An old Sanskrit saying mentions that charity purifies wealth and it has been a household practice in India to donate a small portion of one’s earning for a social cause. In fact,anywhere in the world, we find that prosperity is always accompanied by an aspect of philanthropy.Corporate Social Responsibility is a modern-day adaptation of this noble ancient practice.
Today, the world of business is suffering from a severe lack of trust due to a string of frauds and scams all over. Trust is the backbone of a business. The greed of a few for short-term gain causes long-term damage to the whole economy. To improve the economy, we need to establish trust among people who give them confidence that there are good people who care for them. Corporate Social Responsibility can go a long way in reviving trust in society.
We need integrity in every field, especially business. It is virtues and values that lay the foundation for prosperity. In society, if everyone keeps thinking about what they will gain rather than what they can contribute, corruption cannot be rooted out. A sense of contributing to society is essential to combat corruption. When there is a commitment to higher ideals in life, then there is a shift from receiving to giving. A ‘what can I get’ mindset reflects lack and poverty while a ‘what can I give’ mindset reflects abundance. Corporates can lead this much-needed value shift in the society.
Communism, capitalism, secularism – all collapse when attention is not given to human values. No ‘ism’ will work if there is no humanism. Taking forward our businesses with a commitment to a social cause, commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility will take our world to a new dimension of hope and happiness.
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
