Showcase ethical business: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said it's necessary to create visible role models of those engaging in ethical business and still making a profit, thus demonstrating how ethics can become an important competitive advantage. Sri Sri — which aims to promote peace and harmony. Over a lakh from city are expected to attend the event.

Corporate culture & spirituality

"Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji's aim is to spread peace and happiness in every corner of the world. He travels to reach out to people with his message," added Hathi. The belief here is that positive vibrations and serenity in the environment will be an antidote to the large-scale violence and terror the world has been witnessing, most recently in Iraq and France.

"We have seen many dotcoms and Satyams going the unethical way and crashing down. It has become a lesson to our young people. But it's appalling to see how smartness got linked to unethical ways of doing business. When I was talking to young business people, entrepreneurs thought ethics is something naive. They felt if you want to be successful, you need to be smart. We need to showcase to the world those doing ethical business," said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

He was speaking at the Corporate Culture and Spirituality conference organized by The Art of Living in association with the World Forum for Ethics in Business in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Ravi Shankar said ethical behaviour makes good business sense. "It's smart to be ethical and service-oriented. One thing with ethics is you can have a good sleep and smile from your heart."

Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, Juan Carlos Losada, youngest member of Parliament, Columbia, South African high commissioner to India F K Morule, Daljit Singh, president of Fortis Healthcare, Soumitra Bhattacharya, joint MD of Bosch India, and other corporate bigwigs participated in the event.

Losada said following ethics in business not only increases profits, but also weans youth away from violence. The event will be held between 6pm and 8pm and will be part of a worldwide marathon-chanting effort in which about 3 million people in 100 countries will be participating simultaneously. Held across several time zones, they will chant Sanskrit mantras, including Om Namah Shivaya, said Darshak Hathi, international director at the Art of Living.

This will be followed by a music event 'Venunaad – Music for Peace' on Monday at 6pm on the banks of river Godavari in Nashik. As Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, "Spirituality and music together can uplift people, get them out of depression and help them start a new life with enthusiasm. For a stress-free life, you have to embrace both these facets — spirituality and music."