How ‘Spiritual Business’ Is Far from Being a Contradiction?

By Dr. Keith Beasley, Faculty Member here at the BodyMind InstituteMain Website:  www.onereality.co.ukBlog Website:  beyondthought.todayBlog Website:  knowinggrowing.blogspot.co.uk

At first impression, ‘business’ has little to do with ‘being spiritual’. But first impressions, as is often the case, can be misleading.

Being spiritual isn’t about being ‘nice’ all the time: whatever that means! God, by whatever name we might call him, her or it, is (or allows, depending on your viewpoint) absolutely everything.

The tornado that devastates a community or a plague that decimates a generation is every bit a part of the reality we call life as is a wonderful sunset or the first blossoms of spring. Isn’t being spiritual about accepting this and embracing both the light and the dark facets of our varied existence?

An increasing number who have been pioneering ethical businesses, Fair Trade, and other such initiatives over recent decades would probably not want to be associated with many conventional business practices. Thanks to them it’s comparatively common now to eat out on locally sourced ingredients.

We need to look at each enterprise on its own merits: and if we’re starting our own, we can fairly and squarely set our intent. There is no contradiction in setting out to make a good living (i.e., receive significant income) and, at the same time, to practice the universal spiritual principles of showing love and respect: to our customers, staff, suppliers, and the planet.

“Firm but Kind” was an expression I first came across in the context of bringing up children. It recognizes two contrasting requirements in helping youngsters to grow up with self-confidence but without arrogance. They need a firm hand when ‘trying it on’ and a gentle hand when genuinely struggling.

Exactly the same is true when running a business. When it comes to reducing waste (of resources, of effort) firmness is required. When it comes to understanding and satisfying the needs of a specific customer who is having a genuine difficulty, then empathy and understanding is in order. It’s not a matter of one approach or the other; it’s a matter of knowing which approach is appropriate in a given situation.

And this really is where being spiritual comes into its own: not as a set of principles, but as a here-and-now practice. By being connected into the present moment, we just know what the right course of action is: whether to be firm with someone who is being unreasonable . . . or whether to listen with caring awareness.

With this full spectrum of responses (I’d also call it being Emotional Intelligent), relationships will flourish and businesses prosper.

Those who have studied the Tao, or even just reflected on the Yin-Yang symbol, will appreciate that life is, like it or not, a balance between light and dark, creation and destruction . . . things we would choose and some we wouldn’t.

By seeing business in this context, it becomes another facet of the life in which we do our best, another opportunity to face challenges through being present, being mindful and connected into our current reality where we need both money and love to be both successful and happy.

A Free Usui Reiki Webinar offered by Dr. Keith Beasley here at the BodyMind Institute