TEXT A It looked like a typical
business meeting. Six men, neatly dressed in white shirts and ties filed into
the boardroom of a small Jakarta company and sat down at a long table. But
instead of consulting files or hearing reports, they closed their eyes and began
to meditate, consulting the spirits of ancient Javanese kings. Mysticism touches
almost every aspect of life in Indonesia and business is no exception. One of
the meditators said his weekly meditation sessions are aimed mainly at bringing
the peace of mind that makes for good decision-making. But the insight gained
from mystic communication with spirits of wise kings has also helped boost the
profits of his five companies. Mysticism and profits have come
together since the 13th century introduction of Islam to Indonesia by Indian
Moslem merchants. Those devout traders, called "Wali Ullah" or "those close to
God," energetically spread both trade and religion by adapting their appeals to
the native mysticism of Java. Legends attribute magic power of foreknowledge to
the Wall Ullah. These powers were believed to be gained through meditation and
fasting. Businessman Hadisiko said his group fasts and meditates
all night every Thursday to become closer to God and to contact the spirits of
the great men of the past. "If we want to employ someone at the managerial
level, we meditate together and often the message comes that this man can’t hole
onto money or he is untrustworthy. Or maybe the spirits will tell us he should
be hired." Hadisiko hastened to add that his companies also hold modern
personnel management systems and those formal qualifications are essential for a
candidate even to he considered. Perspective investments also are considered
through mystic meditation. "With the mind relaxed and open, it is easier to be
objective in judging the risk of a new venture. Meditation and contact with the
wisdom of the old leaders sharpens your own insight and intuition. Then you have
to apply that intuition to the information you have and work hard to be
successful. "Mystic meditation helped reverse a business slide his companies
experienced in the mid-1980. Operating with normal business procedures, he lost
more than $3 millions in that year alone. Meditation brought back his peace of
mind. Putting the right persons in the right jobs and gaining confidence in his
business decisions were the keys to a turning around that has brought expansion
and profitability. The mysticism in Handspike’s boardroom is part of a growing
movement in Indonesia called Kebatinan—the "search for the inner
self." One of his managers, Yusuf Soemado, who studied business
administration at Harvard University, compared the idea of mystic management to
western system of positive thinking. "Willpower and subconscious mind are
recognized as important factors in business. Such approaches as
psycho-cybernetics, Carnegie’s think and growth rates, or the power of positive
thinking are western attempts to tap the same higher intelligence that we
contact through meditation," he said. What does "operating with normal business procedures" refer to
A.Adopting the western way of doing business. B.Ordinary way of doing business without meditation and fasting. C.Contacting with God. D.Putting right persons in the right jobs.