Leaders and leadership qualities Buddhist Leadership qualities

Leaders and leadership qualities

Buddhist Leadership qualities

Ven. PeramandiyeIndarathanaThera*

Introduction

Leadership can be defined as one's ability to get others to willingly follow.  The leader is a person who leads the society or group of people in order to protect justice and fairness chosen by the society. The world we live today is like a battlefield. Some leaders who lead the people cannot be called as leaders. If a leader he or she must have leadership qualities. If they have outstanding leadership qualities there is no problem in the society. Most of the leaders they have used to maintain their power as they want without thinking of followers. When they try to hold on their power by force, people have to face lot of difficulties. In this paper I wish to discuss Buddhist leadership qualities according to the Buddhist perspective and how they are applicable to the present leaders engaging in power. 

Methodology and discussion 

 This study is mainly based on Suttas which are related to leadership qualities in the Buddhist canon. According to the Aggaññasutta,Adammikasutta, Kutadantasutta, Sonadandasutta, and sihanadasutta, in Dighanikaya, and Kakacupamasutta in AnguttaranikayaI will explain about leadership qualities. In fact that, where there is a real leader with honesty, good communication skills, listening to the followers and to the people that society would ideally be a visible heaven in the society.

In conclusion to be a good leader one must cultivate human qualities of empathy, caring, honesty and compassion. In mettasutta in AN fifteen character building and required to be possessed by a skillful one who prepares the ground to flourish unconditional love for examining. To be effective in leadership as well a leader should be those fifteen qualities.

Undergraduate at Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy

BA (Special) Buddhist Studies

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