When spirituality met business

Speaking about leadership at a seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Guru HH Radhanath Swami said: "Leadership, business and otherwise, is about understanding that one is not the proprietor of wealth, but merely the caretaker. Leadership entails a position of responsibility, and the most fundamental question that leaders should ask themselves is 'how can I serve?'"

Swami was speaking at a discussion titled 'Spirituality: Leadership and Management' that included business honchos Ajay Piramal and Kishore Biyani. It was moderated by Govind Ethiraj. The focus of the discussion was whether spiritual principles can be applied to the business world, as represented by Piramal and Biyani.

Both businessmen were in agreement that spiritual principles are universal and can be used as beacons for illuminating the complex and intriguing world of business. While Biyani has only recently discovered spirituality, Piramal said that spiritual values can create even economic value – giving the example of Mahatma Gandhi's successful career as a lawyer in South Africa.

Swami said that one must earn with integrity and spend with compassion. Among the other things that were discussed, he said: "When spirituality is the basis of one's life, everything one builds on this foundation brings great benefit."