按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Having a good reputation or becoming well…known for your work can be a hindrance to your further development。
Fame is as burdensome as caring for yourself properly。
What is the problem with praise and criticism？
If the group applauds one thing you do； and then you feel good； you will worry if they do not applaud as loudly the next time。 If they are critical； if they argue or complain； you will feel hurt。 Either way； you are anxious and dependent。
How can a good reputation be a hindrance？
A good reputation naturally arises from doing good work。 But if you try to cherish your reputation； if you try to preserve it； you lose the freedom and honesty necessary for further development。
How is fame like caring for yourself？
In order to do good work； you must take good care of yourself。 You must value yourself and allow others to value you also。 But if you make too much of yourself； you will become egocentric。 Egocentricity injures both self and work。
If you can live with the fruits of success and care for yourself properly； you will be able to foster success in other people。
14
When you cannot see what is happening in a group； do not stare harder。 Relax and look with your inner eye。
When you do not understand what a person is saying； do not grasp for every word。 Give up your efforts。 Become silent inside and listen with your deepest self。
When you are puzzled by what you see or hear； push less； open out and be aware。 See without staring。 Listen quietly rather than listening hard。 Use intuition and reflection rather than trying to figure things out。
The more you can let go of trying； and the more open and receptive you become； the more easily you will know what is happening。
Also； stay in the present。 The present is more available than either memories of the past or fantasies of the future。
So attend to what is happening now。
15
＇The Leader's Teachers＇ practiced meditation。 Meditation made them good at seeing how things happen。 Meditation grounded them in the infinite。 That is why they sometimes appeared deep and inscrutable； sometimes even great。
Their leadership did not rest on technique or on theatrics； but on silence and on their ability to pay attention。
They moved with grace and awareness； and they were able to negotiate complex situations safely。
They were considerate。 They did no injury。 They were courteous and quiet； like guests。 They knew how to yield gracefully and how to be natural and inconspicuous。
They were as open and receptive and available as the valleys that lie among the hills。
They could clarify events for others； because they had done it for themselves。 They could speak to the depths of another person； because they had known their own deeper conflicts and blocks。
Because they had given up selfishness； they could enhance others。
They were not trying to become enlightened； because they were enlightened。
16
To become more profound； give up your selfishness。 Let go of your efforts to be perfect or rich or secure or admired。 Such efforts only limit you。 They block your universality。
Letting go is like dying。 Everything emerges； becomes formed； and dies。 You； too。
When you die； you give up selfishness。 You become one with everything else。
My deeper self knows that I am one with everything else anyway。 All creation is a single whole which works according to a single principle。
I let my selfishness go and give up the illusion of being separate。 I act in behalf of the whole。 I benefit me and I benefit you。 I am at odds with no one。 I am at peace； and have energy to spare； because I am not resisting what is happening。
Death is not frightening； because I know how to let go； and I know the nature of the Eternal。
17
The wise leader does not intervene unnecessarily。 The leader's presence is felt； but often the group runs itself。
Lesser leaders do a lot； say a lot； have followers； and form cults。
Even worse ones use fear to energize groups to overcome resistance。
Only the most dreadful leaders have bad reputations。
Remember that you are facilitating another person's process。 It is not your process。 Do not intrude。 Do not control。 Do not force your own needs and insights into the foreground。
If you do not trust a person's process； that person will not trust you。
Imagine that you are a midwife； you are assisting at someone else's birth。 Do good without show or fuss。 Facilitate what is happening rather than what you think ought to be happening。 If you must take the lead； lead so that the mother is helped； yet still free and in charge。
When the baby is born； the mother will rightly say： 〃We did it ourselves！〃
18
Do not lose sight of the single principle： how everything works。
When this principle is lost and the method of meditating on process fails； the group becomes mired in intellectual discussion of what could have happened； what should have happened； what this technique or that might do。 Soon the group will become quarrelsome and depressed。
Once you leave the path of simple consciousness； you enter the labyrinth of cleverness； competition； and imitation。
When a lesser person forgets that all creation is a unity； allegiance goes to lesser wholes such as the family； the home team； or the company。
Nationalism； racism； classism； sexism： all arise as consciousness of unity is lost。 People take sides and favour this versus that。
19
Forget those clever techniques and self…improvement programs； and everyone will be better off。
Do not promise to cure people； to make people feel good； to make life sane or fair or humane。 Do not offer programs that appeal to selfishness； programs that teach how to be rich； powerful； sexy … and greedy； paranoid； an manipulative。
No teacher can make you be happy； prosperous； healthy； or powerful。 No rules or techniques can enforce these qualities。
If you wish to improve yourself； try silence or some other cleansing discipline that will gradually show you your true selfless self。
20
Our job is to facilitate process and clarify conflicts。 This ability depends less on formal education than on common sense and traditional wisdom。
The highly educated leader tends to respond in terms of one theoretical model or another。 It is better simply to respond directly to what is happening here and now。
Make sure that any model you do have is compatible with traditional wisdom； admire the wise of all religions。
For example； most people act in order to fill their desires。 They believe that the world serves them。 But the wise leader serves others and is relatively desireless； even defenseless。
Most people are plagued by endless needs； but the wise leader is content with relatively little。 Most people lead busy lives； but the wise leader is quiet and reflective。 Most people seek stimulation and novelty； but the wise leader refers what is common and natural。
Being content permits simplicity in life。 What is common is universal。 What is natural is close to the source of creation。
This is traditional wisdom。
�