subordinate is talented

Ven. Master Chinkung: If leaders can act this way, every subordinate is talented! 

Studying Buddhist teachings requires understanding and caring for the greater good, considering the overall situation. What is the greater good? The sentient beings in the Dharma realm constitute the greater good (overall situation), and the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharmakaya Great Beings always are considering the Dharma realm constitute. For beginners like us, social security is part of the greater good, national prosperity is part of the greater good, world peace is part of the greater good. When initiating thoughts and actions, we must consider the greater good. Those who understand the greater good can abandon selfish interests. Our personal feelings, individual preferences, when conflicting with the greater good, must be sacrificed for the greater good. This is what Buddhism teaches us. Especially leaders must distinguish clearly between justice and personal feelings; one must not favor personal feelings and harm justice. These are fundamental principles and premises that we cannot neglect; we must give them thorough consideration.

In daily life, ancient sages also taught us principles of dealing with people and the world. There is the saying, 'In an urgent scenario, remain calm.' Why? If you don’t want to cause chaos due to busy, you must handle busy work with a calm and leisurely mind, which is a manifestation of high wisdom, referred to as skillful means in Buddhism. When facing emergencies, especially leaders, they must stay calm. If a leader panics during a crisis, chaos will ensue among those below. Therefore, in times of crisis, leaders must remain calm and stable, holding their ground. During peaceful times, preventive measures and checks must be done; during challenging times, patience and wisdom are essential.

In human interactions and dealing with the myriad phenomena of the world, doubt or suspicion is a great illness. In the realm of troubling thoughts, suspicion is one of the five types of delusions: greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt/suspicion. Usually, when introducing these mental afflictions, doubt/suspicion refers to skepticism about religious teachings, which is significant as it hinders our enlightenment and realization. However, even minor skepticism should not be overlooked. What are minor doubts? Suspicion and mistrust of others. How can people collaborate if they constantly suspect each other? The root cause of suspicion often lies in one's deep-seated prejudices, leading to interactions with others filled with doubt and a narrow mind. Bodhisattvas teach us to be tolerant of others' faults; with a broad mind/great heart, the affliction of doubt disappears. The narrower one's mind, the heavier the suspicion, and it becomes challenging to get along with others. Especially for leaders, if they have a suspicious mind, doubting the abilities of their subordinates, they will end up using servants instead of talents. Truly capable individuals surround themselves with talented people.

Reading ancient texts, such as the writings of Guan Zhong, who was an outstanding statesman in ancient times assisting Duke Huan of Qi, we learn about the principles of leadership. Guan Zhong united the various states and rectified the world, much like the modern concept of the hegemony of the United Nations. At that time, all the states respected Duke Huan of Qi, following his guidance in handling affairs. This was the achievement of Guan Zhong. When we read the works of Guan Zhong, we find that he employed top-tier talents, each surpassing him in various aspects. Regardless of administrative skills, financial acumen, or leadership, he was not the best in any area, yet he served as the prime minister. This aligns with what Dr. Sun Yat-sen mentioned in the past, stating that leaders need power, and below them should be talented individuals. Using and nurturing talents without jealousy is what Guan Zhong accomplished. Leaders need this capacity, so that capable individuals work for them willingly, dedicating themselves to the cause.

In Buddhism, many of these talents have karmic connections with us from past lives. Without such connections, who would work for you? The law of cause and effect, deeply expounded in Buddhism, goes beyond the superficial and looks into the past. Buddhism emphasizes the importance of creating positive karmic connections and avoiding negative ones. Buddhism teaches us, 'Resolve disputes with adversaries rather than create new ones.' Adversaries and enemies from past lives, due to negative karmic connections, need resolution in this lifetime. It is crucial to understand and resolve these conflicts with wisdom and skillful means, using genuine, sincere, and selfless help to assist others, even those with whom you have past grievances. By doing so, these adversarial connections gradually dissolve. Adversaries and debtors often gather around you; this is something we must understand. Adversaries and debtors will not gather in a place without connections. Therefore, in family relationships, especially between parents and children, it is essential to grasp this principle. Unresolved conflicts accumulated over countless lifetimes need resolution. By establishing positive connections, transforming emotional ties into spiritual connections, problems can be resolved, leading to happiness, prosperity in the family, and harmony in society. These are valuable lessons that we must remember and learn from."

淨空法師: 領導人能這樣做, 下面都是人才！ 

　　修學佛法要認識大體，要顧大體，什麼是大體？法界眾生是大體，這是諸佛如來、法身大士他們時時照顧到。對我們初學人來說，社會安全是大體，國家富強是大體，世界和平是大體，我們起心動念要照顧大體，識大體的人就能夠捨棄自私自利。我們的私情，個人的愛好，如果與大體相衝突的時候、有矛盾的時候，一定要成全大體，犧牲自己，這是佛教給我們的。公道跟私情尤其要辨別清楚，絕不能夠徇私情而傷害公道。這都是大的原則、大的前提，我們不能不照顧的，不能不多想一想。 

　　至於生活當中，古聖先賢也教我們一些處世待人的原則，所謂「處忙更當以閒」。為什麼？忙才不至於亂，以閒情逸致來處理繁忙的工作，這是高度智慧的表現，在佛法裡稱之為善巧方便。遇到急難的時候心尤其要平靜，急難的時候如果是急躁的心，一定出亂子，所以在急難的時候要用平靜的心來處理。特別是居於領導地位者，這是我們知道，領導地位的人比一般人聰明，他帶頭！帶頭的人要一亂，這下面的人全都亂了。所以當急難的時候帶頭的人非常沉靜，非常穩定，所謂是穩住陣腳。無事的時候要多做防範，要多做檢點；有事的時候要有耐心，要有定慧。 

　　人與人之間相處，人與天地萬物相處，疑是大病，見思煩惱裡面思惑五種，貪瞋痴慢，第五就是疑。通常我們介紹這些名相，這個疑都是指對於聖教的懷疑，這是大者，障礙我們開悟，障礙我們證果。可是小的疑惑也不能夠疏忽，小的疑惑是什麼？對人的猜疑。人與人之間互相猜疑，怎麼能夠相處？為什麼會懷疑？實在講懷疑多半是起於自己的成見，自己成見太深，所以總是跟別人相處疑神疑鬼，心量窄小。菩薩教我們容人之過，你心量大能容人，這個煩惱就沒有了，心量愈是小疑心愈重，疑心愈重跟人就不能相處。尤其是個領導的人，領導的人疑心重，他的手下決定沒有人才，他對於人才疑惑嫉妒，不用人才用奴才。用的人智慧能力都不如他，怎麼能夠建功立業？真正有能耐的人，下面都是人才。 

　　我們讀古書讀管仲，管仲這是古時候了不起的一位大政治家，幫助齊桓公，所謂「九合諸侯，一匡天下」，就像現在所謂聯合國的霸主。當時諸侯都尊敬齊桓公，都聽齊桓公的意思去辦事，那是管仲的成就。我們讀管子書，他所用的人都是一流的人才，個個能力都在他之上。好像無論做什麼事情，在行政上不如這一個人，理財上不如那個人，領眾上又不如別人，他樣樣都不如，他做宰相。這正是從前孫中山先生所講的，領導人要的是什麼？要權，他有權，下面的這些幹部的人要有才。用人才，發揮人才，絕不嫉妒人才，管仲做到了。領導人要有這樣的容量，所以人才替他辦事，人才替他賣命。 

       在佛法裡面講，這許多人才過去生中都跟他有緣分，沒有緣誰替你辦事？佛法講的因果講得深，世法只看表面不講過去，佛法講得很深，過去世跟這些人緣深，結的善緣。所以結緣就比什麼都重要，結善緣，絕不結惡緣。佛教給我們，「冤家宜解不宜結」，冤家對頭，過去世結的不善緣，這一生遇到了要把這個結化解，一定要懂得化解，以智慧，以善巧方便。實在說就是以真心、誠意、愛心，無私無條件的去幫助別人，幫助這些冤家債主，這個結慢慢的化開。冤親債主往往會跑到你家來，這個我們要知道，不是冤親債主不會聚會在一家裡頭。所以對於家人父子相處，更要明白這個道理，要把無始劫以來的冤結化解。結法緣，把情緣化解，化成法緣，問題就解決了，就能夠得到幸福美滿，家庭興旺，社會和諧。這些是非常寶貴的教訓，我們要記住，要學習。好，今天時間到了。　

太上感應篇　　（第五十七集）　　1999/7/16　　澳洲淨宗學會　　檔名：19-012-0057