hidden image

Living With Team Spirit

P. A. Joseph P. A. Joseph
05 Jun 2023
Being a child (child in spirit) always, remaining a youth always, will keep us cute and active. There is no chance of being high and low, male or female, rich or poor and avoiding all that are divisive.

We are always in the company/community of people as in families, schools, training centers, institutions, work areas, societies, different groups of people, all irrespective of religion, sex, age, language, migration, foreign nationals, people of different position, land holding, caste, tribe, place of origin, different exposures, various studies, experiences, political awareness, leadership qualities, holding government or private jobs, financial background as rich or poor, laborers, etc. This is a picture of people where we are. All these people together make our society. What a magnanimous and stupendous context we are in. Positively looking there could not be a better world than this. All are connected and involved mutually in one way other. There is no one as an outsider. In one way or other, all contribute towards making a better place to live and function.

But, how to enjoy living in this context? All the individuals, women, men and children have to contribute in different ways. One point which we can always do is to learn from children, to be active, free, curious, cute, playful and moving forward. In psychology we say that we must keep the inner child in us always alive. There is no question of losing the childhood -- to sing, to dance, to play, to run, etc. Children are kept united by activities guided by parents/ teachers or even by themselves. This is to be promoted by all means. 

Being a child (child in spirit) always, remaining a youth always, will keep us cute and active. There is no chance of being high and low, male or female, rich or poor and avoiding all that are divisive. There must be more of blending and balancing instead of keeping separation /isolation under some narrow and hidden motives. Society needs blending and balancing, mixing and merging, and thus creating team spirit, and being melted into one single group. Leaders must sense the need of the people and comply with the reality. In this kind of formation of the group leaders must not stand for rigorous values but be willing to accept relative ones and understanding. Further they must emphasize not on narrow values but go for broader ones, so that everyone is included in the team. Inclusive guidelines must be chosen than any sort of opposite ones. 

People must be given platform to express themselves and that in line of learning to accommodate other’s differences. They must feel that in the group there is lot of work- potential with individuals and the group. All must breathe freedom and grow in mindfulness and joy. Each one must be guided to listen to one’s own inner voice and personal conviction. The participants must discern difficulties both in oneself and as a group. Balancing, blending and merging are great human qualities. The absence of these can cause tension in group, resulting in breakup of societies and groups. 

Blending and balancing presuppose self-knowledge, acceptance, forgiveness and self-esteem. Zen Buddhism is the essential wisdom of being released from your worldly desires and establishing a balance within yourself, undisturbed by what happens outside. Reflection helps to develop keen awareness to win all these. But remember, there is nobody better at being you than you. This is the wisdom of Zen belief and trust.
 

Recent Posts

How can greater knowledge be accompanied by greater wisdom, greater prosperity by greater solidarity, greater power by greater responsibility, and greater connectivity by genuine human fraternity?
apicture Br. Dr. Lawrence Soosai Nathan, OFM Cap.
28 Sep 2026
"Deus meus et omnia" ("My God and my All!") was St. Francis of Assisi's favourite prayer. According to early Franciscan accounts, most notably recorded by Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, Francis's fir
apicture Br. Cyriac George, OFM Cap.
28 Sep 2026
St Francis shows that peace begins by freeing ourselves from the urge to possess, control and dominate. His poverty, humility and fraternity offer another way of exercising power: not over others, but
apicture Br. Brian Raymond Bandya, OFM Cap.
28 Sep 2026
Assisi is more than a pilgrimage town; it is a challenge to the way we live. Eight centuries after St Francis, his poverty, simplicity and service still raise a difficult question: how much do we real
apicture A. J. Philip
28 Sep 2026
St. Francis of Assisi's life and message have much to say to a communally divided India. Dialogue across faiths, standing with the poor and marginalised, respecting diversity, and working together for
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
28 Sep 2026
Gandhi and St Francis remind us that renunciation and humility go hand in hand. While their understanding of celibacy and self-denial may invite disagreement, their lives of sacrifice, simplicity, ded
apicture Chhotebhai
28 Sep 2026
St Francis remains a beloved figure because his life joined simplicity, poverty, humility, compassion and love of creation with a deep devotion to God. His message of peace, brotherhood and reconcilia
apicture P. A. Joseph
28 Sep 2026
"Brother Sun has become an energy contract. Sister Water is imprisoned in plastic and sold. Mother Earth is mined, poisoned and stripped of her forests. When she responds with floods, fires and drough
apicture Robert Clements
28 Sep 2026
A diplomatic dinner is more than a meal; it is cultural diplomacy on a plate. India has every right to showcase its magnificent vegetarian cuisine, but excluding its equally rich non-vegetarian tradit
apicture A. J. Philip
21 Sep 2026
Ageing need not mean becoming a burden. With the right opportunities, senior citizens can remain productive, creative and socially engaged. Kerala's emerging Silver Economy offers the Church and civil
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
21 Sep 2026