I spent some twenty years in the corporate world, for much of it I was not particularly interested in spirituality. It was a world where profits reigned supreme, often with little respect for the rest of society.

It took a while for change to happen in Australia, but led by Ralph Nader in the USA, consumers have become more aware of their rights with respect to corporations. New government bodies looking at pollution, corporate fraud and other matters have appeared and some of our leading businessmen are spending time behind bars. Greater education of the general population is leading to more informed choices by consumers.

There have been many cases of businesses ignoring those who have an interest in what they do at their own peril. At university my business degree has placed much emphasis on stakeholder theory and issues management.

These concepts refer to understanding the needs of the wider community including governments and pressure groups and the likely effect on business operations under differing conditions. Even the big Australian, BHP, has set up an issues management department after it was caught polluting the Fly river in Papua New Guinea.

Values which show a genuine concern for society as a whole, rather than individual gain tend to be spiritual in nature. When we understand that we are all part of the same spirit, including the earth and the air we breathe we start to take on a different attitude to life.

There is a universal law of cause and effect in operation which means that whatever we put out we get back. It is wise for us to be considerate in our business dealings or sooner or later we will suffer the consequences.

Take the case of a murderer. The consequences of murdering someone is that one spends the rest of their life in gaol. If I murder another and end up in prison I shouldn