【Description】
In the practice of compassion, you are taught to apply compassion in your speech, actions and interactions with others. When it comes to managing your employees, is disciplining an employee in conflict with being compassionate?
In this video, Grandmaster JinBodhi gives examples to clear the confusion and deepen your understanding on this matter.
【You will learn】
- How to differentiate what is compassionate and what is not
- A more comprehensive understanding of compassion
【Featured aphorisms】
- Compassion lies within the heart; it has nothing to do with what appears strict on the surface.
【Content】
(Hello, Master. We are learning compassion. But as managers, sometimes we have to be strict with our employees. Does this contradict being compassionate?)
Your objective or purpose is the key point. What is your purpose? Take myself for instance: I work almost more than 12 hours daily, but I don’t get paid. Many people come to me to tell me their problems. I can’t complain about anything. How did I get through those 20 years? My aspiration.
As a manager, you need your employees or colleagues to work certain hours. At times, you need to be strict to get work done. Is this behavior compassionate? (Yes.) Employees won’t listen to us if we are not serious. Thus, we need to be strict when they don’t listen. “Why haven’t you finished it yet?” “You get so much salary, yet you can’t do a simple thing well.” We might say things like that. Those who hear will get upset. Are these kind of words compassionate? Some people won’t listen to you even if you keep talking about morality and chanting. “I will resign if you keep chanting.”
Thus, there are many inferior products produced by companies without strict management. The managers thought it was compassion. Actually, it was the bosses’ ignorance. When he earns his first million, he neglects his business. His employees don’t work seriously because of poor management. The probability of this factory producing quality products is one in a thousand. Many are defective goods. Hence, the manager needs to be strict.
Here is another example. When I was 14 years old, I met a little boy. There are many hills on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. One parapet, this high, was next to me. I was familiar with this road. From the parapet, it was almost 15 meters to the uneven ground below. A boy, about 5 years old, was walking on this narrow parapet. It was really dangerous for a little boy.
If I had yelled at him, he may have become nervous and fallen, which could have resulted in a disability. So I said, “Do you like candies?” “Yes.” “Come here.” “Where are the candies?” “In my pocket.” “I will give you some as long as you come here.” He was clever. He asked me why. I said, “You are so handsome, and I am your brother’s friend. So I will share my candies with you.”
After he came over, he wanted to run as I had tricked him. I hit his bottom until he cried, then brought him home. I told his father where he had been standing. His father scolded and hit him harshly. Is his father compassionate or not? (Yes, he is.) What about me? (Same.) If I hadn’t tricked him, he could have fallen and become disabled. Hitting and scolding seem to be heartless behaviors. But it is the right thing to do if you have a right view and your purpose is being compassionate.
Indeed, we need to find better ways that people can accept easily. But sometimes it is impossible to do so in a big group. What is compassion? Compassion comes from the heart. With malevolence in the heart, you will be hostile even if you act compassionate.