How to Bring Racial Harmony in Organizations: Some Knowledge from the Ancient Indian Writings

Abstract

This symposium provides the foundation for equal treatment of all humans, in fact all living entities, as advanced in the ancient Hindu writings—going back to the second millennium BCE, when they were compiled and put in writing, such as the Vedas, Upanisa?ds, and the Bhagavad Gi¯ta¯ by taking the doctrine of Advaita Veda¯nta or nonduality that portrays all humans as Atman—an element of Brahman, the supreme creator. We draw several postulates from these writings that can be used to implement the major principles of Advaita in organizations for addressing the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion goals which a very large number of American organizations are struggling to operationalize for the last couple years or so. Among several ancient Indian philosophical traditions that logically and theologically advance the equality of all living entities is the doctrine of the Advaita Veda¯nta which provides an excellent framework to understand unity in diversity through the lens of Oneness—that is, One Divine Spirit dwelling in everyone and everything, and every living entity having abode in Brahman—the Devine Spirit . It invites us to treat human with love and respect—sacredly—because human is Divine in essence. We believe that understanding the underlying unity in diversity is one of the best approaches to foster racial harmony in organizations, root branch and all, which may furnish the best antidote to racial disharmony and social unrest that plague the present-day world. Taking the concepts discussed in this symposium, our presentations provide how organizations and the larger societies can apply and implement these concepts in improving the racial harmony at their workplaces and social interactions. How to Bring Racial Harmony in Organizations: Some Knowledge from the Ancient Indian Writings Presenter: A.D. Amar; Seton Hall U. Presenter: Satinder Dhiman; Woodbury U. Presenter: Jon Radwan; Seton Hall U. Presenter: Mahadevan B; Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore Presenter: Sharda Nandram; Nyenrode Business U.