Leadership Qualities in the Chakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta: An Analysis

Abstract

The Chakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta outlines an exemplary model of ethical leadership
founded on Buddhist principles. This article explores the sutta’s teachings on leadership,
emphasizing moral integrity, compassion, and the symbolic significance of the Wheel
of Righteousness, and evaluates their applicability to modern political and corporate
leadership. The ideal leader leads with mindfulness, justice, and virtue, prioritizing the
welfare of all to establish peace, prosperity, and societal harmony. Its ethical framework
highlights the necessity of leading by example, fostering justice, and prioritizing
sustainable and long-term outcomes. Ethical governance serves as a paradigm for
equitable decision-making that promotes social justice and sustainability. The text
also warns against the repercussions of unethical leadership, such as social disarray
and decline, and posits the eventual rise of a virtuous leader to restore balance. This
article explores how contemporary leaders can adopt principles such as compassion,
accountability, and justice to achieve sustainable development and societal well-being
as emphasized in the sutta. And also scans the leadership principles described in
the Chakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta, compares them to modern leadership theories, and
explores their relevance to contemporary contexts.