It’s a longer distance from monks to monkeys than you think.
Karla Boyd
[The Buddha] tried to persuade [the monks] to live in peace, speaking out against
disharmony again and again, but when he saw that there who were not responding,
he decided to go to the forest.
disharmony again and again, but when he saw that there who were not responding,
he decided to go to the forest.
Eknath Easwaran
Some of us are in a global renaissance of positive communication cultures aligned with harmonious actions. AND more organizations need to “up” their commitment to providing leadership development to stakeholders. Individuals need to be groomed in good vibrations and how to let go of the muck. (http://namasteglobalvision.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NamasteDeclaringNewFuture-3%20copy.pdf)
Recently, I learned about organizations brewing trouble. The common theme was personal conflicts; some veiled and others, blatant and ambushing. Both styles were causing breakdown, one organization destroying its best leadership. It boiled down to a few things: unhealthy communication, team member disrespect and little personal leadership development.
In a recent blog post, FIRST, DO NO HARM: THE QUALITY OF CARE, (http://consultingforpassion.blogspot.com/2014/08/first-do-no-harm-quality-of-care.html), I write about the Hippocratic oath. What would happen if OUR first order of business is “first, do no harm?” What if organizations invested in ALL stakeholders having leadership development? What if we became positive alignment organizations?
Meditation teacher Eknath Easwaran chronicles a story about the Buddha.[1] The Buddha goes into exile because the monks would not stop their bickering. I’m sure some of you can relate. The monks were miserable when the Buddha left.
The Buddha, however, has a marvelous time. An elephant, delighted to be with the Buddha, bows down in respect. After a bit, the elephant goes off in search of his friend, the monkey. They return with bananas, juicy mangos and leaves for the Buddha. In the evening, the elephant makes a bed of leaves for the Buddha and keeps watch over him.
Isn’t it wonderful when team members are aligned in harmony and flow? When that happens, ease and friendship show up. In our story, the monkey, elephant and the Buddha go to the river and play together for days, joyously happy. The monks however, lagging behind, are stuck in negativity and gloom.
In Naked Liberty, Carolyn Resnick writes that wild horses taught her the value of leadership training:
Leadership behavior is a good thing when it supports the well-being of each individual and keeps the peace. I could see the dominant horses wanting to be led when Mustano led them back to their kinder ways and checked them for their bad behavior. Such leadership gives dominant horses security.[2]
Completing our Buddha story, the monks realized that their disputes and negative minds drove away noble leadership. Ready to make a change, they asked the Buddha to return.
As the monks met the monkey and elephant, they discovered the meaning of respect. The monkey and elephant embodied love and honor for the Buddha. The monks saw the personal work they needed to do to align as a harmonious team–like the team that the elephant and monkey were.
People and organizations need coaching in order to manifest core values and visions. All need support and empowerment. Many require recovery from toxic cultures. The key ingredient to succeed? WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE.
Reader, what commitment will you make to personal leadership development? And has a horse, childhood dog or encounter with wildlife helped you become more loving?
[1] Essence of the Dhammapada: The Buddhist’s Call to Nirvana by Eknath Easwaran; Nilgiri Press, 2013
[2] Naked Liberty by Carolyn Resnick, Amigo Publications, Inc., 2005
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