LEADING BY EXAMPLE – A BUDDHIST
APPROACH IN LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS.
In 600 B.C., Prince Siddhartha left his prestige, glorified and loyal life in a quest to search for the answer to ease human suffering. At the end of his six-year-quest and after 49 days of meditation under the Bodhi tree, he reached enlightenment at the age of 35. Buddhism has been flourishing for 2600 years. His teachings are based on the foundation of wisdom and compassion through his life experience. Leading by example is just one invaluable lesson the Buddha taught us. “Leading by example” is based upon our mindful thought, speech, and actions in our daily life. His teachings have reached and transformed innumerous people from all walks of life. The peaceful development of humanity is in large part due to the enlightened teachings of Buddha. Today, Buddhism can be a possible solution for the human crises. The following seven steps can serve as a solution to many of today’s problems.
1. Establishing a Moral and Ethical Mindset. First we need to have an idea, a vision in accordance with the spirit of Buddha's right view. What contributes to an established moral and ethical mindset are thought, speech and action that cultivate benefit for yourself and people around you - not only in the present time, but also in the future. Venerable Thich Minh Dat, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk in Stockton shares his mantra: “If a doctor makes a mistake, he or she can only kill a single person, but if an educator like us makes a mistake, we can kill a whole generation.” (Thích, 2011). We ought to acknowledge that we are all educators because sooner or later we are shown to be, husband or wife, brother or sister, grandfather or grandmother, etc. We’ll have our own children and families. Therefore, we need to educate our children and others the best we can. Likewise, according to U.S. researchers, all good leaders need a moral mindset. But, mindset alone is not enough; we ought to have a skillset. Beside the valuable skills and knowledge, we also need to have a toolset. For example, a good teacher is the one who takes his or her students wherever they are and moves them forward in a positive direction. The mindset and skillset are vital, but a toolset, such as school supplies in this case, is also important. Therefore, any educator or leader must have the proper mindset, skillset, and toolset to carry out his or her daily tasks effectively and efficiently.
2. Understanding and Articulating the Principle of Cause and Effect (Law of Karma): It can be said that everything we have today is a result of our past actions, and that our present actions, words and thoughts determine our future. Understanding this principle helps us to design our own future and destiny. We are in control of our own emotions and well-being. In other words, we are our own creator; our life is depending upon us. What we are today is the result of our actions in the past, and we can foresee my future as they emerge from our actions today. As Buddha says: Orange seeds can only give oranges and not apples. Therefore, the good or bad deeds (Karma) that we cultivate today will dictate our future.
3. Think Globally and Act Locally – making a difference around us first: Mahatma Gandhi once said: "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." All these changes are rooted in one's individual first, then the change spreads to the family and finally to the community and society as a whole. For instance: Trash is almost everywhere. If we are aware that trash can be an eye-sore or pollution, we’ll pick it up and make the environment around us more pleasant. So making changes is just like picking or cleaning up that trash. Taking a closer look, in our country most of the food travels thousands of miles before it reaches our dinner tables. Going to our farmers or flea markets can make a difference. Likewise, if you are a Buddhist, you must have a solid foundation of Compassion-Wisdom-Courage, or as a non-Buddhist we must utilize our knowledge, attitude, and skills.
4. Mutual Respect and Mutual Benefit. Our tasks and contributions should have the foundation of compassion, wisdom, valor and perseverance to benefit all. We need to acknowledge that the successes of others are also our own successes. The suffering or failure of others is also our suffering and our failure. As a leader, we must see that everything in this world is interconnected and intertwined. Things must co-exist to benefit all communities and societies. This exists because that exists, that exits because this exists or "when this exists, that exists; when this disappears, that disappears" in the Extraordinary Emptiness Sutra. Our world is more interdependent now than ever before. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have affected the world market and people’s lives all over the world. The halt in car production in Japan has reduced the labor workforce in the USA. Furthermore, the market in China or the earthquake in Turkey or the Arab Spring in Africa and the Middle East are affecting our financial, political, and economical well-being. Understanding that everything is interdependent with one another helps us develop empathy, caring and mutual solidarity. Going further, if all of us at all levels in our society put our own organizational and/or community interests and benefits before our personal interests, then our community and the country will flourish further.
5. Being Present to Each Tther - (Presencing as in the Theory U). Vietnamese have a saying "A lonely swallow does not make the Spring." We need to be there for each other and water the positive seeds of each other to make our world a better place to live. As Glasl, Lemson and Scharmer said in the U theory: a) Individuals and teams move through a whole system integrated planning process involving observation, knowing and visualized decision-making; b) Innovation is integral; c) Policy making (as the elaboration of conscious design principles for the organization) is connected and integrated with the vision of what is to be brought about; d) Relevant to both individual development and practice and organization development and practice, and indeed explicitly connecting these; e) A social technology that contributes to either or both of conflict resolution and social engineering. Or, as Michael Fullan (2008) in the Change Secret Six put it: 1) Love your employees; 2) Connect Peers with Purpose; 3) Capacity Building Prevails; 4) Learning Is the Work; 5) Transparency Rules; 6) Systems Learn. In other words, we must be there to show our support and our commitment to change. Changes will not come about without our personal commitment. Therefore, we must take a vow to fulfill our responsibility and obligation both personally and professionally.
6. The Power of Unity or the Collaboration with other Organizations for Sustainable Change.
Collaborations with other individuals and organizations that have the moral foresight and the moral core values to change the livelihood of others. Any great revolution needs unity. The changes in Buddhism also need that kind of mutual solidarity. The power of collaboration and networking is needed to create a better change for today and tomorrow.
7. Be a (Buddhist) Practitioner, Not Only a Learner.
In his life, the Buddha’s most valuable and practical teachings are his own lived-experience examples. His leadership style is leading by example in his daily practices and actions. The Buddha’s leading by example serves as a guide in our lives. His sutras are only a means and not a solution. Broadly, the sutras are what he wanted to teach us, but the ultimate teaching is something we already know. So please be a worthy practitioner. Thich Dao Quang, a young Buddhist monk at Tam Bảo Temple in Louisiana, has often reminded us that each of us has three lives: personal or private life, public life, and spiritual life. We need to balance them all. In other words, when we take care of our spiritual life, we will have all three lives. So, let us practice transforming our defiled mind into a pure one, transform our negative and destructive energy into positive and constructive energy.
In conclusion, the development of technology and economics outpaces our spiritual development. Each of us, a Buddha-to-be, whether ordained or layperson, male or female, young or old, whether involved in the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association or not, must learn and practice the art of transforming oneself. Fix that clumsiness or those bad habits and improve your well-being step-by-step. Furthermore, we need to be optimistic, enthusiastic, and responsible in fulfilling our current roles and functions. A great leader, as Covey pointed out, also practices four types of intelligences: mental intelligence, physical intelligence, emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence. Finally, I use the words of his venerable Thich Minh Dat who gave me his advice about becoming a transformative leader: He said: 1. Be honest with yourself – benefit all, not just yourself, 2. Be honest with other people, 3. Be honest and sincere with all the work that we propose.
References:
1. Covey, C. (2004). The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness. New York: Free Press
2. Fullan, M. (2008). The Six Secrets of Change: What the best leaders do to help their organizations survive and thrive. (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). p. 21.
3. Senge, P., et. al. (2005). Presence: Exploring Profound Change in People Organizations, and Society. New York: Currency Doubleday.
4. Senge, P. et al. (2010), The Necessary Revolution: Working together to create a sustainable world, New York: Broadway Books.
5. Thích, Đạt M. (2011). Góp Nhặt Lá Rơi. Stockton, CA. Quang Nghiêm Temple.
6. Thích, Hạnh N. (2007). The Art of Power. New York: HarperOne.
In 600 B.C., Prince Siddhartha left his prestige, glorified and loyal life in a quest to search for the answer to ease human suffering. At the end of his six-year-quest and after 49 days of meditation under the Bodhi tree, he reached enlightenment at the age of 35. Buddhism has been flourishing for 2600 years. His teachings are based on the foundation of wisdom and compassion through his life experience. Leading by example is just one invaluable lesson the Buddha taught us. “Leading by example” is based upon our mindful thought, speech, and actions in our daily life. His teachings have reached and transformed innumerous people from all walks of life. The peaceful development of humanity is in large part due to the enlightened teachings of Buddha. Today, Buddhism can be a possible solution for the human crises. The following seven steps can serve as a solution to many of today’s problems.
1. Establishing a Moral and Ethical Mindset. First we need to have an idea, a vision in accordance with the spirit of Buddha's right view. What contributes to an established moral and ethical mindset are thought, speech and action that cultivate benefit for yourself and people around you - not only in the present time, but also in the future. Venerable Thich Minh Dat, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk in Stockton shares his mantra: “If a doctor makes a mistake, he or she can only kill a single person, but if an educator like us makes a mistake, we can kill a whole generation.” (Thích, 2011). We ought to acknowledge that we are all educators because sooner or later we are shown to be, husband or wife, brother or sister, grandfather or grandmother, etc. We’ll have our own children and families. Therefore, we need to educate our children and others the best we can. Likewise, according to U.S. researchers, all good leaders need a moral mindset. But, mindset alone is not enough; we ought to have a skillset. Beside the valuable skills and knowledge, we also need to have a toolset. For example, a good teacher is the one who takes his or her students wherever they are and moves them forward in a positive direction. The mindset and skillset are vital, but a toolset, such as school supplies in this case, is also important. Therefore, any educator or leader must have the proper mindset, skillset, and toolset to carry out his or her daily tasks effectively and efficiently.
2. Understanding and Articulating the Principle of Cause and Effect (Law of Karma): It can be said that everything we have today is a result of our past actions, and that our present actions, words and thoughts determine our future. Understanding this principle helps us to design our own future and destiny. We are in control of our own emotions and well-being. In other words, we are our own creator; our life is depending upon us. What we are today is the result of our actions in the past, and we can foresee my future as they emerge from our actions today. As Buddha says: Orange seeds can only give oranges and not apples. Therefore, the good or bad deeds (Karma) that we cultivate today will dictate our future.
3. Think Globally and Act Locally – making a difference around us first: Mahatma Gandhi once said: "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." All these changes are rooted in one's individual first, then the change spreads to the family and finally to the community and society as a whole. For instance: Trash is almost everywhere. If we are aware that trash can be an eye-sore or pollution, we’ll pick it up and make the environment around us more pleasant. So making changes is just like picking or cleaning up that trash. Taking a closer look, in our country most of the food travels thousands of miles before it reaches our dinner tables. Going to our farmers or flea markets can make a difference. Likewise, if you are a Buddhist, you must have a solid foundation of Compassion-Wisdom-Courage, or as a non-Buddhist we must utilize our knowledge, attitude, and skills.
4. Mutual Respect and Mutual Benefit. Our tasks and contributions should have the foundation of compassion, wisdom, valor and perseverance to benefit all. We need to acknowledge that the successes of others are also our own successes. The suffering or failure of others is also our suffering and our failure. As a leader, we must see that everything in this world is interconnected and intertwined. Things must co-exist to benefit all communities and societies. This exists because that exists, that exits because this exists or "when this exists, that exists; when this disappears, that disappears" in the Extraordinary Emptiness Sutra. Our world is more interdependent now than ever before. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have affected the world market and people’s lives all over the world. The halt in car production in Japan has reduced the labor workforce in the USA. Furthermore, the market in China or the earthquake in Turkey or the Arab Spring in Africa and the Middle East are affecting our financial, political, and economical well-being. Understanding that everything is interdependent with one another helps us develop empathy, caring and mutual solidarity. Going further, if all of us at all levels in our society put our own organizational and/or community interests and benefits before our personal interests, then our community and the country will flourish further.
5. Being Present to Each Tther - (Presencing as in the Theory U). Vietnamese have a saying "A lonely swallow does not make the Spring." We need to be there for each other and water the positive seeds of each other to make our world a better place to live. As Glasl, Lemson and Scharmer said in the U theory: a) Individuals and teams move through a whole system integrated planning process involving observation, knowing and visualized decision-making; b) Innovation is integral; c) Policy making (as the elaboration of conscious design principles for the organization) is connected and integrated with the vision of what is to be brought about; d) Relevant to both individual development and practice and organization development and practice, and indeed explicitly connecting these; e) A social technology that contributes to either or both of conflict resolution and social engineering. Or, as Michael Fullan (2008) in the Change Secret Six put it: 1) Love your employees; 2) Connect Peers with Purpose; 3) Capacity Building Prevails; 4) Learning Is the Work; 5) Transparency Rules; 6) Systems Learn. In other words, we must be there to show our support and our commitment to change. Changes will not come about without our personal commitment. Therefore, we must take a vow to fulfill our responsibility and obligation both personally and professionally.
6. The Power of Unity or the Collaboration with other Organizations for Sustainable Change.
Collaborations with other individuals and organizations that have the moral foresight and the moral core values to change the livelihood of others. Any great revolution needs unity. The changes in Buddhism also need that kind of mutual solidarity. The power of collaboration and networking is needed to create a better change for today and tomorrow.
7. Be a (Buddhist) Practitioner, Not Only a Learner.
In his life, the Buddha’s most valuable and practical teachings are his own lived-experience examples. His leadership style is leading by example in his daily practices and actions. The Buddha’s leading by example serves as a guide in our lives. His sutras are only a means and not a solution. Broadly, the sutras are what he wanted to teach us, but the ultimate teaching is something we already know. So please be a worthy practitioner. Thich Dao Quang, a young Buddhist monk at Tam Bảo Temple in Louisiana, has often reminded us that each of us has three lives: personal or private life, public life, and spiritual life. We need to balance them all. In other words, when we take care of our spiritual life, we will have all three lives. So, let us practice transforming our defiled mind into a pure one, transform our negative and destructive energy into positive and constructive energy.
In conclusion, the development of technology and economics outpaces our spiritual development. Each of us, a Buddha-to-be, whether ordained or layperson, male or female, young or old, whether involved in the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association or not, must learn and practice the art of transforming oneself. Fix that clumsiness or those bad habits and improve your well-being step-by-step. Furthermore, we need to be optimistic, enthusiastic, and responsible in fulfilling our current roles and functions. A great leader, as Covey pointed out, also practices four types of intelligences: mental intelligence, physical intelligence, emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence. Finally, I use the words of his venerable Thich Minh Dat who gave me his advice about becoming a transformative leader: He said: 1. Be honest with yourself – benefit all, not just yourself, 2. Be honest with other people, 3. Be honest and sincere with all the work that we propose.
References:
1. Covey, C. (2004). The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness. New York: Free Press
2. Fullan, M. (2008). The Six Secrets of Change: What the best leaders do to help their organizations survive and thrive. (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). p. 21.
3. Senge, P., et. al. (2005). Presence: Exploring Profound Change in People Organizations, and Society. New York: Currency Doubleday.
4. Senge, P. et al. (2010), The Necessary Revolution: Working together to create a sustainable world, New York: Broadway Books.
5. Thích, Đạt M. (2011). Góp Nhặt Lá Rơi. Stockton, CA. Quang Nghiêm Temple.
6. Thích, Hạnh N. (2007). The Art of Power. New York: HarperOne.
