Spirituality and the Management Teacher

Abstract

Despite the growing importance of spirituality in management, the management education literature says little concerning the teacher's self and even less concerning a teacher's spiritual self. This article addresses the issue of integrating spiritual values and teaching by reflecting on the experiences of three management teachers. To explore individual aspects of their Buddhist practices, one author examines how the spiritual value of compassion has changed the experience of teaching, a second discusses mindfulness, and a third the no-self. They then reflect collectively on those experiences, indicate opportunities for research, and call for further discussion with management professors from diverse spiritual traditions. Their experience suggests that integrating spiritual values into the teaching workplace is highly rewarding and also less problematic than might be expected.