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Parable of the Sadhu

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The Parable of the Sadhu

Taking advantage of Morgan Stanley’s newly adopted sabbatical program, Mr. Bowen (Buzz) McCoy (Managing Director) enjoyed a welcomed opportunity to collect his thoughts and engage in personal travel. Accompanied by his friend Stephen, Buzz embarked on a trip of a lifetime in Nepal as they hiked the Himalayas. Half-way through their trip, they would need to ascend an 18,000-foot pass over a crest in order to reach the village of Muktinath, an ancient holy place for pilgrims.
Buzz, who had suffered pulmonary edema six years earlier, and Stephen, who was starting to demonstrate signs of altitude sickness, were joined by four backpackers from New Zealand. As they rested at 15,000 feet, one of the New Zealander’s that had gone ahead came staggering down with a body over his shoulder. An almost naked, barefoot body of an Indian holy man (Sadhu) that had succumb to the elements and was suffering from exposure and hypothermia. The New Zealander, not wanting to jeopardize his chances of reaching the pass in time, left the Sadhu with Buzz and the Swiss group that had caught up to them. Once they had clothed the Sadhu, and realizing that this delay could jeopardize their chances of crossing the pass, Buzz and the Swiss left the Sadhu with Stephen.
Stephen waited for the Japanese team to arrive and asked them to take the holy man down to the village. Once they gave him something to eat and drink, Stephen and the Japanese also continued their ascent, leaving the listless holy man alone.
The moment the Sadhu was “entrusted” to Buzz by the New Zealander’s, he and the other group of hikers, were faced with an ethical dilemma. To continue on their journey, achieving their personal goals and objectives, or turnaround and provide the holy man with the appropriate care and attention required to ensure his survival. As outlined in the

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