Hinduism: Ethics and Business

EENI- School of International Business

Subject (Course) - Hinduism (India). Hindu Businesspeople. Syllabus:

Hinduism Ethics Business

“Truth is one, the wise call it by various names.” (Rig Veda).

Subject on Hinduism consists of three parts:

  1. Introduction to Hinduism
  2. Hindu Businesspeople
  3. Economic Area of the Hindu Civilisation

1- Hinduism

  1. Introduction to Hinduism - “Sanatana Dharma” (Eternal Religion) - Vedanta
  2. Sacred texts of Hinduism (Shruti and Smriti)
  3. Bhagavad-Gita
  4. Four paths to God
  5. Path of Yoga
  6. Key concepts of Hinduism:
    1. Interreligious tolerance.
    2. Body and Atman.
    3. Samsara.
    4. Good (Svayam Bhagavan, Parabrahma) pervades all things
  7. Ethical Principles of Hinduism:
    1. Non-violence (Ahimsa)
    2. Truth (Satya)
    3. Not to steal (Asteya)
    4. Sexual moderation (Brahmacharya).
    5. Detachment from the results of the actions.
  8. The main traditions of Hinduism (Sampradaya)
    1. Vaishnavism
    2. Shaivism
    3. Shaktism
    4. Smartism
  9. Renewal of Hinduism:
    1. Sri Ramakrishna
    2. Swami Vivekananda
    3. Mahatma Gandhi
  10. Hinduism today
  11. Hinduism in Nepal, Bhutan, and Mauritius

2- Case studies Hindu Businesspeople (Hinduism).

  1. Kumar Mangalam Birla
  2. Senapathy Gopalakrishnan
  3. Shri Mukesh Ambani
  4. S P Hinduja
  5. Kiran Mazumdar
  6. Naresh Goyal

3- Economic Area of the Hindu Civilisation

  1. Introduction to the economic area of the Hindu Civilisation
  2. Influence of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism in the Hindu Civilisation
  3. Area of influence of the Hindu civilisation: Nepal, Mauritius, Bhutan, Indonesia, and East Africa
  4. Interactions of the Hindu civilisation with other civilisations

The objectives of the subject “Hinduism” are:

  1. To understand the fundamentals of Hinduism
  2. To understand the ethical principles of Hinduism
  3. To analyse the figures of Hindu businesspeople
  4. To understand the influence of Hinduism in the Hindu Civilisation
  5. To explore economic relations of the Hindu civilisation with other civilisations
  6. To know the countries of influence of the Hindu Civilisation
Subject “Hinduism: Ethics and Business” is studied…
  1. Professional Doctorates: Religion and Business, Asia
  2. Masters (e-learning): Asia, BRICS Countries, Economic Relations, and Global Business
  3. Course Business in India

Learning materials in En (or Es Hinduismo Fr Hindouisme).

  1. Credits of the subject “Indian Religions - Hinduism”: 4 ECTS/2 AC Credits
  2. Duration: 4 weeks

Sample of the subject - Principles of Hinduism Ethics
Hinduism Ethics

Everyone should follow his religion. A Christian should follow Christianity; a Muslim should follow Islam, and so on. For Hinduism, the old way, the way of the wise Aryans is the best.” Sri Ramakrishna.

Subject Description: Hinduism and business:

Attempting to define the Hinduism is a complex task, the correct term for Hinduism should be “Sanatana Dharma” or the Eternal Law. According to the Master Swami Vivekananda, the spiritual heir of Sri Ramakrishna:

“Hinduism is based on the accumulated treasure consisting of spiritual laws discovered by different people in different times.”

Hinduism is a tradition of wisdom that evolves periodically throughout history. “Live and let live” defines relatively well the Hinduism vision. Hinduism is probably the most tolerant religion with others, as seen in the history of India in the last 2,500 years. Hinduism has lived with Parsees, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Jains.

Harmony of Religions Ahimsa Ethics

The Chapter IV of Bhagavad-Gita begins with one of the most beautiful and transcendental verses of the Bhagavad-Gita, which appreciate the tolerance of Hinduism with other religions:

“When the kindness declines, When the wickedness increases
When the purpose of the life is forgotten.
I will manifest, I will return.
To pronounce the sacred; to destroy the sin of the sinner, to re-establish the way of the principles” Bhagavad-Gita IV 7-8


  1. About 950 millions of people practice Hinduism, mainly in India
  2. Hinduism is the third religion in the World by the number of believers, behind Islam and Christianity.

The absolute reality of Hinduism is Brahman. Hindus believe in reincarnation and the law of Karma.

Hinduism proposes different ways to reach God (the path of love, devotion, knowledge) depending on each person.

Renewal of Hinduism: Sri Ramakrishna
Sri Ramakrishna Hinduism


Ethical Principles of Hinduism: Ahimsa (Non-Violence), detachment (abandonment of the fruits of the action), Truthfulness, Not to steal, Self-control, discipline, appropriate words and thoughts, and motivation to achieve the goal.

The principle of Non-Violence (Ahimsa) should to be one of the pillars of a global ethic. All religions also share Ahimsa especially Jainists, Zoroastrians, and Buddhists.

Patanjali suggests the ethical practice of five exercises: ahimsa, truthfulness, non-stealing, pure life and not greed. This is widely reflected in the Bhagavad-Gita.

Previously we have seen several values of Hinduism: Ahimsa (non-violence), tolerance, and truthfulness. All of which are part of the five Yamas (restraints or abstentions) and five Niyamas (observances or rules) set by Patanjali.

Yamas (restraints or abstentions).

  1. Non-Violence (Ahimsa)
  2. Truthfulness (Satya)
  3. Not to steal (Asteya)
  4. Sexual Moderation (Brahmacharya)
  5. Non-possession (Aparigraha)

Niyamas (Observances).

  1. Purity (Shauca)
  2. Satisfaction (Santosa)
  3. Austerity/Self-discipline (Tapas)
  4. Self-knowledge (Svadhyaya)
  5. Surrendering to God (Ishvarapranidhana)

The difficulty of finding a proper definition is that Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority (similar to the papacy in Catholicism), but they have swamis (teachers) or gurus (spiritual guides). Today; it is common to identify four different types of Hinduism: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Appellations are based primarily on the god worshiped as an absolute reality and the traditions that accompany worship of that God.

The vast majority of Hindus claim that Hinduism is monotheistic, claiming that the Hindu pantheon is only representations of one God to facilitate human understanding of the Absolute Reality.

Samples - Hinduism

Kiran Mazumdar Biocon

Hinduja Group India

Group Birla India


Shri Mukesh D. Ambani

Bhimji Depar Shah (Kenya).

Religions and business - Religions of India Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism.


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