The Dalai Lama has been the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile and spiritual leader of Tibet for over 50 years. He won the Nobel Prize in 1989 and wrote the book “The Leader´s Way” together with Laurens van den Muyzenberg.In this book he states that he has come tu put his faith in the free market system although it has great potencial for abuse. But the fact that it allows freedom of thought and religion has convinced him that this system is the one to work from. He points out that especially the great potencial for abuse cries out for a RESPONSIBLE free market.
Moreover he says that global companies can be a force for good, but that they have to manage the process much better, so that globalization truly is a positive development. Because Buddhism is focused on human values it´s holistic approach can be useful to help business leaders to make the right decision. Aditionally Buddism provides rational and logical ways to solve problems.Buddhism and business are at least not so different because they have in common the importance they attach to happiness. A company without happy employees, or stakeholders in general, will die in the end.
Moreover the Dalay Lama says that it is a dangerous simplification to recognize change as moving from one sitution to another.“The present is a result of great many causes and conditions; like a stream, it changes continously. Recognizing these interdependencies inspires a state of humility. It helps us to accept the complexity of making changes.”What managers can learn from the Dalai Lama is that true leaders should recognize the inevitability of change, the importance of universal responsibility and the need to combine economic systems with moral values.
(Quatations from the article: “The Dalai Lama”; published by BusinessSpotlight in september 2008 after an interview with the Dalai Lama.)
