness, wisdom and also tolerance which are the keys Buddhist virtue. By adopting the Buddhist teachings and practices by the employees and employers, will in return enhance to the growth of the business.

[kris]

to me, it makes a lot of sense by applying Buddhism to business. Buddhism teaches us to have good qulities such as kindness, honesty, integrity, perseverance, patience and other good qualities. If we have an manager or employee who embrace such qualities, don't you think he/she will help the organisation to grow? If our supplier or business associates have qualities, I would like to do business with him/her too.

I do know many of the companies uses the similar Buddhism teachings but remove the religious element and apply them, so that employees of different faith can accept them easier.

[Klein]

Some people say Buddhism is not a religion but is a way of life, which i do agree to that because Buddha teaching us to be more than someone who only do spiritual practises and focus only towards one self. There are a lot of mind transformation lessons and practices which can e found in Buddhism which teaches us to be more caring, calm and be honest on whatever we are doing, and all these lessons can be use and adapt into our daily lives. If one can gain enlightenment with Buddhism why can't it help your business to grow.

Buddhism is a religion. What defines a religion is practice or belief system that gives hope and a higher reason to our existence. Some are God based and Buddhism is karma based.  So Buddhism is not simply just a way of life, it is a deeper understanding of our existence so that we can eventually be liberated from our delusions.

[Midakpa]

More and more international corporations are sending their staff and executives for retreats and meditation because they recognise the benefits of meditation. Meditation can improve concentration and clarity of mind. Meditators are able to reduce their anger and stress and other types of pain and suffering due to the problems encountered in daily life and in their careers. Scientists have also discovered that meditators are more peaceful and happier than non-meditators. As a result of these scientific findings, more and more people resort to meditation and it is gaining popularity in the corporate world as well as in the world of entertainment.

[eyesoftara]

Actually not only Buddhism can help businesses via meditation and retreats, these concepts and activities can actually help employees with better quality of life. As Buddhist practice is more than just meditation, teachings on lojong, dependent arising, cause and effect and inter dependency can actually help companies and employees realise the fact that all their work is dependent on others and no one live a life that is truly on their own. That will be effective training for team building with the realization that loving kindness and compassion improves their effectiveness and efficiency.
Moreover, these Buddhist concepts can be applied internally within the company and also externally with the customers.

[Blueupali]

Oh my goodness, no.  We are not supposed to have a worldly motive for doing practice, so we don't do prayers to make our business thrive or something UNLESS we have a pure motive, like if it is to help support our practice, but that we can just generally ask for help from the Buddhas for, having a thriving and successful business may not be the way the Buddha thinks to go, it's dangerous to mix money motives, with dharma.... like if you are starving or your children are sick and you cannot afford a doctor, it's better, I think, not to ask Buddha to make your business better, but rather to pray for a solution--- it may not be money, right?  Like in the U.S. we just got more health coverage, so people didn't get money, and their business wasn't thriving more, but they still got to go to the doctor.  We think we need money, but Milarepa didn't have money in the cave, and after he was a Buddha, when Gampopa came to offer him tea and gold, Milarepa told Gampopa to make a tea offering to the Sangha, and threw the gold in the air.  Money isn't all it's cracked up to be, and a thriving business can be an obstacle to enlightenment in disguise--- we don't need to waste our lives we need to become Buddhas for the sake of all living beings.

[maricisun]

Buddhism is not just a religion but a lot of teaching on Mind transforming and meditation too. With meditation we can stay calm and not rush into a decision. With Mind transformation we can use the wisdom taught and transform our mind and think logically.
In this way Buddhism can help in anyone business.

[MoMo]

Many thought that Buddhist’s doctrine do not gelled well with secular life. In my humble opinion, it was in fact that it is exactly what the secular world needed for their success. Lord Buddha had set down teachings and rules for both the monastic and his lay disciples. Among many of them whom are traders. The basic vows set for the lay encompasses his commitments toward self-development, duties toward the society, family and awareness to protect the environment and ethical livelihood. To uphold these set of vows and modify one behavior according to the law of cause and effect, we will pacify any ill intentions of others towards us, therefore smoothen our path for our worldly success. Even some of these laities had attained the state of Sotapanna, Sakadagami or Anagami according to some sutra!