Strategic vision of organizational development based on the aims and principles of yoga

Journal of Human Values, Vol. 9, No. 1, 65-73 (2003)DOI: 10.1177/097168580300900106© 2003 SAGE Publications
The Meeting of Business and Spirituality: Its Evolutionary Significance M.S. Srinivasan
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Integral Management, Sri Aurobindo Society, Research Section, Badu Office, Pondicherry 605 002

Spirituality is now a much talked about subject. All over the world, after a long reign of heavy and soul- stifling materialism, people are seeking for a higher meaning in work and life, beyond the mundane and material aims. So religion and spirituality are coming back with the message of hope and peace. Business, which is a leading institution of our age and employs a large chunk of humanity, cannot escape from this new worldwide trend. Thus, the meeting of business and spirituality is already happening. This article examines the evolutionary significance of this meeting in the light of Sri Aurobindo's spiritual vision.

Organizational Development: A Yogic Vision M.S. Srinivasan

The term ‘organizational development’ is defined in management textbooks as a ‘collection of planned change interventions built on democratic–humanistic values that seek to improve organizational effectiveness and well–being’. But we use the term in a simpler and broader sense as the evolution and development of an organization towards its highest potential. In this article we present the broad outlines of a strategic vision of organizational development based on the aims and principles of yoga. The word ‘yoga’ has now become well known all over the world. But the popular conceptions of yoga conjure up images of a hatha–yogi standing upside down or a hermit in the Himalayas.

The deeper psychological and pragmatic significance of yoga is not fully understood. ‘Yoga,’ says Sri Aurobindo, ‘is nothing but practical psychology’ (Sri Aurobindo 1972b: 39). It contributes to the psychological and spiritual development of the human organism. Yoga is the scientific, psychological process or discipline by which the inner development of the human being is triggered and can be accelerated.

Organizational Development: A Yogic Vision -- Srinivasan 11 (2 ... Journal of Human Values, Vol. 11, No. 2, 149-160 (2005) DOI: 10.1177/097168580501100207© 2005 SAGE Publications