Case Study: Secular Integration of Values of Buddhist Ethics Into the Future Working World

The working world is subject to a rapid transformation due to the influence of artificial intelligence. A skilled handling with it not only demands digital capabilities but especially social competences such as self-care, clear communication, listening with empathy, maintaining cooperative relations, constructive management of conflicts and empathy.

We examine the potential of the secular training program CEB (Cultivating Emotional Balance) regarding the improvement of the wellbeing of employees in organizations. Apart from mindfulness, CEB cultivates fundamental ethic values of Buddhism like com-passion, objectivity, empathic joy and friendliness. The training program CEB is modified with models used in communication psychology and thus adapted to the working world of the future.

The aim of this case study is to find out how the mentioned values and principles of Buddhist ethics influence the wellbeing of employees. Following the research project and as a forecast, the insights obtained will form the foundation for the development of a CEB-based training concept regarding the key competencies for employees in organizations and people in education institutions. In October 2024, we intend to hold a panel discussion, which ideally brings up open questions, allows further interdisciplinary con-textualization of the results and uncovers more detailed research approaches.

Research group

• Peggy Bendler
• Benjamin Schmitz

Mentor

• Prof. Dr. Michael Zimmermann