The Three Monks

Learning in Class through Animated  Movie: The Three  Monks

A new chapter in the POM class. Learning through The   Animated movie

Sounds Interesting…..

Lets have the clip first:

The movie was good.  

Time for some analysis:

An old Chinese Proverb goes,” One Monk will shoulder two buckets of water, two  monks will share the load , but add a third and no one will want to fetch water”.The proverb is based on a story of three monks which can be easily seen. The story  highlights the different aspects of group dynamics and the different methods adopted to perform the same task.

Method 1: A single monk carrying two buckets of water.

Method 2: Two monks carryig a single bucket of water.

Method 3: Three monks working together as a team, to fetch buckets of  water .

Analysing the Clip:

The First Method:

A  single monk, fetching two buckets of water.

It is easier to bring  two  buckets of water carried on a bamboo stick than a single bucket by hand.  Innovation in the sense that, use of the bamboo stick.

Here,  the monk being single, is free to carry out the work as he intends. Though the task takes a toll on his body as is visible when he returns, he goes off to sleep.

The Second Method:

When the second monk arrives, the first one shrieks from his responsibilities, thinking that the second one would bring the water. But he is for forced to accompany the second monk. This is where the Group Dynamics come into picture.

The two monks use one bamboo stick to bring one bucket of water. Initially it may seem as low productivity as compared to the method 1 but the productivity per person is more in method 2.

Initially there are differences between the two monks regarding how to carry the  bucket, but at the end they reach on a consensus. The bamboo stick is measured, from the centre and then the bucket is carried.

A few concepts arising out of this :

1.Measurement should be scientific and objective.

2. Let one person measure and the other person mark .

Innovation again comes into picture. One more thing that needs  to be highlighted  is that  after the two monks return they have time for praying, as opposed  to the first case.

The Third Method

As the Third monk arrives, the two monks expect him to fetch the bucket of water. As the monk is very tired he finishes all the water available in the monastery. So, no water left in the monastery.

As fate would have it , a fire breaks out, and it is at this moment that the 3 monks work together as  a team with a same intention of dousing the fire .This is where  the Group dynamics, with a  lot of team work comes  into picture.

Another aspect that is highlighted is, innovation. The   3 monks innovate a new mechanism to bring water to the monastery. This is pure innovation.

We witness at each step, there is new innovation that leads a step further towards excellence.

On  Careful examination, we can see the expressions on the face of Lord Buddha changing. This reflects how at every step others view the situation.

The Biggest Learnings:

 1. Synergy: More individuals bring out a higher output than each individual working alone.

2. Scientific and objectives measurements and instruments should be used to resolve the conflict .

3. Necessaity  is the mother of innovation. At each step we see innovation and a drive towards excellence.

4. Crisis situation drive individuals towards a common goal , and the team goal takes precedence over individual goals.

5. Being prepared for a disaster, helps when the disaster actually occurs.