第 187 节
作者:九米      更新:2021-02-19 21:29      字数:9165
  47
  The wise leader knows what is happening in a group by being aware of what is happening here and now。 This is more potent than wandering off into various theories or making complex interpretations of the situation at hand。
  Stillness; clarity; and consciousness are more immediate than any number of expeditions into the distant lands of one's mind。
  Such expeditions; however stimulating; distract both the leader and the group members from what is actually happening。
  By staying present and aware of what is happening; the leader can do less yet achieve more。
  48
  Beginners acquire new theories and techniques until their minds are cluttered with options。
  Advanced students forget their many options。 They allow the theories and techniques that they have learned to recede into the background。
  Learn to unclutter your mind。 Learn to simplify your work。
  As you rely less and less on knowing just what to do; your work will become more direct and more powerful。 You will discover that the quality of your consciousness is more potent than any technique or theory or interpretation。
  Learn how to be fruitful the blocked group or individual suddenly becomes when you give up trying to do just the right thing。
  49
  The wise leader does not impose a personal agenda or value system on the group。
  The leader follows the group's lead and is open to whatever emerges。 The leader judges no one and is attentive to both 'good' and 'bad' people。 It does not even matter whether a person is telling the truth or lying。
  Being open and attentive is more effective than being judgmental。 This is because people naturally tend to be good and truthful when they are being received in a good and truthful manner。
  Perhaps the leader seems na飗e and childlike in this uncritical openness to whatever emerges。 But openness is simply more potent than any system of judgements ever devised。
  50
  Existence consists of both life and death。 Favouring either life or death denies existence and creates tension。 Tension causes people to make mistakes in critical situations。 Mistakes are far more deadly than existence itself。
  Thirty percent of the people love life and fear death。
  Another thirty percent prefer death and avoid life。
  Another thirty percent fear both life and death。
  Ninety percent of the people suffer the tension that comes from the tension that comes from ignorance of how polarities work。 Even though life and death are opposites; they are inseparable。 Preferences are futile。
  Only ten percent have the wisdom to accept both life and death as facts and simply enjoy the dance of existence。 After all; growth and decay are everywhere; all the time。
  The wise leader knows that everything comes and goes。 So why grasp or cling? Why worry or cringe? Why live in a fantasy of what might happen?
  The ferocious dog bites the excited person。 The conscious and centered person walks by unharmed。
  The wise leader exists without either loving death or fearing death。 This freedom keeps the leader safe from harm。
  51
  Everything; every behaviour; is a vibratory pattern or process。 Such process emerges; develops; and decays; according to the single principle。
  People have a natural reverence for the principle; and they naturally love the vibratory energy which obeys the principle。
  The vibratory energy and the principle make a partnership; which produces an infinite variety of forms。 But the partnership takes no profit from its productivity。 Neither does it get its power by making things happen in a coercive manner。 There are simply no alternatives; there is no other way。
  This partnership between principle and process is the first fact of life and of our work。
  52
  All creation consists of polarities。 The fundamental polarity of creation is called Plus/Minus。 Yin/Yang; or Feminine/Masculine。
  This fundamental polarity is self…impregnating。 It is an androgynous womb which produces everything。
  Everything includes me。 I am a process consisting of polarities; which develop according to the single principle。 I am a child of God。 I come from the womb of creation。
  This knowledge gives me stability。
  If I were to put my faith in some thing or person or creed; I would have no stability。 People and things and creeds come and go and change all the time。 I would live in fear that the thing I adore would be lost; or the person I obeyed would die; or the creed I followed would be altered。
  So my only allegiance is to the single principle。
  I can look at a person and see both principle and process in them。 I can see how they work。 I can see them actually working。 That is the basis of my ability as a group leader。
  From knowing how things work; I also know the importance of staying flexible。 Everything that grows is flexible。 All enduring strength is flexible。
  I know too that my allegiance to principle and process means that I am not afraid of dying。 I have nothing to lose。 I know that I am an aspect of the Eternal。 My home is the womb of creation。 Dying is going home。
  53
  The wise leader leads a quiet and meditative life。 But most people are busy getting as many possessions as they can。
  The quiet path leads toward a more conscious existence。 The busy path creates an exaggerated materialism。
  Becoming more conscious leads toward God and a sense of the unity of all creation。 But excessive consumption is only possible by exploiting someone。
  The world's goods are unevenly distributed。 Some have a great deal。 Most have very little。 We are running out of enough resources to go around。 Everyone knows that。
  Yet those who are already encumbered by possessions get more and more。 They even brag about how much they have。 Don't they know what stealing is?
  Owning lots of possessions does not come from God。 People get it by manipulating other people。
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  Do you want to be a positive influence in the world? First; get your own life in order。 Ground yourself in the single principle so that your behaviour is wholesome and effective。 If you do that; you will earn respect and be a powerful influence。
  Your behaviour influences others through a ripple effect。 A ripple effect works because everyone influences everyone else。 Powerful people are powerful influences。
  If your life works; you influence your family。
  If your family works; your family influences the community。
  If your community works; your community influences the nation。
  If your nation works; your nation influences the world。
  If your world works; the ripple effect spreads throughout the cosmos。
  Remember that your influence begins with you and ripples outward。 So be sure that your influence is both potent and wholesome。
  How do I know all this works?
  All growth spreads outward from a fertile and potent nucleus。 You are a nucleus。
  55
  People who surrender all their blocks and conflicts experience a free flow of vital energy。
  They look as radiant as a baby; and they employ a childlike immunity to injury。 Bugs don't bite them。 Dogs don't attack them。 Trouble…makers leave them alone。
  Their bodies seem relaxed and pliant; but their stamina and strength are remarkable。 They are sexually moving without being overly erotic。 They can sing or even yell for a long time and never get hoarse。
  It is as if they were newly in love; not with one person; but with all creation; and their energies are as abundant as all creation。
  It is a mistake to confuse excitement or arousal with the vital flow of enlightenment。 Stimulants and emotional adventures arouse people; but such arousal does not enhance one's energies。 On the contrary; excitement spends energy and exhausts vitality。
  Think of excitement as tension that comes when stimulation meets resistance。 The exciting experience ends when the stimulation stops or when a person wears out。
  But the vitality of enlightenment is a continuous flow。 It meets no resistance and goes on and on without stress。
  Excitement is rooted in passing desires。 Vital energy springs from the eternal。
  56
  The wise leader knows that the true nature of events cannot be captured in words。 So why pretend?
  Confusing jargon is one sure sign of a leader who does not know how things happen。
  But what cannot be said can be demonstrated: be silent; be conscious。 Consciousness works。 It sheds light on what in happening。 It clarifies conflicts and harmonizes the agitated individual or group field。
  The leader also knows that all existence is a single whole。 Therefore; the leader is a neutral observer who takes no sides。
  The leader cannot be seduced by offers or threats。 Money; love; or fame … whether gained or lost … do not sway the leader from center。
  The leader's integrity is not idealistic。 It rests on a pragmatic knowledge of how things work。
  57
  Run an honest; open group。 Your job is to facilitate and illuminate what is happening。 Interfere as little as possible。 Interference; however brilliant; creates a dependency on the leader。
  The fewer the rules the better。 Rules reduce freedom and res