7. MANAGING THE RESOURCES

 7. MANAGING THE RESOURCES

(To efficiently manage the different resources around ethically and morally)

1. Material and Immaterial Resources

Cautions in the Richness:

Undeniably, the richness provides comfort and pleasure to everyone who possesses it. However, we need to be more cautious as it may make us blind to the needs of others and make us self-centered. The richness could also forbid giving to those who deserve to receive and plunder even from the weak ones just to accumulate and become richer. It could make a person defend even when some wrong is done and exploit the righteous through unjust ways, to escape from the negative consequences.

Value of the people: 

Everything that exists, made new or modified has a big role for human beings. No one will take anything with them when they face destiny. All the labor through which man saves something will be passed on to another generation. So, the people are the valuable resources of all beings and if there is no selfishness, we could have a joyful and peaceful life with one another and make the world a better place for the next generation.

Qualities to Inherit:

We all need to realize our responsibility as stewards of the possessions we have in our hands because of our efforts or because of the accumulation by our forefathers. We should have the attitude of using things in a beneficial way rather than just possessing things to boast about it. We should also share all the things with the needy at times and give away the things that are no longer useful to us. Also, we need to be patient to utilize material and immaterial resources such as emotions in the right way, place, and time.

The purpose behind everything:

There is a worth for everything that is around us and that is within us. We need to identify and simulate the purpose behind everything. We need to ensure that the things are validated and utilized or processed according to their purpose. Nothing can be rejected so easily when the usefulness behind it is known.

Activity

Identifying Material and Immaterial Resources:

All the participants shall form a group of 5-8 members with some grouping activity. There will be an envelope with few chits of material and immaterial resources. And the two topics ‘Material Resource’ and ‘Immaterial Resource’ would be a little bigger. The groups must identify and categorize the chits under the topics and there can be a discussion on it.

S.No	Material Resources	Immaterial Resources
1	Land	Love
2	Gold	Gentleness
3	Water	Perseverance
4	Wealth	Creativity
5	Cloth	Care
7	Money	Joy
8	Properties	Peace
9	Furniture	Faithfulness
10	Equipment	Morals
11	Precious stone	Values
12	Home	Self-Control

2. Accountability

Not coveting what is others:

Everyone has their own desires and wishes to gain something or attain some power, for different reasons. But we should never develop an attitude to gain something through anyway, even if it affects someone or something. We should be always doing things with the right values and virtues by being accountable for everything. We should never covet what is others and always be righteous in dealing with what is not ours. We should be selfless in handling things that are not owned by anyone.

Handing over to one who owns:

Suppose something is not properly taken care of or known by someone because of ignorance and carelessness, though he is the owner of it, and if we come across it, we should help the person to know it. It is important to execute our accountability, not only with the things we are entrusted with and that are our own but also by helping those who are in real need.

Things that are bestowed:

Sometimes it would be easier to be responsible and accountable for the things that we accept and do with our interest. But we don’t just do the things that we want to do, but also the things that others want us to do because we are part of a larger group for various purposes. We need to take responsibility towards things that are entrusted to us and that we had agreed though not interested to be accountable.

Being responsible towards the weak:

It is easier to be associated with and show concern to those who can relate with us freely and easily because of the similarities and common interests. Most of the time, the people for whom we are responsible are more likely to be sustained on their own. It is the weaker sections of society that need the hands of someone to come up in their lives. We shall try to be responsible to the weaker people who are around us, and who really want our support.

Executing the Stewardship:

We can easily talk about loving others and supporting others, as well as not owning something for selfish gain. We need to weigh our thoughts and actions by having checkpoints at all the points of our lives, to execute our stewardship in the right way. We need to analyze then and there, whether we are approachable towards everyone around us, whether it is the wealthiest or the poorest person, whether it is the wisest or the foolish person, whether it is the joyful or a mourning person. Also, we need to analyze whether we react and respond to everyone alike whether we have the heart to help someone who needs a favor that is possible by us, and whether we are ready to give up anything to save someone.

Activity: Case Studies

Case 1- Using things for what it is:

Leo was a student in a familiar institution. He used to help in the activities that were conducted by the institution. Once there was a cultural program that was organized by the institution and he had to collect money from the people in the community to conduct the program. Leo was able to reach many people and raise more money for the program. One of the friends of Leo had met with an accident and Leo had taken him to the hospital. Leo had some of his personal money and money that was collected from people for the program. Leo was thinking of spending the money he collected from people, wanting not to spend his money.

Stimulations for reflection:

a.       What are the characteristics of Leo?

b.      What was the situation that put Leo in a dilemma?

c.       What was Leo thinking? And would that be the best response?

 

Case 2- Handling the private and public properties alike

Mano is a well-disciplined person. He used to organize his clothes, materials, and books very neatly and no one could blame him for that. Mano couldn’t tolerate his friends and relatives who don’t handle their things very carefully and systematically. One day Mano even shouted and quarreled with a roommate for being irresponsible with his things after spilling water on a wooden table. On the same day, there was a program on their campus, and they gave refreshments and coffee. Mano spilled the coffee and scattered the snacks on the table by mistake, but just moved on to another table after seeing that no one observed him.

Stimulations for reflection:

a.       What are the characteristics of Mano?

b.      Why didn’t Mano react anything to the mistake?

c.       What could have been done by Mano?

 

Case 3- Avoiding the bad and pursuing the good

Hanny is a conservative girl from a village background. She used to be very secluded from her childhood days and she was not able to be so isolated after she grew up, as she had to combine with others to do something effective. Hanny slowly developed friendships and she was struggling to adapt to them. Some friends didn’t have any concern about the people who were poor and needy. They just made pranks and fun of them. Also, they were using some drugs and luxurious things. They expected Hanny to be like that. Hanny was in a complex situation of not getting into what was wrong and doing what was right.

Stimulations for reflection:

a.       What are the characteristics of Hanny?

b.      What are the things that Hanny’s friends expected from her?

c.       Why does Hanny feel complex? And what Hanny could do to be right?

 

Case 4- Balancing the culture and the conscience

Yagel is from a particular tribe and they boast a lot about their genealogy and their existence. They used to produce a lot of Agricultural products and they even supply the products to the other communities after fulfilling their community needs. They associate with other people only for giving and taking of some materials for their benefit. They consider even eating with another person would belittle them. Yagel is a neutral person but she has their cultural indifference and fear of being eliminated from their culture, but at the same time, she wants to eat together and be together with her friends, though her people tell her to avoid them.

Stimulations for relection:

a.       What are the characteristics of Yagel?

b.      What does Yagel’s tribe do and boast about?

c.       What can Yagel do and balance her culture and conscience?

3. Ethics and Morals

Be Considerate and Not relativistic: 

There are always differences that exist in the thoughts, feelings, and laws of different people. There is no universal standardization of values or principles, as the thoughts of human beings change continuously according to our backgrounds. Certain things are absolute, and they should not be changed or manipulated for any reason, and if there is manipulation then there will be a disaster to self or others directly or indirectly. Certain other things could be dealt with lenience as it doesn’t affect anyone in any way.

Realize the wrong and express acceptably:

Ethics and Morals guide individual conduct in society. It puts the quest of thought about right and wrong. It is a standard protocol without any discrimination or differences. It promotes responsibility and accountability. It positively integrate one another. Everyone should have higher standards that are firm and realize the wrong things, though it might be followed by a wide number of people. When a person wrongs just because of following a larger crowd, it is important to correct the person by expressing it acceptably.

Follow what is right:

It is not easy to follow the right thing at all times, especially when the system itself is not right and approachable. A good leader should always hold on to brotherly love by entertaining even strangers who are suspicious and crooked. A good leader has a genuine conversation and at the same time, the leader will not follow fairy tales, as he analyses and finds out what is right and relevant by relating many things. We should always strive hard to do good as far as possible. 

Pursue the good characteristics:

An Ethical and moral person or society will have all the resources well utilized without exploitation. All the rights will be enjoyed by all, and all the responsibilities will be carried out by all. There will be a good balance between different things; extremism or liberalism could be avoided. An Ethical and moral person or a society will be just and righteous, by being accountable to everything. A leader who is ethical and moral will walk the talk and inspire his crew also to walk the talk.

Prioritize based on values:

The Standards and Values are very important for everyone to follow what is good and acceptable. It promotes quality and motivates us to be effective, by making the right priorities. We should always find the truth and build on it, by being balanced in emotions and intellect. We should also change the situations and circumstances that might lead us to be unethical or immoral. We should be genuine, responsible, and accountable to the self, others, and the environment. We should also avoid rationalization with false beliefs or ideas, selfishness, temporary gratification of self without considering others, being without Purpose, Pride, Dishonesty, Compulsions, and Lack of Self Control, for prioritizing the right things based on values.

4. Public or Private

Power of togetherness:

When there is unity and togetherness, everyone will enjoy life without the feeling of guilt and hard feelings. There will be a balance in the economy and ecosystem, family and society. The rights will be equally distributed, and the responsibility will be carried out by all. The selfish interests will be subsided and controlled, and the social interests will be cultivated. The wars will be ended and the fragrance of love, joy, and peace will be spread throughout. 

Realizing the Stewardship:

No one in the world could take along with them what belongs to them and what they had strived hard to get in their hands, at the point of their destiny. We all need to realize that the short life we have on the earth will soon be passed away, whosoever we are and whatsoever we have in our hands. We should always keep the most important fact in mind that nothing is permanent, and we must leave all things. We are here to manage the things that we earn or that are entrusted to us by someone.

Keeping up what is common:

Many times, we take good care of the things that belong to us and for which we are personally responsible. We don’t care or give less care to the things that don’t belong to us and for which we are not personally responsible. We should always handle everything with care and attention whether it is personal or a common thing. We need to practice giving, even extra attention to the things that are common as it is going to be used more than what we have in our hands.

Respecting others’ possession:

We should respect others' possession of properties, power, position, or creativity. It would help us to care for it without jealousy or bitterness in the heart. We should always set our standards though everyone else follows and possesses what is not appropriate. We should be cautious in our minds and hearts that all the things that exist around us, are not fixed, whoever owns it at a point in time.  A good leader respects others' possessions and wishes that the possessions should be used for a common good, rather than being despised.

Constructive, not Destructive:

Everything that exists around us and everyone who is around us, contribute either directly or indirectly to one another and that could be constructive or destructive. Though there are certain things or certain people who are destructive, we should try to find something that is positive and could contribute in some way if the intention is set right. We should aim to be constructive in our thoughts, actions, and possessions, by being beneficial to one another.

5. Managing not Possessing

Dominion over other beings:

Human beings are the most powerful of all living and non-living beings in the face of the earth. All things are influenced because of human beings. Human beings rule over the waters, air, and land, directly or indirectly. The power and authority over all other beings on earth lie with human beings, consciously or unconsciously. There is an old saying that ‘Where there is power, there lies responsibility. A good leader always takes dominion as a responsibility, rather than something to rule over.

Enjoying Goodness without Spoiling:

Everything around us is good and it has some unique properties that need to be considered. When the thing is used in the right way and right limits or boundaries there is nothing that should be rejected. Most of the time,  human beings try to gratify themselves as much as possible but don’t achieve it, without realizing the fact to be content and joyful with what is in hand. We should strive to enjoy everything by carefully knowing what should be used for what and by carefully drawing the right boundaries.

Following the Regulations:

There would be great distortion and disaster if everyone starts doing certain things in their own way without the codes of conduct. To have harmony and to be effective with orderliness, the regulations should be followed. Even small misbehavior or carelessness could affect the self or the other person. A good leader always follows the regulations of the land which are for the common good with the right values and which respects other people.

Understanding our Impermanence:

Nothing in the world will be everlasting. The changes are continuous as human beings continuously modify and create things. Also, one generation passes, and another generation comes, which causes a greater shift in thoughts, emotions, and actions. Everyone needs to understand that either we or the things around us are not permanent. A good leader tries to live out the best of himself with all the resources in hand, without focussing on saving for the future generation but helping the present generation to be joyful and integrated.

Executing the Stewardship:

The freeness from guilt is the greatest gift of the Almighty which leashes bounds of joy in the heart forever. The strengthening of relationships could happen because of the balance of everything and being accountable and responsible for our possessions as well as others' possessions, and it promotes happiness. The stewardship will be helpful in peaceful existence with one another and it helps us to avoid conflicts and promotes happiness.

Activity: Managing but not possessing

All the participants may form a group of 5-8 members with some grouping activity. Every group will be given some product and they must identify the positives about that and how it will be passed on to the next generation (possible constructiveness and destructiveness).