Management_Principles_in_Buddhism_and_Experiences_of_Japanese_Corporates : Address by Ven. Shinsho Furukuwa
On 16th November, 2015, MBA
students had the privilege of listening to an eminent personality- Ven. Shinsho
Furukawa, President, Japan-India Bodhi Society. At the outset, Prof. K. Siva
Rama Krishna, Dean and Principal, GITAM Institute of Management delivered the
welcome address. Ven. Shinsho Furukawa spoke about management principles in
Buddhism and his experience of Japanese corporate life. He spoke in Japanese
and was translated in English by Naga Bodhi. He said that he always dreamt of
being rich and so had started a business of Japanese garments. As Japan was
developing after the Second World War, he could earn much but as he became more
and more involved in preserving his high economic status, he failed to find the
happiness which he had thought money would give. It was then that he was
attracted by the Buddhist teachings. He learnt a lot from his early sufferings.
Ven. Shinsho Furukawa opined that Lord Buddha always defined the meaning of human
birth as being happy and making others happy. Lord Buddha taught that human
beings should never escape from suffering because experience of suffering
teaches us to find out ways of being happy. In this context Ven. Furukawa spoke
about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who was inspired by Buddhist principles and fought to
eradicate discrimination from India. Speaking about Japanese and Indian values,
he stressed the need to implement Buddhist principles in corporate life. He stressed
that economy is important but proper management of economy is very important as
money can both destroy and uplift. He said that discrimination based on
self-seeking attitude is the major problem in India though the country is quite
powerful. Large number of students of MBA participated and made the session
very interactive. The session ended with a glimpse of the principles of
Buddhism. Vote of thanks was given by Mr. Arun Kumar, MBA Previous.