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 Wali 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.’  Hadiziko hastened to add that his companies also hold modern personnel management systems and that formal qualifications are essential for a candidate even to be 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 is the most important factor in their doing business?
[A] Mysticism.
Religion.
[C] Meditation.
[D] Investment.
Whom do they consult?
[A] The spirits of ancient Javanese kings.
Wali Ullah.
[C] Old Kings.
[D] Carnegie.
Why did Hadisike hasten to add ‘his companies also hold modern personnel management systems…’?
[A] He thought Mysticism was not so good as expected.
To show they too focused on qualifications.
[C] To show they hired qualified persons.
[D] To show the possibility of combination of the scientific management with religion.
According to the passage, the function of the meditation is
[A] to gain profit from the god.
to gain peace of mind to make decision.
[C] to gain foreknowledge.
[D] to gain objective conclusion.
What does ‘operating with normal business procedures’ refer to?
[A] Adopting the western way of doing business.
Ordinary way of doing business without meditation and fasting.
[C] Contact with God.
[D] Putting right persons in the right jobs.
Vocabulary
file into          鱼贯而入，排队进去
Jakarta          雅加达
meditate          沉思，冥想，反省
Java          爪哇
Javanese          爪哇的
mysticism          神秘主义
boost          促进，增加，提高
devout          虔诚的，热诚的
appeal (to)       向……呼吁，求助于，魅力
legend          传说，神话
fasting          禁食，斋戒
hold onto          抓紧，保住
personnel management system    人事管理制度
perspective investment    远景投资
venture          （商业）投机，风险
sharpen          使……敏锐/尖锐，磨尖
business slide       买卖/企业滑坡，下滑
turn around       （生意）好转，转变
subconscious       下意识的，潜意识的
cybernetics       控制论
Carnegie          卡耐基
tap          开拓，选择
难句译注
Mysticism touches almost every aspect of life in Indonesia and business is no exception.
【参考译文】在印尼神秘主义似乎涉及到印尼生活的各个方面，商业也不例外。
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.
【参考译文】这些虔诚的商人，叫做Wali Ullah，或者“接近主的人”，把他们的祈求呼吁跟爪哇当地的神秘主义相结合。他们通过这一途径积极热情地拓展商业买卖和宗教信仰。
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.
【参考译文】恰当的工作岗位使用合适的人选，对企业决策具有信心使形式好转的关键。它给你带来拓展和利润。（或任人唯贤，指挥若定使扭亏增盈，大展宏图的关键。）
Search for the inner self.
【参考译文】探索内心的自我。
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.
【参考译文】类似心理控制论、卡耐基思想、增长率、或者积极思考能力等观点是西方开拓高智能的办法，而我们是通过沉思冥想来和高智能联系的。
写作方法与文章大意
这是一篇新闻报导，讲述印度尼西亚商人如何经营公司。主要采用一般到具体写作手法。一开始就点明他们以独特的方式――不看文件，不听汇报，而是闭上眼睛沉思，向古代帝王的精灵请示来经营。这种神秘主义几乎涉及印尼生活的各个领域，商业也不例外。后面每段都围绕这一主题而写。第二段写来源。第三段，应用于商业方面的具体例子，第四段，和西方管理方法对比。

科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 中等

知识点： 新闻报道阅读