Creating Peace for Japanese and Vietnamese Multicultural Workplace by Applying Loving-Kindness Practice under Buddhist Peaceful Means

This thesis aims to study (1) the causes of leading to cultural conflict in the workplace between Japanese and Vietnamese in Vietnam, (2) concepts and theories of loving-kindness practice under Buddhist perspective, and (3) loving-kindness practice process under Buddhist peaceful means in the Japanese - Vietnamese cross-cultural environment at workplace in Vietnam. The instrument for collecting data is qualitative interviews: Buddhist scholars and business experts joint ventures in Vietnam.

The research results show that practicing loving-kindness is effective in promoting empathy and understanding in cross-cultural work environments, helping to reduce conflict and increase productivity. Working cultural conflicts often occur because of different values, communication styles, and management approaches between Japanese and Vietnamese employees. Loving-kindness practice helps foster empathy and compassion, offering a powerful way to resolve workplace conflicts.

This research gives some recommendations to help organizations manage multicultural teams better and bring Buddhist principles into the workplace. Organizations should provide training to help employees understand cultural differences, focusing on communication, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence. Also, companies should hold workshops on loving-kindness practice, including the three Buddhist schools (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Vajrayāna) in a secular way. The study points out that practise loving-kindness requires a change in thinking from short-term profits to long-term sustainability and commitment to maintain practice. However, some leaders might think that loving-kindness shows weakness or reduces competitiveness. This makes it hard for companies to balance profits with humanity. However, if used well, these practices can improve employee satisfaction and support long-term growth.