The Sattva approach to development is to integrate inner personal growth and spirituality with development in three ways:

Instrumental - Spirituality as an instrument for sustainable development through building capacities within individuals and amongst communities to address problems from a spiritual perspective and to use spiritual values and practices to promote sustainability, care for the environment, peace, cooperation, etc.

Consequential - Spiritual growth as a goal for development, e.g. ethnic harmony where there was tension, a sense of stewardship where there was exploitation, inspiration where there was despair.

Indicative - Spiritual growth, awareness and achievement as an indicator of human development, complementary to purely physical indicators like income, health, habitat, etc.

Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development promotes and supports development in which spirituality is an integral aspect as instrument, goal and indicator.