The Wisdom of Paryushana and Jainism for Modern Leaders

Introduction

In August 1991, I crossed paths with Arun Jain, one of the founding trio behind Polaris. Arun was helming their office in Madras—now known as Chennai. He attended my leadership program and shared that it kept him awake for several nights, compelling him to integrate the learnings into his life and business. In 2016, Arun had sold Polaris to Virtusa and launched Intellect Design Arena, which has since become a unicorn company in India. Our friendship blossomed over years of conversations around the wisdom embedded in Jainism, Vedanta, and the philosophies of leaders like Gandhi ji, Tata, and Steve Jobs. But what makes Arun remarkable is his ability to turn learnings into actionable algorithms and frameworks. His unique take on Design Thinking—a blend of Jain principles and our discussions on nature of learning, thinking and creativity—has made significant contributions to educational institutions and organizations.

As a seeker and guide, he taught me to delve deeper into Jainism. This ancient philosophy also became a subject of my intellectual curiosity through interactions with friends like Nirmal K Sethia, Ramesh C Jain, Naveen Jain , Prem Jain , Surya Prakash Loonker, Ketan Mehta, Naren Bakshi, Hemant Bheda and others. As we approach the special period of Dasa Lakshan Parv or Paryushana—an 8-day period for Digambar Jains and a 10-day period for Shvetambar Jains—it feels apt to share the relevancy and applicability of Jain principles for modern-day leaders.

Context: Why Should Modern Leaders Pay Attention?

In today's complex world, the virtues of ethical living, open-mindedness, and self-awareness are more critical than ever for effective leadership. Leaders face an array of challenges:

1. Navigating Cultural Diversity: In a rapidly globalizing world, understanding and valuing diverse perspectives is more crucial than ever.
2. Ethical Dilemmas: In an age of information and misinformation, understanding the nuances of right and wrong becomes pivotal.
3. Conflict Resolution: Emotional intelligence is essential for resolving conflicts, and what better way to understand the power of perspective than through Jainism.
4. Personal Development: The quest for self-improvement is a lifelong journey, one that is enriched by the deep self-reflection encouraged by Jain practices.

The Wisdom of Jainism: Principles and Practices for the Modern Manager

Anekāntavāda: Embracing Multiple Truths

Jainism is concerned with the spiritual journey to free the soul from materialism, ignorance and suffering. Arun Jain introduced me to the concept of Anekāntavāda—a central tenet of Jainism that posits that the truth or reality is complex and has multiple aspects. For modern managers, this translates into a leadership style that honors diverse opinions, encourages open dialogues, and avoids the perils of one-sided decision-making.

Application:

• Encourage Team Discussions: When weighing significant decisions, create an open forum for team members to offer their viewpoints. Use real-world case studies during team meetings to show the value of multiple perspectives in decision-making.
• Cultivate a Culture of Openness: Build an atmosphere where people are comfortable voicing their ideas without the fear of backlash. You can create a safe space where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, possibly through an anonymous feedback mechanism.

The Holy Days of Paryushana (Dasa Lakshan Parv): A Journey of Self-Reflection and Renewal

Paryushana is a period of introspection, prayer, fasting, and ethical reflection, culminating in Samvatsari—a day dedicated to seeking forgiveness. These practices offer modern leaders a structured pathway to ethical and personal growth, valuable not only for Jains but anyone seeking self-improvement.

Practices to Consider:

1. Ethical Reflection (Pratikraman): Schedule quarterly ethical audits to evaluate the ethical footprint of your personal and professional actions.
2. Empathy and Forgiveness (Samvatsari): Implement a structured program for conflict resolution and promote a culture of forgiveness within your team.
3. Mindfulness and Meditation: Encourage your team to engage in mindfulness exercises, enabling better stress management and more thoughtful decision-making.

Jainism offers many other valuable insights for modern leaders, including:

• Non-violence (ahimsa): Jainism teaches that all living beings are interconnected and deserve to be treated with respect. This principle of non-violence can be applied to leadership in a number of ways, such as by creating a workplace that is free from harassment and discrimination, and by making decisions that are mindful of the impact on all stakeholders.
• Compassion (karuna): Jainism emphasizes the importance of compassion for all living beings. This principle can help leaders to build a more inclusive and supportive workplace, and to make decisions that are beneficial to all stakeholders.
• Ethical living (ahimsa): Jainism teaches that we should strive to live our lives in a way that is ethical and moral. This principle can help leaders to make decisions that are not only in the best interests of their organization, but also in the best interests of society as a whole.

A Call to Action and Reflection

Modern leadership is transitioning from linear paradigms to more holistic models that focus on ethical and personal growth. Jainism, with its focus on non-violence, ethical conduct, open-mindedness, and self-awareness, offers a model that can be integrated into the management practices of the today's world.

Steps for Immediate Implementation:

1. Educate Yourself: Delve deeper into Jain literature or engage with Jain scholars and practitioners to enrich your understanding.
2. Integrate Into Decision-Making: Make a conscious effort to apply Anekāntavāda principles in your next team meeting or major decision-making event.
3. Initiate Conversations: Foster discussions about ethical living, empathy, and multiple truths in your organizational culture, maybe even instituting regular "reflection sessions" for your team.

How Modern Leaders Can Apply the Wisdom of Jainism

There are more number of ways that modern leaders can apply the wisdom of Jainism to their work. Here are a few examples:

• Create a workplace that is free from harassment and discrimination.?This can be done by developing and implementing anti-harassment and discrimination policies, and by providing training to employees on these issues.
• Make decisions that are mindful of the impact on all stakeholders.?This includes considering the needs of employees, customers, suppliers, and the community when making decisions.
• Build a more inclusive and supportive workplace.?This can be done by creating a culture of respect and understanding, and by providing opportunities for employees to grow and develop.
• Make decisions that are beneficial to all stakeholders.?This includes considering the long-term impact of decisions, and not just the short-term financial gains.
• Majority of Jains are into business and Jain business leaders have used the principle of non-attachment to create sustainable and ethical businesses all over the world and you could learn a lot from them.

Final Thoughts

Leadership is not merely about reaching organizational goals; it's about the comprehensive development of your team and, by extension, yourself. As we step into another demanding quarter or fiscal year, the principles of Anekāntavāda and the practices of Paryushana (and principles of Jainism) could be potent additions to your leadership toolkit. Whether you're intrigued by the multiplicity of truths or the structure of ethical practices, the wisdom of Jainism beckons.

I invite you to share your reflections on these principles. How do they align or contrast with your spiritual or philosophical traditions? I find remarkable parallels between Jain, Hindu, Muslim and even Jewish wisdom. Do you see what I'm seeing?