In studying the Perennial Philosophy, scholars are invited and encouraged to journey from the universal to the particular. In keeping with this time-honored approach, allow me to frame our exploration of ‘Consciousness and Leadership’ inside a larger context provided by the Ageless Wisdom teaching before diving into the theme itself.
What if we view the Story of Creation as a grand cosmic strategy employed by the One Life to give form and expression to a deep inner urge “to be” that lives and pulses at the heart of Its Causeless Cause.
We might observe and surmise that manifested life throughout the universe shows up as an endless series of nested sentient systems – spheres of being contained by even greater states of consciousness that, in turn, hold other systems within their conscious and caring embrace. This, in fact, is the infinite and unbounded picture of lives-within-lives-within-lives described by the Greek Philosopher Anaxagoras when he declared: “Everything is contained in everything.”
Each system of lives (individual, organization, global etc.) ‘lives and moves and has its being’ inside the greater system that enfolds it and provides a deeper dimension of meaning and belonging. We could postulate that evolution of consciousness comes about through a process of learning by direct experience – resulting in a personal ‘aha’ moment which gives birth to an inner child of wisdom and knowing. The expanding spiral dance of evolution appears to proceed through a progressive entry into greater and more inclusive spheres and states of wholeness and identity.
The hallmark of a healthy system is free circulation of the life energy and one key role of the leadership function is to ensure that the system is aligned and infused with the energies of the greater system in which it is nested and that it subsequently nourishes the sub-systems of lives that form its constituent parts. Leadership establishes and ensures an unbroken living link in the Great Chain of Being.
We might even see leadership in electrical terms as a ‘lead’ that connects the various elements and links in the chain and allows the group to be charged with the ‘electric fire’ of higher purpose. When the system is duly ‘charged’ with this higher intent, it then responds by discharging its responsibilities – thus playing a necessary and vital part in the wellbeing of the greater scheme in which it resides.
The ‘New Leadership’ we urgently seek in these tumultuous times will emerge naturally as people assume responsibility for something greater than their own self-interests. One characteristic is an ability to register and respond as a wise and compassionate steward to a higher shared purpose and to a compelling vision of the future knocking on the door of the present as it seeks ways to fulfill its deep desire.
Leadership is not about personal charisma – it is about being magnetic and as we increase our spiritual and psycho-energetic bandwidth, the more we are able to register and take responsibility. This is how we become a potent ‘electrical lead’ in the etheric wiring system of the Sacred Eco-System of the Planet.
Leadership means being inside a constant and fiery stream of spiritual lightning so that the electrical power of the heavens can flow through our vehicle and reach the planes of earth. This function of leadership ‘grounds’ the electrical charge of purpose and fiery vision through applied action. True ‘leadership’ connects the power and potential of the inner realms with the dense fields of Earth so that the future can be precipitated into the present.
Leadership connects and facilitates all communication and communion within the system as well as among other systems that make up the Nested Universe. Leadership therefore involves both the Masculine and Feminine aspects working together in a dynamic and balanced relationship in order for life to flow into, around, through and from an organism or group field. Leadership is how we receive, register and respond to the Call of Life. It is how we ensure that the psychic conditions are conducive for the emergence and growth of the human spirit and that nothing is present in the field that could hinder its expression.
In this clear and simple way, each of us may step into a new and deeper dimension of leadership. We are being invited to become the vital and integral parts of a great coherent flow of loving purpose extending from the Heart of the Cosmos and into the mundane life of our beloved planet.
Michael Lindfield
Board President
Meditation Mount
Ojai, California