Abstract
Buddhist practices when transferred into organizational contexts tend to bear little resemblance to their original forms of practice, leading to misinterpretations of their characteristics of ‘universal’ adaptability. For example, the popular ‘mindfulness revolution’ in the business world has been criticized for reducing mindfulness practices to psychological traits and non-judgmental awareness. Such secular approaches do not represent the Buddhist ethics-based notion of ‘right mindfulness,’ which originates from the Noble Eightfold Path. This chapter takes a critical view of Buddhist-enacted practices in the workplace (e.g., right mindfulness, the Middle Way, skillful means, non-self) to highlight the need for these practices to be interpreted and managed more context-sensitively in organizational contexts. The chapter suggests ways to move forward and present implications for coping mechanisms in contemporary organizations in response to impermanence and crises.
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Vu, M.C. (2022). Buddhist-Enacted Practices: Implications for Coping Mechanisms in Unprecedented Times. In: Vu, M.C., Singh, N., Burton, N., Chu, I. (eds) Faith Traditions and Practices in the Workplace Volume II. Palgrave Studies in Workplace Spirituality and Fulfillment. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09540-5_3
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