“Sustain Dharma For Sustainability”by

V.Chaitanya Lakshmi

PGDM 1st year, IPE ,Hyderabad

Contents

IntroductionSustainabilityDharma & sustainable developmentDharma and ecological sustainabilityDharma, Society and the EconomyDharma economicsSome of the Reasons for the Present Scenario “You be the change”Things to be followed from Business management point of viewConclusion

Sustainability

Sustainability is the capacity to endure, to uphold life within the carrying capacity of the supporting eco-systems beyond a finite time boundary

In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time

For humans, sustainability is the potential for long-term maintenance of well being

Sustainability requires the reconciliation of environmental, social equity and economic demands - also referred to as the "three pillars" of sustainability

“Dharma”

The word "dharma" comes from the Sanskrit root dhri, meaning to "uphold" or to "sustain"

Dharma is to say, "that which upholds or sustains the positive order of things: the nation, the community, the family and ultimately even the universe

Dharma is the duty of maintaining natural order in a righteous way

Why Dharma for sustainability?

To practice dharma is to understand oneself. To understand oneself is to understand one’s relationship to everything, including the earth. Therefore, to practice dharma is to be in an appropriate relationship with the earth

Dharma teaches that we must consider the impact that every decision we make will have on generations to come to enhance sustainability

It is the duty of all of us to maintain nature in a righteous way and caring the environment that gives us life to sustain the natural human capabilities for an infinite time.

Dharma and ecological sustainability

In search for pleasure & affluence modern humanity has exploited nature without any restraint

Humans depend on nature for survival. For maximum benefits we’ve have to understand nature so that we can usefully utilize natural resources while living harmoniously with nature

For ex: the seasonal rainfall pattern, methods of conserving water by irrigation, the soil types, the physical conditions required for growth of various food crops can get better returns from farming, but this learning has to be accompanied by moral restraint if the benefits are to be enjoyed for a longer period of time

 Dharma, Society and the Economy

Firstly, human beings have to live in peace and harmony with each other, other beings & nature

Truth and Non-violence are essential Society has to be non-exploitative & human beings have

to act in a manner that optimises health, happiness & welfare of everybody including those in other societies or nations

Humans beings have to live a life of simplicity and lastly there is need for self-control, friendliness , compassion ,love and forgiveness

Dharma advocates the virtues of non-greed , non-hatred and non-delusion in all human pursuits

Dharma advocates that a householder should accumulate wealth as a bee collects nectar from a flower

In secular democracies of west, both education & economics are based on belief in value-free knowledge, unlimited progress and the individual freedom, combined effect of these beliefs & rapid erosion of values have come from western religions. Dharma would seek to inject fresh awareness of undisputed values

Dharma economics

In the modern economics the prime motto is raising the standard of living or maximizing the consumption &there by optimizing the production. The production philosophy of modern industrialism is based on the corporate need for profits, technological determination and ecological indifference

Following Dharma, the Buddhist economy may be briefly enumerated as: The goal of such system is the maximization of human happiness , combined with full mental and moral growth and the optimization of health & water., driven by morality, stress self-control and the regulation of material consumption rather that its maximization

Reasons for present scenario

Exploitation of Pancha-bhoothasWe are polluting the airWe are polluting the waterWe are polluting & overburdening the mother EarthWe are polluting the Space &skyWe are not respecting the Fire

Mismatch between Growth and Regulation

-lead to chaos in all sectors and industries

- If we look at the global crisis 2008 ,Subprime lending?

- Why unsecured debt had become so dominant a force in the economy?

Discontentment

-Jealousy and greediness

-lack of business ethics in the market and this is why the whole world economy is presently in crisis, several scams all over the world

Technological development

- Computers, cell phones, iPads and tablets are wonderful things but our ability to think individually is definitely being diminished

- How many of us today know the phone numbers of our friends and family?

-We’re losing the ability or willingness to think and memorise.

Overutilization of Available Resources

-Vehicles, A/c’s, Bath Tubs etc

“You be the change”

The famous saying “Dharmo rakshati rakshitaha” told by Sri Krishna to Arjuna, which means “Protect the dharma and dharma will protect you”

In present scenario here comes the reign of adharma by individuals having forgotten the ethics and dharma, leading to unsustainability of the people, planet & prosperity .

When dharma is sustained by an Individual followed by his family and then the society, the humanity & nation will prosper

Let us change our individual lifestyles such that it conserves natural resources.

Discharge your duties in a dharmic way.Practice and uphold dharma is to be in an appropriate

relationship with the earth. We must include the principles of sustainability in our life and adopt ways of living more sustainably.

Follow the sustainability principles

Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, underground metals, and minerals

2. Reduce dependence upon synthetic chemical and other unnatural substances

3. Reduce encroachment upon nature4. Meet human needs fairly & efficiently

Ways of living more sustainably

It can take many forms from reorganizing living conditions (e.g.,Ecovillages, Eco municipalities &sustainable cities), reappraising economic sectors (permaculture,greenbuilding,sustainable agriculture) or work practices (sustainable architecture), using science to develop new technologies (green technologies, renewable energy and sustainable Fission & fusion power to adjustments in individual lifestyles that conserve natural resources.

Things to be followed from business point of view

Broad-Based sustainable development

-Godrej, Tata Chemicals

-Google, Walmart,AppleGet Dharmic

-Instant returns and instant rewards- Erosion of ethics in global finance industry

-Capitalist myopia, Human myopic choice

-GDPDon’t cut out ESG

-Cutting Environmental, Social& governance costs shareholders in long run

-Poor corporate governance-lead Satyam to their knees

-Poor Community relations-Delay of Multi billion $ projects

Conclusion

The need for us to take drastic measures for re-adjusting our lifestyles is urgent. Since the reasons for the present situation of un-sustainability caused by ignorance, negligence of our dharma. We emphasized the need for activities towards the direction of humanity and the health of the environment we live in

How we can reshape the world so that we live in a sustainable, fairer and better way. And the beauty is that the change that is needed will make us sustainable & happier. That change is Sustain dharma and that dharma sustains the sustainability of People,Planet and Prosperity

We suggests how an individual, a family& the society can uphold dharma in all perspectives to enhance sustainability of humanity