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Business leaders not only have to make profits for their corporations, but they also have societal responsibilities. When making decisions, a businessperson must be aware of the impact on society, the environment and ecology, the creation or prevention of pollution, human relations, employees, fellow workers, and a regard for openness, honesty in transactions, good job creations, and many other issues and concerns of the society as a whole. A business leader is part of the society in which he lives and his overarching role is to make that society better. Similarly, a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, a certified public accountant, or a financial securities broker must weigh his decisions using the yardstick of ethics and responsibility to the society.
WE HAVE MANY MOTHERS BUT NOT MANY MOMS One Sanskrit shloka reminds us, “One picture is equal to thousand words, one teacher is equal to thousand books, and one mother is equal to thousand teachers.” A mom (maata) is the one who generally forms the personality of a child. She is not only the boss of the house but also a role model that can make a house into a living heaven. In today's world, many women become mothers (this is simply a natural phenomenon) but very few become moms. A very high percentage of girls achieve high educations and eventually become mothers as well, but there are very few schools or training centers within the Jain community to impart training to develop them into good shravikas and moms. If the raw materials or ingredients are less than perfect, so will be the products.
WHERE SHOULD ONE GO FOR PRACTICAL TRAINING IN AHIMSA? This is a real question that was posed to me in Houston. In late November 2010, I was invited to listen to a talk by a
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
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