Spirituality In The Workplace

Introduction

Workplace spirituality emerged as a grassroots movement after the 9/11 attack, the market crash, the downfall of Enron, and the lack of integrity in the organizations (Judi Neal). However, today the need for workplace spirituality is backed by multitude of causes. The spiritual archetype identifies that people work not only with their brain and limbs, but also their heart and spirit (Ashmos & Duchon, 2000). This manifestation of spiritual thought in organization is called as “spiritual awakening in business entities”. Workplace spirituality is apparently a Western essential, an aftermath of Western exclusive philosophy in contrast to Eastern inclusive philosophy. However, workplace spirituality is applicable to practically every

Perhaps, it is a response to the call leading to a sense of spiritual environment. “India must start the mass, which is going to spiritualize the material civilization of the world. It has the life which gives water to quench one’s burning fire of materialism which is burning the core of the hearts of millions in other side of the planet” (Swami Vivekananda, 1987, p. 105). Spirituality in India is a peculiar Indian science, which is the science of the soul (Rolland, 1960). Research in workplace spirituality is still new and various research approaches to study this topic are still evolving (Bindlish, et.al, 2012). The Indian research on workplace spirituality is still fighting shy of western prejudices that are considered superior by the majority of individuals. However, there is acceptance that Eastern thinking has indeed influenced the Western thought of spirituality, although such acceptances are not

This paper is sequenced as follows: First, we juxtapose spirituality and workplace to rationalize its pervasiveness. Second, we critically analyze the definitions of workplace spirituality and to identify common dimensions that echoes the Eastern views. Third, we try to bring out the essence of the dimensions of workplace spirituality using the Bhagavad Gita as the frame of reference. Fourth, we propose a model of workplace spirituality that synthesizes traditional Indian and Western wisdoms. Finally, we propose extended ideas to delineate further studies in the field of workplace spirituality. For this study, we first reviewed the extant literature on workplace spirituality to understand its crux and stratagem. Second, we analyzed the criticality of workplace spirituality in modern management using the Bhagavad Gita, a repository of ancient Hindu wisdom. This paper presents an integrated framework of workplace spirituality triggered by Indian traditional wisdom. We believe that current Western constructs in workplace spirituality typically explain the traditional Indian wisdom on the corporate citizens. We substantiate this point in the forthcoming sections of this