A Buddhist approach

In previous articles, we have shown how several Islamic entrepreneurs practiced their faith in the course of doing their entrepreneurial activities. Once more, in the course of doing a research project under the Asia-Pacific Economic, we chanced upon another spiritual entrepreneur, this time, a Filipino whose life is influenced greatly by Buddhist tenets.

As part of his early morning ritual, this person often sends text or SMS messages to his friends with the following reminders which demonstrates how Buddhism inspires his personal relationships:

…BUDDHA has a reason why he makes certain people part of our lives. I may not know His reason for making me know you…but I am definitely thankful…There may be those on earth who dress better, eat better, live better. But those who enjoy the peace of Buddha sleep better and wake up happier! May Buddha bless you.

On the entrepreneurial front, the same faith manifests itself. The rationale behind his people skill goes:

…Whatever I sow, I shall reap. That’s why I try to be constantly fair with my employees and my customers as prescribed in the teachings of Buddhism. If I’m fair to them, they will be fair to me.

Even when he was still a salesman, his generosity has been marked by his thoughtful ways such as bringing small tokens for his customers’ staff or taking time off on special holidays to visit their families. These kind gestures have often resulted in new customer leads and better rapport with his clientele.

This benevolence is carried over to his enterprise where the package of employee benefits exceed legal standards. For example, not only are hospitalization benefits extended to his staff’s immediate families, the latter are always invited to the office year-end party where each family usually brings home a special gift as a matter of tradition.

This practice has led to an extremely low employee turnover rate and absolutely no petty crimes and misdemeanors in his organization. Instead, camaraderie and teamwork characterize worker interpersonal and official relationships.

The Asian financial crises in 1997 and a fire in 1999 that caused the destruction of his office and a warehouse filled with inventory tested his faith. Again, he sought solace in the teachings of Buddhism.

…The teachings of Buddhism helped me pacify the emotions that I was feeling at that time. A core teaching of Buddhism is that all things have a beginning and an end. This is the natural course of existence. So, at certain points in our life, some things will begin and some things will end. As sure as my warehouse had a beginning, it also had an end. This end signaled the beginning of a better warehouse and better business.

After the fire was put out in less than 24 hours, his business was operational. The collection of receivables and the payment of suppliers were on schedule. With the support of his people, operations were back to normal within three months.

This spiritually enlightened entrepreneur sums up his experience:

…If you do not play fair, there will be a lot of ups and downs in your business. Deals that sometimes seem to be within your grasp will elude you. If you have bad karma, your path will seem to be filled with a lot of obstacles. But if you are fair and you only have good intentions in your mind, in your words, and in your actions, you can easily attain your goals.

It may seem hard to believe that entrepreneurs can be so driven by kindness and benevolence. Harder yet to imagine that spirituality can lead to better business performance. However, the fact remains that our research expeditions have proven this to be possible. Spiritual entrepreneurs are so real!

(Alejandrino Ferreria is the dean of the Asian Center for Entrepreneurship of the Asian Institute of Management. For further comments and inquiries, you may contact him at: [email protected]. Published "Entrepreneur’s Helpline" columns can be viewed on the AIM website at http//: www.aim.edu.ph).