Buddhist Principles, Mindfulness with Organizational Management: A Conceptual Literature Review
S. B. D. C. Ratnayake
International Journal of Transformative Multidisciplinary Studies September 1, 2026 DOI: 10.66074/k7x5b1c6v (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Conceptual literature review and textual analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Key findings | Argues that selected Buddhist concepts can be conceptually linked to modern organizational leadership and management: mindfulness (sati) to managerial awareness and self-regulation, ethical conduct (sīla) to responsible leadership, loving-kindness (mettā) to compassionate leadership, equanimity (upekkhā) to balanced reactions, and right livelihood (sammā-ājīva) to responsible business practices. The authors contend these connections are interpretive rather than proof that Buddhism constitutes a modern management theory. |
Abstract
Modern organizations are increasingly confronted with issues surrounding ethical choices, employee welfare, accountable leadership, stakeholder interactions, and unpredictability. These advancements have sparked interest in management viewpoints that go beyond just efficiency and financial outcomes. Buddhist philosophy has garnered interest in this regard for its focus on ethical behavior, mindfulness, compassion, self-discipline, responsible living, and the appropriate use of resources. Buddhist teachings emerged from a philosophical and religious background instead of being developed as a structured management theory. Consequently, a direct correlation between Buddhist principles and modern management concepts could lead to conceptual and contextual misrepresentation. This research seeks to explore how certain Buddhist concepts can be linked to modern organizational leadership and management while maintaining their original Buddhist significance. The research employs a conceptual literature review and textual analysis of selected Buddhist canonical texts and pertinent management literature, drawn from library resources. A systematic conceptual mapping method was employed to explore the initial significance of each Buddhist principle, its foundational ethical or psychological mechanism, its potential connection with a modern management framework and the limits of that comparison. The analysis highlights the possible importance of mindfulness (sati) for managerial awareness and self-regulation, ethical conduct (sīla) for responsible leadership, loving-kindness (mettā) for compassionate and interpersonal leadership, equanimity (upekkhā) for balanced reactions, right livelihood (sammā-ājīva) for responsible business practices, and mutual employer-employee responsibilities for employee relations. Current studies also show growing interest in mindfulness within organizational and leadership research. The research finds that these connections ought to be viewed as conceptual and interpretive rather than as proof that Buddhism constitutes a modern management theory. The suggested framework offers a more careful foundation for linking Buddhist principles to organizational management while preserving their original philosophical and ethical context.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Zen Meditation for Depression, Anxiety, Pain, and Psychological Distress | 2012 | Review | |
| Measuring mindfulness | 2011 | Review | |
| The Influence of Buddhist Meditation Traditions on the Autonomic System and Attention | 2015 | Review | |
| Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances | 2014 | Review | |
| Positive Psychology and Buddhism | 2023 | Review |