Spirituality and Sustainability [recurso electrónico] : New Horizons and Exemplary Approaches

This book aims to examine sustainability and spirituality philosophically with ethics as the balancing force. The goal is to reveal the important intersection between sustainability and spirituality by using spirituality as the invisible guiding hand in the quest for sustainability. The editors and contributors examine old social and economics dilemmas from a new perspective in order to provide alternative approaches to economic and social development. The enclosed contributions cover a broad range of topics such as sustainable development and human happiness, contemporary spirituality, environmental ethics and responsibility, and corporate social responsibility. In addition, the title features real-world case studies and discussion questions that inspire self-reflection and theoretical and empirical deliberation in academic courses and business seminars. Contemporary approaches to economic and social development have failed to address humankind's abiding need for spiritual growth. For material development to be sustainable, spiritual advancement must be seen as an integral part of the human development algorithm. While the policy makers and governments can play their respective role, each one of us has to consciously adopt spirituality and sustainability as a way of life. This book will rely on the spiritual power of individuals to heal themselves and the environment. Featuring interdisciplinary perspectives in areas such as science, marine biology, environmental policy, cultural studies, psychology, philosophy, ecological economics, and ethics, this book will provide extensive insights into the complimentary fields of spirituality, sustainability and ethics. Foreword 5 Contents 7 Editors and Contributors 9 1 The Case for Eco-spirituality: Everybody Can Do Something 17 Abstract 17 Conquest and Control: Disempowering Approaches 18 Sustainability and Spirituality: An Interdisciplinary Approach 18 Everybody Can Do Something 19 Defining Sustainability 20 Need for Spiritual Transformation 21 Philosophy of Universalism 22 Understanding Dharma, ṛtaṃ, the Cosmic Order 23 The Context: The Current State of the Planet 24 Real Ecology: Rub Not and Be Not Rubbed 26 Some Good News About Climate Change Adaptability 28 Eco-spirituality 29 Albert Schweitzer: Reverence for Life 29 Conclusion 30 2 Sustaining the Cosmic Wheel of Creation: Journey from Consumer to Contributor 33 Abstract 33 Politics Without Morality and Economics Without Ethics 34 Vedānta: The Art and Science of Harmonious Living 34 Fivefold Offerings to the Universe: Pancha Mahā Yajñās 36 Key Ethical and Spiritual Virtues 37 Ensuring the Wellbeing of All Beings 39 Turning the Wheel of Cosmic Co-creation: Our Life as an Offering! 40 Sustainable Diet: Animal-Based Versus Plant-Based? 42 Life Feeds on Life 43 High Cost of Raising Livestock 43 Choose Compassion: Live and Let Live 46 Conclusion 47 3 Moral Underpinnings of Sustainability 49 Abstract 49 Our Moral Stance Toward Life 49 The Golden Rule 50 Universalism 53 Utilitarianism 56 The Ethics of Sustainability 59 Profitability While Being Ethical and Sustainably Responsible 60 Summary 62 4 The Environment is a Moral and Spiritual Issue 65 Abstract 65 Our Environmental Problem 66 The Encyclical: The Document that Makes a Difference 67 So, What Do We Learn From the Papal Encyclical? 68 The Historic Encyclical in Depth: A Central Document in Spirituality and Sustainability 71 Introduction 71 Chapter One: What Is Happening to Our Common Home? 72 Chapter Two: The Gospel of Creation 75 Chapter Three: The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis 76 Chapter Four: Integral Ecology 79 Chapter Five: Lines of Approach and Action 80 Chapter Six: Ecological Education and Spirituality 83 Conclusion 85 References 87 5 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibity for Spirituality and Sustainability 88 Abstract 88 Introduction 89 Ethics—The 4th Bottom Line of Sustainability 90 Triple Bottom Line and Its Inadequacy 90 ‘Carbon-Share’—The Most Contentious Distributive Justice Issue Globally 91 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public Policy Development 92 Ecosystem Management—a Sociopolitical Choice 92 Evolution of CSR—A Clarion Call for Ethical Leadership in the New Economy 94 Ethical Dimension in Decision Making 95 Formation of Human Value System 95 Rational Charioteer or Centaur? 95 Ethical Decision Making—Characteristics 96 Ethics Training for Leaders and Professionals 96 Ethical Values Checklist for Leaders and Professionals 97 Environmental Ethics Dilemma—Example Case Study 98 Example Case Description 98 Chapter Summary 102 6 Spiritual Capabilities: Keys to Successful Sustainable Strategic Management 104 Abstract 104 Sustainability: The Twenty-First Century Business Context 104 Sustainable Strategic Management (SSM) 106 Organizational Resources 107 Intangible Resources 108 Organizational Capabilities 109 Core Competencies and Competitive Advantages 110 Spiritual Capabilities: A Source of Competitive Advantage 112 Howard Schultz: The Transformative Power of Spiritual Intelligence 115 Spiritual Capabilities and the Vision of Sustainability 116 Chapter Summary 117 7 The Spiritual Roots of Economic Sustainability 119 Abstract 119 Economic Sustainability: Rooted in Purpose 120 Indicators of Unsustainability 121 Inadequacy of Economic Value 122 Deep Sustainability 125 Reclaiming the Purpose of the Economy 128 Restoring Hope to the Economy 130 References 132 8 Higher Consciousness for Sustainability-as-Flourishing 134 Abstract 134 The Sustainability Challenge 135 Consciousness Development for Sustainability-as-Flourishing 136 Higher States of Consciousness 137 Engaging the Managing Intelligence of Natural Law 139 Wholeness Versus Partial Knowledge 141 The Difference Between Consciousness-Raising and Consciousness Development 142 The Role of Vedic Science and Technology 143 Directions for Further Research 148 Summary 149 9 Formless Meditation and Sustainability 151 Abstract 151 Introduction 151 Formless Meditation 152 Motivation: Fearlessly Opening to Whatever Occurs 153 Mindfulness: Vigorously Training the Attention 154 Awareness: Becoming Familiar with Primordial Presence 155 Relaxing: Resting Thoroughly 156 How Formless Meditation Fosters a Sustainable World Through Natural Social Intelligence Skills 159 Primal Empathy 160 Attunement 160 Empathic Accuracy 161 Social Cognition 162 Synchrony 162 Self-presentation 163 Influence 163 Concern 164 Conclusion 165 10 Spirituality, Sustainability and Happiness: A Quantum-Neuroscientific Perspective 166 Introduction 166 Spirit and Spirituality 167 Spirituality, Love and Sustainability 169 Happiness, Pleasure and Sustainability 172 Spirituality as the Source of Happiness and Sustainability 174 Conclusion 178 11 Case Studies: Spirituality and Sustainability 180 Abstract 180 Interface Global (Ray C. Anderson, Atlanta, GA, USA) 180 The Amish (Glen and Lamar Schmucker, Nappanee, Indiana, USA) 182 One Water (Duncan Goose, UK) 183 Lands’ End (Gary and Stephanie Comer, Chicago, Illinois, USA) 184 References 193 12 Putting Glam into Green: A Case for Sustainable Luxury Fashion 194 Abstract 194 Luxury and Sustainability: From Strange Bedfellows to Natural Allies? 195 Of Furs and Feathers—Nature and High Fashion Through the Years 196 The Rise—and Fall?—of ‘Fast Fashion’ 198 Overcoming the Birkenstock Syndrome 201 Putting Glam into Green: Luxury Fashion’s Sustainable Future 203 Chapter Summary 207 13 Global Warming Calls for an Inner Climate Change: The Transformative Power of Worldview Reflection for Sustainability 209 Abstract 209 My Personal Journey into Spirituality and Sustainability 210 Introduction 212 The Modern Worldview, Disenchantment, and Climate Change 214 Dynamics of Changing Worldviews: From Traditional to Modern to Postmodern 215 The Challenges of Postmodernity and the Emergence of the Integrative Worldview 217 The Integrative Worldview and Its Potential in Addressing Our Global Sustainability Issues 219 Conclusion 221 Summary 221 References 223 14 Un-fathoming the Spirit of Sustainability 225 Abstract 225 Introduction 226 Divested Sustainabilities and the Overdetermined Spiritual 227 Plastic Waves and Extinction Climates 228 The Differend, Slow Violence, and Alternate Histories 232 The Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez 233 Cabo Pulmo: The Northernmost Surviving Coral Reef that Almost Wasn’t 235 15 Epilogue: The Ethics and Spirituality of Sustainability 245 Abstract 245 Wholesome Thinking and Wholesome Conduct: Dharma and Karma Are Closely Aligned 245 Moral and Spiritual Basis of Sustainability: Help Ever, Hurt Never 246 Converting Karma into Karma Yoga 248 Conscientious Compassion 249 Our Habits Are Not Us 250 The Ethics of Eating: A Case for Vegetarianism 251 The Power of Individual Will 254 Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—The Entire World as One Family 255 Creative Altruism Versus Destructive Egocentrism 256 Human Activities: Prime Driver of Climate Change 257 Conclusion 258 Front Matter....Pages i-xvi The Case for Eco-spirituality: Everybody Can Do Something....Pages 1-16 Sustaining the Cosmic Wheel of Creation: Journey from Consumer to Contributor....Pages 17-32 Moral Underpinnings of Sustainability....Pages 33-48 The Environment is a Moral and Spiritual Issue....Pages 49-71 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility for Spirituality and Sustainability....Pages 73-88 Spiritual Capabilities: Keys to Successful Sustainable Strategic Management....Pages 89-103 The Spiritual Roots of Economic Sustainability....Pages 105-119 Higher Consciousness for Sustainability-as-Flourishing....Pages 121-137 Formless Meditation and Sustainability....Pages 139-153 Spirituality, Sustainability and Happiness: A Quantum-Neuroscientific Perspective....Pages 155-168 Case Studies: Spirituality and Sustainability....Pages 169-182 Putting Glam into Green: A Case for Sustainable Luxury Fashion....Pages 183-197 Global Warming Calls for an Inner Climate Change: The Transformative Power of Worldview Reflection for Sustainability....Pages 199-214 Un-fathoming the Spirit of Sustainability....Pages 215-234 Epilogue: The Ethics and Spirituality of Sustainability....Pages 235-252