Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Walden And The Art Of Zen Essay free essay sample

, Research Paper If I were asked who my favorite Western Zen philosopher was, without any vacillation, I would declare it to be Henry David Thoreau. Although he knew in interlingual rendition the spiritual Hagiographas of the Hindus, it may be improbable that Henry David Thoreau of all time studied the instructions of the Zen Masters. Even so, the penetration within his ain personal Hagiographas would irrefutably do him maestro of his ain temple. The wisdom found within Thoreau # 8217 ; s Walden can be clarified through Zen Buddhist beliefs and thoughts as the two seem to typically congratulate each other. Where, you might inquire, does faith suit into the going escapades of Henry David Thoreau? Religion has been a portion of the literary tradition from the really start. Some of the first books of all time produced were handwritten transcripts of the Bible. Booklets, verse forms, odes, and heroic poems throughout the centuries have continued to reflect spiritual content. I have besides read insightful essays about the concealed Christian Symbolism in A. A. Milne # 8217 ; s Winnie-the-Pooh. Well, why non the presence of Zen Buddhism within the instructions of Thoreau # 8217 ; s Walden? In conformity with the history of literature, one might state # 8220 ; Why non? # 8221 ; ; in conformity with Walden # 8217 ; s content, I would state, # 8220 ; I couldn # 8217 ; t see it being any other way. # 8221 ; What is Zen Buddhism anyhow? In the book Zen Buddhism, D.T. Suzuki says that # 8220 ; Zen in its kernel is the art of seeing into the nature of one # 8217 ; s ain being, and it points the manner from bondage into freedom # 8221 ; ( 3 ) . In the theory of Zen, our organic structures contain a religious signifier of energy. When this energy is consciously tapped, we will be cognizant of all the implicit in urges and desires of our bosom. This # 8220 ; freedom # 8221 ; will do us to see Kensho, ( seeing into one # 8217 ; s ain nature ) , therefore going happier and more loving to those around us. To make the Buddhist end of going one with everything, a individual has to embracing # 8220 ; nil # 8221 ; . What is meant in the embrace of # 8220 ; nil # 8221 ; is that one must abandon his or her ain self-importance and research beyond the bounds of societal conformance. The job that lies in the manner of making this # 8220 ; energy # 8221 ; is that most people have suppressed it due to personal and society driven ignorance. When this barrier is overcome, we are in melody with the significance and cognition of life. In his ideas and in his words, Thoreau has seemed to use that energy in Walden, opening his # 8220 ; 3rd oculus # 8221 ; to the universe around him Zen teacher Choa-chou said that, # 8220 ; Zen is your mundane thought # 8221 ; and Walden is a aggregation of the mundane ideas of Henry David Thoreau. Walden is a factual record of Thoreau # 8217 ; s life experiences populating entirely in a house that he built with his ain custodies, on the shore of Walden Pond in Concord Massachusetts. Zen suggests that to work out life # 8217 ; s jobs, one must straight beg the elements of personal experience as opposed to book-knowledge. This attack is known as Jiriki. Jiriki refers to a individual # 8217 ; s own effort to # 8220 ; attain enlightenment through his or her ain attempts # 8221 ; . In Walden, Thoreau offers the results of his experience to the reader in hopes that they excessively will derive freedom from them. While populating on the shores of Walden, Thoreau # 8217 ; s simple life style can about be summed up with the Zen stating # 8220 ; Chop wood, carry H2O # 8221 ; . Thoreau earned his life by the labor of his ain custodies and considered his life style, # 8220 ; really natural and pertinent # 8221 ; ( 728 ) . Thoreau achieved tranquility by agencies similar to those found in Zen Bible. He writes, # 8220 ; So many fall, ay, and winter yearss, spent outside the town, seeking to hear what was in the air current # 8221 ; ( 736 ) . This is, to me, reminiscent of the Zen koan # 8220 ; What is the coloring material of air current? # 8221 ; Throughout the pages of Walden, Thoreau seems to praise the simpleness of the carnal universe that is missing in world. Commenting on endurance, Thoreau states that, # 8220 ; None of the beast creative activity requires more than Food and Shelter. . . for non til we have secured these are we prepared to entertain the true jobs of life with freedom and a chance of success # 8221 ; ( 733-734 ) . This simpleness of endurance has been a changeless portion of Zen life. Master Rinzai, laminitis of the Rinzai Sect of Zen, remarked, # 8220 ; When hungry, I eat ; when tired, I sleep. Fools laugh at me. The wise understand # 8221 ; . Both Thoreau and Zen faith appear to topographic point animate beings on a higher plane of being for their intuitive behavior. In Walden # 8217 ; s Economy, ( or # 8220 ; doctrine of life # 8221 ; ) , Thoreau writes, One husbandman says to me, # 8220 ; You can non populate on vegetable nutrient entirely, for it furnishes nil to do castanetss with ; # 8221 ; and so he sacredly devotes a portion of his twenty-four hours to providing his system with the natural stuff of castanetss ; walking all the piece he talks behind his cattle, which, with vegetable-made castanetss, dork him and his lumbering Big Dipper along in malice of every obstruction. ( 732 ) Irmgard Schloegl # 8217 ; s book, The Wisdom of the Zen Masters, contains a Zen quotation mark conveying a similar message on the lift of carnal behavior in life. The citation is as follows, Master Nansen, asked by a monastic, # 8220 ; Where does he travel who knows what is what? # 8221 ; replied: # 8220 ; He becomes an ox of the monastery protagonist down the hill, to repay him for his help. # 8221 ; When the monastic thanked him for his instruction, the Master added: # 8220 ; At midnight yesterday, the Moon shone in at the window. # 8221 ; ( 69 ) Thoreau was known to hold said, # 8220 ; Our life is frittered off by item. . . Simplify, simplify # 8221 ; . However, this respect of simpleness seemed to conflict with the sentiments of society. If one were to follow the advice that Walden give # 8217 ; s us for life, as Thoreau puts it, # 8220 ; God will see that you do non desire societ y† ( 823 ) . In The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Hershel Parker, of the University of Delaware remarks that, # 8220 ; [ Thoreau s ] life became a refusal to populate by the mercenary values of his neighbors # 8221 ; ( 709 ) . Henry David Thoreau had no desire for material ownerships. He writes: # 8220 ; I had three pieces of limestone on my desk, but I was terrified to happen that they required to be dusted daily, when the furniture of my head was all undusted still, and I threw them out in disgust # 8221 ; ( 746-747 ) . After all, as Zen maestro Mumon said, # 8220 ; The hoarded wealths of the house do non come in by the forepart door # 8221 ; . Thoreau abandoned the objects that did non ask the life of his life. Often in life we get new things even though objects still possessed could make the coveted occupation. Thoreau was uncomfortable with that quality of adult male articulating that, # 8220 ; au naturel pess are older than places, and [ one ] can do them make # 8221 ; ( 739 ) . This statement is rather similar in idea to a Diogenes quotation mark found in The Little Zen Companion: # 8220 ; I threw my cup off when I saw a kid imbibing from his custodies at the trough # 8221 ; ( 133 ) . Thoreau believed that money unneeded for the life style of his choosing. He believed that, # 8220 ; None can be an impartial or wise perceiver of human life but from the vantage land of what we should name voluntary poorness # 8221 ; ( 735 ) . This belief is shared with the Zen Masterss. Zen text says: A monastic asked Chao-chou, # 8220 ; If a hapless adult male comes, what should one give him? # 8221 ; # 8220 ; He lacks nil, # 8221 ; answered the Master. By chew the fating unneeded things, you are left, in bend, with fewer things to worry approximately. Thoreau # 8217 ; s ain remark about the society around him was that, # 8220 ; We worship non the Graces, nor the Parcae, but Fashion # 8221 ; ( 740 ) . In Walden, Thoreau spins a narrative to exemplify the point, Madam Pfeiffer, in her adventuresome travels round the universe, from E to West, had got so close place as Asian Russia, she says that she felt the necessity of have oning other than a traveling frock, when she went to run into the governments, for she was now in civilised state, where # 8212 ; people are judged of by their apparels # 8217 ; . ( 739 ) This funny anecdote brings into head an ancient Zen Story, Affluent givers invited Master Ikkyu to a feast. The Maestro arrived at that place dressed in mendicant # 8217 ; s vest. His host, non acknowledging him in this attire, hustled him off. The Master went place, there changed into his ceremonial robe of violet brocade, and once more presented himself at his host # 8217 ; s doorsill. He was received with due regard, and ushered into the feast room. There he put his stiff robe on the shock absorber, stating, I expect you invited the robe since you showed me away a small piece ago, # 8217 ; and left. These were, harmonizing to Thoreau, the # 8220 ; infantile and barbarous gustatory sensation of work forces # 8221 ; ( 741 ) . Walden strongly displays how deep the modus operandi of tradition and conformance are entrenched into civilised life. Thoreau believes that the job with society is their dependance on conventional wont. Men are # 8220 ; machines # 8221 ; and # 8220 ; are so occupied with the factitious attentions and superfluously harsh labor of life that its finer fruits can non be plucked by them # 8221 ; ( 730 ) . Further into Walden, Thoreau comes to the realisation that, # 8220 ; the life of the civilised people [ is made ] an establishment, in which the life of the person is to a great extent absorbed, in order to continue and hone that of the race # 8221 ; ( 744 ) . It can be seen that Thoreau thinks that individuality has been lost in civilised adult male. He concludes that civilisation would be # 8220 ; Better if they had been born in the unfastened grazing land and suckled by a wolf, that they might hold seen with clearer eyes the field that they were called to labor in # 8221 ; ( 729 ) . This may be related to the ideas of Tao Te Ching, who said # 8220 ; Act without making ; work without attempt # 8221 ; . Tradition may be broken every bit good. In Walden, Thoreau # 8217 ; s penetration is that # 8220 ; It is neer excessively late to give up our biass # 8221 ; ( 731 ) . Social prejudices are shunned in Zen Religion. There are no separations ; you are one with everything. Thoreau repeats his point by stating that, # 8220 ; The finest qualities of our nature. . . can be preserved merely by the most delicate handling. Yet we do non handle ourselves nor one another therefore tenderly # 8221 ; ( 730 ) . Henry David Thoreau is the Maestro and I am the pupil. He genuinely believed in populating his life instead than blowing it. I believe that he attained Buddhahood by happening the nature of his ain true being. Using Walden as a vas for his awakened wisdom, Thoreau would wish everyone to see Kensho and place with their ain true nature, # 8220 ; Let every mind his ain concern, and endeavor to be what he was made # 8221 ; ( 821 ) . In Thoreau # 8217 ; s head, life was non constricted by regulations. He boldly states in Walden, # 8220 ; Here is life, an experiment # 8221 ; ( 732 ) . It about seems as if Thoreau had based his ain life on the instructions of Chinese philosopher Tao-te-Ching: In brooding, live near to the land. In thought, maintain to the simple. In struggle, be just and generous. In regulating, Don # 8217 ; t seek to command. In work, make what you enjoy. In household life, be wholly present. Yamada Roshi, great Zen maestro declared that # 8220 ; The intent of Zen is the flawlessness of character # 8221 ; . Keeping that in head, I believe that Walden has secured Henry David Thoreau # 8217 ; s topographic point as one of the greatest Zen philosophers. Schiller, David, trans. and erectile dysfunction. , The Little Zen Companion. New York: Workman, 1994. Schloegl, Irmgard, trans. and erectile dysfunction. , The Wisdom of the Zen Masters. New York: New Directions Books, 1976. Wood, Ernest, Zen Dictionary. Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co. , 1973. ENDNOTES

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Free sample - The Hilton Concept of Quality. translation missing

The Hilton Concept of Quality. The Hilton Concept of QualityAll   employees and franchisees   follow Brand recognition; offer affordable and agreeable hotels and are part of a multi international network of hotels of one to four stars. The network is growing every day as   Hilton Worldwide acquires hotels all over the world. The network promises a facility of reservations, brand recognition and inner controls that are called the Hilton Way . This was the motto of Conrad Hilton forming the corporation in the 1940's. His first Hilton hotel dates back to 1925 in Texas. Hilton Worldwide runs it's corporations under   Total Quality Management (TQM) as they train only their management and the management of each hotel whether it be corporate or franchised managed   to   brand recognition and to be customer focused. All processes done must be done the "Hilton way" (process thinking, proper environment). The internal running of hotels is the responsibility of the individual hotel. For the purpose of this Paper the Embassy Suites and the Beverly Hilton will be used to show how the Hilton way has not always been sufficient in quality assessment and it has been necessary to add additional controls.. Hilton Worldwide has created a complicated in house program of RevPar index, the Balanced Scorecard and Brand Equity. Millions of dollars have been spent in a data network aligning all hotels so that their financial and statistical data can be part of the Hilton Network. Each hotel pays approximately $70 000 to have the system installed. One cannot be called Hilton without adhering to the network.   Everything is measured, quantified and sent back to corporate to judge their level of service and in terms of revenues. (hiltonworlwide) RevPar index (revenue per available room) is a primary statistic used to test the financial viability of a hotel. Hilton Corporation uses the RevPar Index, brand equity and the balanced scorecard. Every hotel in their system from the 1 star to the 4 stars practices what the Brand Hilton preaches "Deliver value for Money" Revenue per available room or the % of occupancy x the average daily rate is to show the financial viability of a hotel compared to another in the same area at the same time and the same type. (strglobal) A four star Hilton Embassy Suite reserved at 90% occupancy during the Christmas season in Los Angeles compared to a four star Embassy Suite reserved at 85% occupancy at a higher rate in San Francisco will not be doing as well. "What gets measured gets managed" is part of Hilton's strategy (TQM) and tactical processes. The terminology they have developed has become to be known as the   "Balanced Scorecard" Corporate management, corporate owned and managed hotels and franchised hotels are affected. It is part of Hiltons long and short term strategy. All quality assurance is based on the data derived from performance measure data established from the type of work, the objectives achieved and the progress made. Nothing is left out. Anything which can be quantified is used for quality. The Scorecard is put into an intricate reporting data system that each hotel is required to have bought and set up in order to maintain the Hilton image. Depending on the results, each person in the organization has incentives as motivational factors. Their performance and expectations are always an important part of the system. Hilton uses the data and statistics to judge results. TQM is based on inward performance and CEM is based on outward performance. RevPar Index, Balanced Scorecard   and Brand Equity have been measured in the Hiltons across the world to judge customer satisfaction. Hilton started with Brand Equity with the use of Hilton Hotel 50 years ago. One of the earliest hotels was the Beverly Hilton. Brands with customer awareness and association with quality or consistency are effective equity brands. A customer knows in any Hilton hotel in the world, he will get the same type of service.   Now they have grown or expanded in using an additional H with   Hilton Hotel, HHonors program, Homewood Suites, Hampton. All under the umbrella of H. Measurements   of brand equity can be made but they are only approximations. Keller K.L., 1993 "Hilton's balanced scorecard   has enabled to quantify the quality of the daily growth and increased brand equity by quality control of the knowledge that one Hilton is the same from another. And in addition to share-of-market growth, non-financial measures show improvement, as well. Among company-owned and -managed hotels, current customer-satisfaction studies reveal strong increases in customers' opinions on overall satisfaction, their likelihood of recommending Hilton hotels, and their likelihood to return to a given property. The three factors comprise a measure of loyalty Hilton tracks closelyand that score recently reached its highest level ever. Hensdill (2009) The scorecard tests cleanliness and conditions. Service standards are left to the individual hotel. ("News Release", 2003) The hotels are kept to the Hilton Way because of the internal data system of check and balance and statistical controls. Whereas service has become an important part of today's industry to differentiate between hotel chains and establish customer loyalty, it is left out of the testing process of the quality assurance .(beverly) Hilton Worldwide created an additional two section of the Balance Scorecard to include quality assurance and guest satisfaction for the Embassy Suites. They have surprise visits, inspections of kitchens, and guestrooms. Guests are asked to rate different services in the hotel. Everything is still quantified and nothing is dealt with on an emotional level. ("News Release", 2003) This is an indication that they rely on Total Quality Management. Beverly Hilton is a privately owned hotel which only uses the point system of HHonors of the Hilton program. It was important to keep the name and have the brand equity of the "H" as the Beverly Hilton is one of the oldest post war hotels. As a private hotel, they are not required to adhere to TQM nor the Hilton Way. They use an external company for Quality Assurance and are   service oriented. Their managerial team uses customer experience management philosophy. Though they rely heavily on testing and auditing, they question every aspect of their operations. The voice of the customer is the priority of the hotel. The external company has their own quantitative tests of quality: research is done throughout the year in customer experience and motivation of   employees through reward and recognition, tools are established to train staff in customer service (experience); emotional audits, surveys, and surprise visits. Preparing for the yearly quality assurance audit, with LRA Worldw ide, the Beverly Hilton is able to respond quickly and on the spot of   any deficiency found. Statistical studies are done using the CEM (customer experience management).("The Beverly Hilton",2005) 1. Comparison of CEM versus   TQM by Hilton Worldwide. Statistics of the effective on revenues between two types of management - Motivation: services or needs - Fidelity: emotional or location - Emotions: necessity or pleasure Control Chart to compare the fluctuation of RevPar per franchises during the holiday season 2. Though Hilton is top of the list in customer satisfaction, more can be done to change the Henry Ford chain line feeling that everything has to be the same. With a more customer orientated managerial system, Hilton hotels will seem more homely and less industrial. 3.   Hilton keeps up to date with the various national tests. They are at the top of the list of most of its competitors: brand equity: (Equitrend study) Guest satisfaction is the highest for the past three years with the Customer Satisfaction index (ACSI)("Big Gains",June 2010) They have internal testing of the higher end hotels and statistical analysis of the whole network: balance scorecards ( The internal functioning of the hotels are up to the owners of the franchisees. As the expectations of the financial goals are high, the entrepreneurial attitude does not allow for a low level of workers' performance. Motivational compensation in financial awards is given for those who meet set goals. The whole system is based on financial success. Though guest satisfaction is the highest in the industry, it is based on American statistics. Brand recognition is becoming more and more important as globalization is without borders.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

International OB Managing Across Cultures Essay

International OB Managing Across Cultures - Essay Example A Japanese businessman will always consult within his group before making a decision. Because of their intense loyalty, one's identity is subsumed into the group. It is important to never single out a Japanese counterpart, even for praise or encouragement. Contrarily, the Spaniards have a hierarchy style of management and it is best to deal with "el jefe" or "el pardon"-the one who will be making the decision. Spaniards also will expect whomever they are dealing with to have decisions-making authority. When dealing with Spain or most Asian cultures, it is also critical to understand the concept of "saving face". Any loss of control of emotions or embarrassment is considered disastrous in business negotiations in these cultures. Honor and personal pride mean everything and they must not be insulted. Because of this attitude it is very important to carefully prepare presentations so that they are easy for the audience to understand. Paying close attention to determine if anything is misunderstood during the presentation is also a must. Because of this concept of "saving face" the presenter will not know if they are having difficulties. Close attention must be paid to conversations in order to discern the sincerity of what is being said. In Japan, a deal is never refused directly, and any dealings with Japanese business culture should remain indirect. In Business Cards In nearly all countries, it is important that business cards be printed one side in English, and the other in their language. When presenting the card, it should be presented with their language facing the recipient. In Japan, the exchange of business cards is not to be taken lightly. When you receive the card of a Japanese businessman, be sure to make a show of examining it carefully and then making a remark about the card. Ask any questions about anything on the card which is difficult to pronounce or understand. The card should then be placed in a case or on a near by table. A card shouldn't be shoved into a pocket or be written on. Concepts of Time Time orientation is an important cultural difference that Americans must pay close attention to. In America, time is viewed as a precious commodity. Time is related with productivity, efficiency, and money. Many other countries have a much more relaxed perception of time. They take their time, and enjoy it. In Mexico you can ask if a scheduled appointment is "en punto" (the precise time), or "mas o menos". "Mas o menos" appointments are often scheduled a half an hour to an hour before the actual time. With both Mexican and Japanese cultures it is also important not to expect instant results. Plenty of time should be allowed for contemplation and decision making. In Mexico it is important to adjust any expectations regarding deadlines and efficiency. Doing business over borders and through time zones has become commonplace in the twenty-first century. Technological advancements in communication and travel make it possible to do business across the globe almost instantaneously. Doing business with multiple cultures can be a challenging venture. International communication skills of an organization can determine success or failure. In order to interact with different cultures, it is necessary to understand the basic characteristics of the culture. This type of understanding helps to make