magazinelogo

Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Studies

ISSN Online: 3067-4972 CODEN:
Frequency: Instant publication Email: JPBS@hillpublish.com
Total View: 153263 Downloads: 9459 Citations: 1 (From Dimensions)
ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jpbs.2025.12.006

From Illusion to Insight: Śaṅkara’s Sattā-Traya for Organisational Behaviour

Nailesh Limbasiya

Nailesh Limbasiya B-301, Shreenath Heights, B/h Earth Ambrosia, Nr, Sama Savali Road, Vadodara-390008, India. 

*Corresponding author: Nailesh Limbasiya

Published: December 26,2025

Abstract

This paper operationalises Advaita Vedānta as a conceptual lever for reimagining organisational behaviour, drawing on Ādi Śaṅkarācārya’s doctrine of sattā-traya—the three-tiered architecture of reality encompassing the pratibhāsika (illusory), vyavahārika (empirical), and paramārthika (absolute). Reframed as layers of organisational consciousness, these ontological constructs inform a triadic behavioural schema articulated through draṣṭā-bhāva (situational awareness), kartā-bhāva (ethically grounded action), and bhoktā-bhāva (purpose-driven fulfilment). By integrating analytic strands from the six classical darśanas—Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṁsā and Vedānta—the study advances an indigenous paradigm for leadership cognition, moral accountability, and decision intentionality. The analysis positions the Vedāntic progression from illusion to insight as a strategic shift from reactive performance cycles to reflective, wisdomled value creation. Through this fusion of Indian metaphysics and contemporary management thinking, the paper contributes to human values research and offers a future-ready framework for cultivating consciousness-centric organisations. Keywords: Advaita Vedānta, sattā-traya, organisational consciousness, Indian philosophy, leadership ethics, human values.

Keywords

Advaita-Based Leadership; Organisational Consciousness; Ethical Action Frame-work; Vedāntic Behaviour Model; Wisdom-Centric Management

References

Arvanitis, A., & Kalliris, K. (2020). Consistency and moral integrity: A self-determination theory perspective. Journal of Moral Education, 49(3), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2019.1695589 

Bakker, A. B. (2008). The work-related flow inventory: Construction and initial validation of the WOLF. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 72(3), 400-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2007.11.007 

Barua, A. (2023). Living in the world by dying to the self: Swami Vivekananda’s modernist reconfigurations of a pre-modern Vedāntic dialectic. International Journal of Hindu Studies, 27(1), 87-114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11407-022-09335-w 

Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. Modh, S. (2014). Formulating a new three energy framework of personality for conflict analysis and resolution based on triguna concept of Bhagavad Gītā. Journal of Human Values, 20(2), 163-176. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685814539415 

Bhawuk, D. P. S. (2020). Śraddhā: Construct definition from the Bhagavad-Gītā. Psychology and Developing Societies, 32(1), 108-135. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971333620906758 

Burrell, G., & Morgan, G. (2017). Sociological paradigms and organisational analysis. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315242804 

Chadha, M. (2001). Perceptual cognition: A Nyāya–Kantian approach. Philosophy East and West, 51(2), 197-209. https://doi.org/10.1353/pew.2001.0021 

Chakraborty, S. K. (1995). Wisdom leadership: Leading self by the SELF. Journal of Human Values, 1(2), 205-222. https://doi.org/10.1177/097168589500100205 

Chandra, S., & Sukhram. (2018). The Nyāya-Sūtras of Gautama: Original text, English translation & notes. Parimal Publications. 

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper Perennial. 

Enslin, C., Wolfswinkel, M., & Terblanche-Smit, M. (2023). Responsible leadership through purpose-driven brand building: Guidelines for leaders in Africa. South African Journal of Business Management, 54(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v54i1.3427 

Ganguly, T. (2024). The wonder of darśan: Going beyond the local and the national. Studies in Religion/Sciences Reli-gieuses, 53(1), 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/00084298231156129 

Greenleaf, R. K., Spears, L. C., Covey, S. R., & Senge, P. M. (2002). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist Press. 

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2014). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. Hachette Books. 

Kanungo, R. N., & Conger, J. A. (1992). Charisma: Exploring new dimensions of leadership behaviour. Psychology and Developing Societies, 4(1), 31-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/097133369200400103 

Kar, S., Tripathi, S., & Sahoo, D. K. (2023). Human value-oriented management: A meta-synthesis of contributions by Professor S. K. Chakraborty. Journal of Human Values, 29(1), 8-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/09716858221108769 

Kaur, S. (2020). Effect of religiosity and moral identity internalization on prosocial behaviour. Journal of Human Values, 26(2), 161-175. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685820901402 

Locklin, R., & Lauwers, J. (2009). Rewriting the sacred geography of Advaita: Swami Chinmayānanda and the Śaṅka-ra-Digvijaya. Journal of Hindu Studies, 2(2), 185-208. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhs/hip017 

Mahadevan, T. M. P. (2006). The philosophy of Advaita. 

Muniapan, B., & Satpathy, B. (2013). The ‘dharma’ and ‘karma’ of CSR from the Bhagavad-Gītā. Journal of Human Values, 19(2), 173-188. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685813492265 

Newman, A., Round, H., Bhattacharya, S., & Roy, A. (2017). Ethical climates in organizations: A review and research agenda. Business Ethics Quarterly, 27(4), 475-512. https://doi.org/10.1017/beq.2017.23 

Nordlund, A. M., & Garvill, J. (2002). Value structures behind pro-environmental behavior. Environment and Behavior, 34(6), 740-756. https://doi.org/10.1177/001391602237244 

Pandit, S. A. (2021). Advaita: Oneness as a lived reality—Examining aspects of profound and a radical psychology. Psychology and Developing Societies, 33(2), 221-240. https://doi.org/10.1177/09713336211038814 

Radhakrishnan, S. (2010). Bhāratīya darśan I (1st ed.). 

Rajpal & Sons. Rastogi, A., & Pati, S. P. (2015). Towards a conceptualization of Karma Yoga. Journal of Human Values, 21(1), 51-63. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971685815579985 

Ray, R., & Deshpande, S. (2019). The teaching of darśan and its purpose. Contributions to Indian Sociology, 53(3), 422-430. https://doi.org/10.1177/0069966719861888 

Rose, S., & Palattiyil, G. (2020). Surviving or thriving? Enhancing the emotional resilience of social workers in their organisational settings. Journal of Social Work, 20(1), 23-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017318793614 

Sharma, S. (1999). Corporate Gita: Lessons for management, administration and leadership. Journal of Human Values, 5(2), 133-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/097168589900500203 

Sinha, H. P. (2018). Bhāratīya darśan kī rūprekha (13th ed.). Motilal Banarsidass. 

Sinha, J. B. P. (2002). A cultural frame for understanding organisational behaviour. Psychology and Developing Societies, 14(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/097133360201400108 

Suar, D., Tewari, H. R., & Chaturbedi, K. R. (2006). Subordinates’ perception of leadership styles and their work behaviour. Psychology and Developing Societies, 18(1), 69-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/097133360501800106 

Van Bijlert, V. A. (2003). The ethics of modernity in Indian politics: Past and present. Journal of Human Values, 9(1), 55-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/097168580300900105 

Vivekananda. (2004). Rāja Yoga: Conquering the internal nature; also Patañjali’s Yoga aphorisms with commentaries. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan.

How to cite this paper

From Illusion to Insight: Śaṅkara’s Sattā-Traya for Organisational Behaviour

How to cite this paper: Nailesh Limbasiya. (2025). From Illusion to Insight: Śaṅkara’s Sattā-Traya for Organisational Behaviour. Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Studies1(2), 99-109.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jpbs.2025.12.006