Sacred Stewardship, Prosociality: Taoist and Vedantic Perspectives on Selfless Service in 21st Century Management a Comparative Review

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19161244

Praveena Mishra (Department of Psychology, School of Health science, Sushant University, Gurugram, Haryana)

Rooted in two distinct metaphysical foundations and diverse theistic orientation, yet both converge on one potent philosophical paradigm, alienating and transcending ego and embracing individual conduct with higher principles. This paper proposes 21st Century stewardship must evolve beyond sustainability, a moral obligation that views the organization as a sacred ecosystem, confronting modern workplace crises by restoring a sense of higher purpose via religious philosophy. The Impact of Religion based philosophy has garnered a significant portion of attention across the Academic, Business, and Management arena in the current decade. Undertaking a comparative philosophical analysis, this study explores Taoism and the Bhagavad Gita’s contributions in fostering pro‑social & positive citizenship behaviour at workplace. Standing as a testament of wisdom, the philosophical ethos of Taoism, with its principle of wu‑wei (effortless action), emphasizes harmony with the natural order, humility, and spontaneous cooperation. The Bhagavad Gita, through its doctrine of nishkama karma (selfless action without attachment to outcomes), underscores duty (dharma), compassion, and ethical responsibility. The paper posits the argument that these moral ethos offers valuable insights for contemporary discussion, particularly relevant within organizational contexts, where selfless and ethical action are critical to imparting and fostering positive citizenship behaviour. By juxtaposing Taoist and Gita perspectives, proposing a conceptual framework, the study highlights the potential of cross‑cultural wisdom in enriching modern principles of Management ethics and organizational psychology. By exploring the paradoxical, poetic, moralistic and directive ethos the study aims to enhance Perspective and Ideologies of Individuals, fostering positive citizenship behaviour at workplace.