Journal # 5: Parable of the Sadhu

June 20, 2012

            We discussed the Parable of the Sadhu by Bowen McCoy for today’s class.  The story revolves around groups of men, with different nationalities, who dream to reach the top of the Himalayas.  As they were on their mountain climbing expedition, they found a Sadhu dying of cold.  Each group contributed something to help the Sadhu, however, at the end of the day, they simply just left him near a rock under the sun and pointed the easy trail toward the hut.  None of them actually brought the Sadhu back to the village for proper medical assistance.  As long as they knew that he was still alive, they just left him there to fully recover on his own. 

            Throughout our discussion as a group, we believe that the best alternative course of action that McCoy and the rest of the people in the expedition should have done was to bring the Sadhu all the way down to the village to seek for proper medical assistance and continue with their expedition the following day.  By doing this, all of them will be able to survive and at the same time, the people undergoing the expedition will not have to suffer because of their conscience leaving the Sadhu behind.  In my view, upon making relevant decision, we must think about the lives of other people, as well.  In this parable, each group of travelers just did what they can do for the sake of being able to say that they were able to help out the Sadhu.  They did not want to sacrifice their expedition for the sake of the Sadhu and this made me realize that in real life, same thing also happens. 

Relating this story to the corporate world, the main lesson here is that every person needs support from a team.  If a person cannot find such support, it will be difficult for him or her to know how to act.  In other words, the management of a company should realize that they must be sensitive towards the needs of each employee, in order to shape, direct, and focus them for the benefit of the group.  We should all act as a teamplayer and think of ways on how to help one another in order to achieve success.  As early as now, I make sure that I am able to help other people as much as I can because I am sure that it will benefit me in the future, at some point.  We all need as much support as we can get, therefore, we must start by supporting other people, as well.