Real leadership is recognized in men, women, groups, and nations who demonstrate humility in their service-who serve without a need for recognition. Leadership is distinguishable in people and groups who have made contact with the Chalice of fiery spirit, bringing an endless stream of energy, inspiration, creativity, courage, and strength into their field of service. They do not depend upon transiting outer circumstances to dictate their standards and decisions, but rather upon ethics and high values, clarity of thinking, the art of observation, and right timing. The success of a leader is established when his vision continues to unfold into succeeding centuries bringing increased joy, prosperity, health, and happiness for all peoples, groups and nations.
This issue of Meditation Monthly International features the viewpoints of three individuals who were asked to share their ideas on leadership through their own experiences and studies. Our feature article, The Qualities of Leadership is written by Rev. Caroline Bremer who, after establishing an Ageless Wisdom school in Oklahoma and turning over it's continuing unfoldment to the group's leadership team, moved to Arizona to facilitate Akbar Institute in Arizona. Peggy Pace, a graduate of the White Mountain Education Association's leadership program has written on the abilities of visionary leaders to recognize the needs of the world. Valarie Drost who is presently a student in the WMEA leadership program elected to share her views on leadership groups.
"The leader is one who stands by his proven service and dedication."1 He or she "must be in continuous contact with the initial plan and mission."2 Leadership is beingness, vision, expanding consciousness and readiness.
Shanti,
Joleen D. Du Bois
President
joleen@wmea-world.org
Given this definition, three important attributes for a leader to hone in himself would be humility, trustworthiness and co-measurement.
Most
people wouldn't think humility or humbleness to be an important quality
for a leader, but just the opposite. If we would look carefully at history,
and given the definition above, we would see that all truly great leaders
had about them a sense of humility. A true sense of humility means understanding
where we are in relationship to the whole-the whole of himself, the whole
of those persons to whom he relates, the whole of a nation, the whole of
humanity, the whole of the planet, the whole of the solar system and the
universe. Humility makes the leader stronger in his convictions. That person
can lead others because he knows where he has been and in what direction
he is going. He is not easily swayed or led by those who do not have his
sense of direction and would lead him astray through flattery, bribery,
or those retrogressive qualities related to the personality. A leader is
in contact with his Soul. He knows himself from that perspective, and he
knows others from that perspective. He is able to discriminate, make the
right choices for the goals that he has set. Remember that progress and
success are considered that which takes us forward on our path of evolution,
not that which takes us backward. It is in this forward direction that
a real leader will lead.
A humble leader does not promote himself to be something that he is not. His interest is not to serve his personal desires or his organization or his nation. His interest is finding and revealing the best for the whole of life in his field of labor.
A leader must be trustworthy. A great sage tells us that trust is the lever of the heart. Who would let someone be his leader or teacher if he didn't trust him? Persons who are not trustworthy cannot be leaders. They can play the game for a while, and maybe act like they are leaders, but eventually they will show themselves to be false and self-motivated. The leader must examine his motives and intent, and know himself to be trustworthy. Again discrimination must come into play.
We also must not trust someone without cause. A leader must prove his trustworthiness. He must demonstrate that he can be counted on physically, emotionally and mentally, as well as spiritually. Can we count on a teacher who doesn't show up for class? Can we trust someone who divulges confidences? Can we trust someone who is taking advantage of us or others for his own gains? Can we trust someone who does not care? We are told in esoteric literature that the heart and the Soul have a very close connection. To the degree that the leader is in touch with his Soul, has Soul infusion, that is the degree to which he will exemplify trustworthiness.
All religions and traditions tell us that we must be trustworthy in the little things first. Leaders must ask themselves: Can the members of Hierarchy trust me to be constant in my work? Can They count on me to make contact with the Higher Worlds? Can They trust me to understand about that which they speak? Can They count on me to help others? Can They count on me to be able to handle the fires of the Higher Worlds? Can They trust me to strive and overcome my obstacles? Can I be trusted for a heavier labor or a future position if I cannot be trusted where I am right now?
It is only in conditions of trustworthiness that we can strive and do our best. The man who keeps looking over his shoulder because he doesn't trust those around him cannot concentrate on the work he is doing or on his goal for the future. Trustworthiness is also very important in group work. It is the foundation for mutual friendship and labor.
Co-measurement is a most important quality for a leader to have. "...Co-measurement is...the ability to consider all viewpoints and all angles of approach, ...[and] the power to expand one's own consciousness to viewpoints of Higher Beings."2 Co-measurement is the synthesizing aspect of a leader. It demonstrates his ability to consider all levels of consciousness and beingness. It allows him to give the right amount of knowledge, information, and insight on a level that will cause the student (or followers) to expand his own level of consciousness and enable him to understand, integrate and utilize the information in a practical way. Co-measurement is being spiritually economical with (using rightly) all that is offered, all that is given, and all that is available. When a leader reaches his mind into the fiery levels of consciousness, in which Great Beings live and work, and receives great revelations, then he begins to try to distribute that information to others and to humanity. He must be able to do this in such a way that it is not too much or too little for those around him. It must be given in the right doses. If the leader only sees the "big picture" and this is what he gives to those around him, it may be too much for them to accomplish. They may become depressed and quit in their labor.
The leader knows when to hold off. If the student is not ready, the leader knows when to reveal just enough information to keep the light of knowledge and inspiration for the striving one. He knows what the make-up is of each student, where their strong points and weak points are, how much they can be trusted, and how to increase the opportunities to build the student's virtues rather than his vices. In co-measurement the leader balances both vertically and horizontally: he balances within himself the fire of the Higher Worlds, and he carefully offers just the right amount to encourage striving in those around him.
Humility, trustworthiness and co-measurement are qualities inherent to the science of leadership. When we know the science behind a subject or action, we know why it works the way it does. Leadership is neither haphazard nor coincidental. All human beings, at some point in their evolution, will become not just leaders but great leaders. First, however, each of us must lead ourselves. In striving to build these three attributes, we build the future.
By Caroline Bremmer
_______________________
1. Torkom Saraydarian, Leadership, Volume 1 (T.S.G. Publishing Foundation, Inc., 1995), p. vi—vii.
2. Torkom Saraydarian, A Commentary on Psychic Energy (T.S.G. Enterprises, 1989), p. 66.
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Vision creates the idea and then inspires the developing leader to prepare for future duties and responsibilities. A teenager's dream of doing medical research and discovering a cure for cancer gives him the discipline to concentrate on his studies and the strength to "say no" to drugs and alcohol. A young mother's desire to create a loving family environment encourages family members to develop better communication skills, to share their feelings and to pass through times of crisis with trust and forgiveness. Children begin their "vision-making" as they admire their father's courage, as they strive because of their mother's love, as they express gratitude for the nurturing of a compassionate teacher, and as they appreciate moments of joy created through sharing. hspace=10
Sources of vision vary. Oftentimes the leader develops vision because of seeing someone else exemplify the ideal: he reads the biography of an individual who built a hospital to heal the sick, and this dedicated labor encourages him to do something similar. Images of musicians performing beautiful symphonies, physicians saving the life of a child, firefighters protecting forest lands, contractors building affordable housing for the homeless, writers communicating uplifting ideas through poetry, religious leaders joining in dialogue through interfaith conferences, and humanitarians receiving the Nobel Peace Prize give young adults the needed aspiration to pursue service-oriented careers.
Recognition of existing need increases the leader's sense of responsibility and expands his vision. Through group consciousness he becomes more responsive to the needs of greater units of people. In international relations, diplomats promote harmony among nations through a vision of right relationship-a mutual relationship that will benefit all the negotiating nations and bring economic stability, peaceful living and creative expression into their lives.
History shows that great leaders become so immersed in the vision that they cannot help but fulfill it. Vision changes their lives, often taking them into areas of service they would never have imagined. For example, Joan of Arc was a simple country girl whose vision enabled her to lead great armies into battle to free the people of France. Martin Luther King was inspired with a vision of racial equality, and he led the civil rights movement in America, saying that he felt as if history had thrust this fate upon him. Hiawatha held the vision of unity and brought five great Indian nations into a United Confederacy of Peace. Albert Schweitzer's inner guidance led him to exchange a theological career in France for medical service in Africa.
Leaders with vision create polarity between themselves and the vision, and the energies begin circulating around these two poles. The focused energy brings the money, workers, and other resources needed to fulfill the vision. The future success of humanity depends upon the development of leaders with vision. Vision will give people a greater sense of purpose and make their lives more meaningful. Leadership succeeds when it helps others to discover a vision, pursue a dream, or carry out a mission.
A group is made up of three or more people who are linked together through a shared interest, goal, plan, or purpose. Each group works in a particular field of endeavor in order to carry out its intended plan or purpose. As an individual expands his level of consciousness, he will be drawn to groups and leaders that reflect this level of expansion of consciousness. Evolution is a process by which one gradiently progresses from those groups that solely serve their own interests, to groups that endeavor to serve the interests of all.
The plan is the axis of a group; it is the reason why a person is attracted to a particular group. The leader is the custodian of the plan for the group. Within every group there is a core. This core group most accurately reflects the vision of the leadership of that group. An individual becomes a member of the core group because of his inclusiveness, selflessness, harmlessness and right speech. The core group carries the vision of the group in its heart and translates it through the members' thoughts, words, and actions. The group leadership is that core, which facilitates the working out of the plan for the group as envisioned by the leader.
As
a person matures, he comes to the realization that he is an interdependent
being. Having gone from the stage where he is dependent on everyone for
everything, then through the illusionary stage, where he thinks that he
is completely "independent and self-sufficient," he, as an unfolding human
soul, gradually becomes aware of the interrelationships that take place
between all that is seen and unseen. He recognizes that everything in the
world is interdependent. For every action, there is a reaction, and the
ripple effect of a person's thoughts, feelings and actions is far-reaching
and lasting. As a person awakens, he develops a greater sense of responsibility.
He is responsible for who he is and for what he has created. He knows that
he is building his future as well as the future of humanity with all that
he thinks, says, and does. His sense of righteousness, nobility, beauty,
and compassion increases. A deeper level of cooperation and unity also
increases as he overcomes those cleavages in his nature that made him live
for himself rather than for the whole of existence.
When groups of individuals begin to think in terms of the whole, they will emerge as leadership groups. Leadership groups are those groups who have subordinated their personal interests for the greater group interest. In esoteric Teachings it is said that, in the future, groups-not individuals working alone-will be contacts through which Greater Beings will transmit precious energies, inspiration and insight. Leadership groups will work in cooperation with other physical plane groups to bring about a change in consciousness for the welfare of all. They will work with groups in the subjective realms in order to bring about a more cosmic level of consciousness to humanity.
by Valarie Drost
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