Seminar on Relevance of Spirituality in
Enterprise Management

Delhi: July 9, 2008 

A seminar on the theme of ‘Relevance of Spirituality in Enterprise Management’ was organized in Delhi on July 9, 2008 under the joint auspices of the Standing Committee of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) and the Sant Nirankari Mandal.  The one-day seminar was inaugurated by His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission, by lighting the sacred lamp.  Representatives of various leading enterprises in the Capital participated. 

Addressing the participants, His Holiness said: “Relevance of Spirituality is not just for enterprise management.  It is the need of everybody’s life.  This is proved when we look at the world scenario today.  Man seems to have identified himself with those species which possess no intellect.  He has forgotten the divine qualities of love, compassion, tolerance and humility that gave him real happiness and made him an asset to the society.  These qualities flow from spirituality.  Spirituality removes negativity and introduces positivity.  Saints who attained these qualities through spirituality were the real representatives of true humanity. 

As we talk of the relevance of spirituality in enterprise management, we find humanity as the common factor.  In public enterprises, whether we talk of senior executives, directors or any other person working at any level, everybody is a human being first.  Spirituality too does not focus on buildings or any other material achievements; it is focused on man.  Let both work together and focus on the welfare of human beings.   

Truly speaking we are all spiritual beings with human (physical) experience and not human beings with spiritual experience.  Those who are guided by spirituality, attain the qualities, the values that make them a blessing on the earth.  On the other hand, those who are attached with the world of materialism, exploit others.  They do not love people and use things.  They love things and use people.  And this proves quite harmful for the mankind.  So, what we need is a harmony between the man’s material progress and spirituality. 

There is lot of scope for spirituality in the enterprise management.  We must strengthen spirituality with an enterprising spirit.  Without spirituality, even a rich man may be found in tension while with spirituality even a poor man may be found contented and on the top of the world. 

Spirituality has always been an essence of true religion.  They have always been one.  Today, however, they are being mentioned as two separate entities because religion has identified itself with ritualism and dogmatism, while spirituality emphasizes the Soul’s communion with the Over-soul i.e. God.  Let various religious faiths have the diversity of rituals, but attain unity on the basis of spirituality at the same time.  The Sant Nirankari Mission emphasizes this unity in diversity.   

This seminar is a right step in the right direction.  Let this effort by continued.” 

Among the various learned speakers who participated in the Seminar, Dr. H.K. Chopra, Convener of the Health Committee of SCOPE said that in 95 per cent of the cases of heart attack, lack of spirituality is the reason.  In his race for material gains, man earns tension only.  First he gains wealth at the cost of health and a stage arrives when he is found shedding wealth in order to gain health.  He said, spirituality takes us above all that is material, concerns body and the complications associated with it.  Spirituality is, therefore, the need of all.  It makes us concerned with the Soul. 

Dr. Trinath Mishra, former Director General of CRPF and CISF, said that spirituality enables man to use his intellect and then act.  This makes him distinguished from other animals.  With spiritual enlightenment man understands that all our possessions – physical, mental and material, belong ultimately to the Almighty God.  That is how spirituality finds relevance in enterprise management.  Human Welfare becomes the objective of all that we do. 

Lt. General J.S. Ahluwalia, Vice-President of the Institute of Directors (IOD), was of the opinion that religion and spirituality are not the same.  While religion deals with outer things concerning body, spirituality concerns the inner self.  Spirituality will liberalize the politics, make religion secular and business transparent, he said. 

Shri Atulit Saxena, Vice-President ‘Future Brands’ and Shri Taranjit Singh, Engineering Director ‘Cadence Design System’ explained the theme of the Seminar through power point presentations.  

Earlier, Shri U.K. Dixit, Director SCOPE welcomed His Holiness and said that spirituality may be associated with all human activities and enterprise management that ultimately aims at the welfare of the mankind, is not an exception.

The Seminar concluded with vote of thanks by Major J.D. Sharma, Member Incharge Public Relations, Sant Nirankari Mandal. 

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