Reading time about 17 minutes
Vincent van Gogh - Enclosed Field with Ploughman
“Grace happens when we act with others on behalf of our world” – Joanna Macey
Imagine
Imagine that “Out
beyond ideas of religious, cultural and other codes, rules, ideas and belief or
disbelief in these ideas and practices, there is a field of non-dualism, of
unconditional and transcendent compassion and love, where words are not
necessary, we are fully connected, are as one. I'll meet you there”. This is a
paraphrasing of the Sufi poet Rumi’s:
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Perhaps the ‘field’ of which Rumi speaks is beyond the finite, and beyond what we will ever fully understand. Spirituality is not about knowledge, argument or skill but about love, devotion and soul to soul bridging. Words are unable to convey that reality. Quantum physicist David Bohm gets it right:
"The field of the finite is all that we can see, hear, touch, remember and describe. This field is basically that which is manifest, or tangible. The essential quality of the infinite, by contrast, is its subtlety, its intangibility. This quality is conveyed in the word spirit, whose root meaning is "wind or breath." This suggests an invisible but pervasive energy to which the manifest world of the finite responds. This energy, or spirit, infuses all living beings, and without it any organism must fall apart into its constituent elements. That which is truly alive in the living being is the energy of spirit, and this is never born and never dies". (Imagine Films. 2021)
It is in this realm that we find no separated self, no judgment, no misrepresentation of ideas, but a true presence. Energy or spirit and matter are one – matter can be understood as condensed energy. (Time and space similarly need not be separated nor contained by our usual thinking). We are truly awake and alive. And fed by community.
We can imagine now a World that is better, and heals as it is healed.
Two men share a hospital ward.
Paul is bedridden, dying.
Ghulam is near the window.
Every day he stands up, looks out, and relates to Paul what the world outside is like. He describes beautiful park gardens, birds, a bubbling brook. A mother comforting her child. People holding hands as they walk.
Unexpectedly, Ghulam dies. But his healing word-pictures have resulted in Paul’s recovery.
Paul asks if he may move to the window bed.
When he looks out of the window he looks directly at a blank, brick wall across the narrow road.
Image-ination transports us into a deeper consciousness. It’s a state like floating, being in a trance, timeless, dream-like, lost in a spa experience, the absence of trauma. Here we might discover our greater selves.
Spirituality
Many leaders continue to shy away from mention of the word ‘spirituality’ – especially in a hard-nosed ‘business’ context.
“One of our problems today is that we are not well acquainted with the literature of the spirit. We’re interested in the news of the day and the problems of the hour”. We fail to hear those “who speak of the eternal values that have to do with the centering of our lives”. (Campbell, J. 1988).
A view of spirituality:
· A deep internal focus and a sensitive outward execution
· a meaningful, transcending, pervasive world view that calls forth faith and hope and a higher purpose, and rises above religion, culture and ethnicity
· a deep appreciation of our wonderful interconnectedness
· an other - orientation. The desire to serve others, society and the environment.
· an awakening from ‘self’ - consciousness to a wider, deeper consciousness (and an understanding that there is an unknown, unfathomable, deeper reality (implicate – to use a David Bohm term) that holds together and is always interacting with what we see and know (explicate reality))
· the development of positive principles and character virtues, a mature ethics and morality in action (purity of heart) - along with a recognition that unconditional love is the highest virtue (not only desired, but reachable) (Williams, G. & Chalmers, C. 2017)
Spirituality is about the whole person, embracing the physical, intellectual, emotional, social.
When we’re spiritual we think, feel and act differently and there is congruence between these different parts. (We are acutely aware that there is a mystical, mysterious, inexplicable dimension to spirituality which we cannot capture here – an inner experience).
Until such time as spirituality and spiritual governance in organisations, institutions and nations is more entrenched, some backlash is expected.
When Beethoven wrote his Eroica symphony he was going deaf. The symphony is full of passion, protest and despair. He conveyed what he felt, being alive and human. The Eroica was pooh - poohed by the musicians of his day. But their contempt was misplaced. They were proven wrong, and Eroica forever changed our notion of what a symphony is. Analogous to the Eroica story is the Alcoholics Anonymous story, and the overcoming of what most thought could never be overcome. “For if words like love, honesty and trust can be mixed in with the sadness, fear, despair, and degradation of any alcoholic’s life, then maybe spirituality is something that alcoholics can claim, maybe there is something to this “higher power” stuff, something that can bring release, gratitude, humility, tolerance, and forgiveness back into lives that had lost all hope of ever experiencing them again”. (Kurtz & Ketcham, 1994)
Hopefully there will be an awakening to the veracity of spiritual governance, and that the necessary conversations and actions take place in organisations.
Spiritual leadership within corporations may come from different religious traditions, but spirituality is not synonymous with religiosity. For example, Bereket in Turkey successfully follow four interlinked streams to serve the common good. Each stream is balanced to ensure practicality. They are:
· spiritual depth,
· ethical sensitivity,
· positive engagement
· community responsiveness. (Karakas & Sarigollu, 2013)
Starbucks found that spirituality enhances performance and benefits customers, employees and other stakeholders. (Marques, 2008)
The different language of Poetry can paint a word-picture that enables us to touch otherwise elusive and indescribable meaning.
“… may we in this life trust to those elements we have yet to see or imagine
And find the true shape of our own self by forming it well to the great intangibles about us”
- David Whyte (Working Together)
Values, Maturity and Culture in the context of spirituality
Society is currently characterised by values such as look after number one; survival of the fittest; be happy and embrace pleasure; self-esteem is grown when we succeed - and success means amassing wealth, property and possessions, recognition, and having power and knowledge; strive to impress by aiming at perfection.
And we pay only nominal attention to developing
our personhood and presence, having a higher purpose, focussing on others and
being caring and compassionate, and stewarding the planet. These latter
interior values (not externally determined) move us towards better relating,
raised consciousness, becoming fully human. And being able to truly live wild,
live free. And be
encouraged, “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will
have neighbors”. (Confucius)
C.S. Lewis on the nature of goodness:
Moral Value is Objective (NOT subjective) - is discovered (reasoned and elemental) not projected premise. A fundamental, foundational nature of what it means to be human - an inheritance by the human family. (The Tao = the way) A universally embedded moral environment (objectivity of values) and adopted by diverse authorities: Babylonian, Hindu, Jewish, Egyptian, Aboriginal, Native American, Greek, Roman, Christian, Buddhist, Chinese…
Subjectivism and Totalitarianism can happen in communist, capitalist, fascist, democratic, positivist use of unconstrained POWER (valued for itself) - Objective moral value is the guide to prevent tyranny and slavery. (In our times the assumption of power by a self-appointed, subjective "elite" to bring about their "new world order"). The umbrella of Tao is an imperative, concrete "good" reality. Practical reason.
We have a bridge between objective and subjective value so
that objective value doesn't become absolute and dictatorial but allows for the
subjective to find the objective (from The Magician's Nephew) "For
what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it
also depends on what sort of person you are".
So philosophically, not theologically for the human
species:
- Moral Value is Objective
- Moral Value is Universally Held to be Objective
- We learn moral Value by Practice
A lifeblood Hierarchy of values that must steer our thinking:
1. Eternal world
2. Social and political matters
A lovely modern parable illustrating all that has been written about above is Trina Paulus’s Hope for the Flowers.
A precis of Hope for the Flowers:
Stripe the caterpillar seeks more, remains unsatisfied. Other caterpillars could not help. One day he found and joined a huge, tall pile of squirming caterpillars. A caterpillar pillar. They were all pushing and struggling to get to the top. Stripe was excited, thinking that here he might find what he sought. Everyone was too busy to explain, no one knew what was at the top, but everyone believed it had to be good if they all wanted to get there. “Stripe was pushed and kicked and stepped on from every direction. It was climb or be climbed…”. A single-minded approach. No friends, only obstacles and threats. Everyone pushing to get to the top.
And then he met Yellow, who was having doubts. But one day she was blocking his way up and he stepped on her head to get ahead. He felt bad and apologised. She cried and confessed that she hated life on the pillar, wanted out. Stripe felt the same way. After a long while they found themselves on the side of the pillar, on some soft, green grass. They hugged and felt good. Enjoyed every moment. Were happy to be off the pillar and in love. But Stripe grew restless, became unsure, and began to long for the climbing life again. One day one of the caterpillars that fell off the pillar didn’t die at once but gasped “The top … they’ll see … butterflies alone…” and then died. Stripe wanted to go back and did so after a long while thinking and being in turmoil. Yellow was pulled and pushed in both directions but eventually decided she could not, knowing deep down that climbing was a wrong choice.
Yellow was desolated. She waited and waited for Stripe to return. One day she wandered off and met a grey-haired caterpillar. He was hanging upside down from a tree and explained that he was starting the process of making a cocoon in order to become a butterfly, something “…you are meant to become. It flies with beautiful wings and joins the earth to heaven. It drinks only nectar from the flowers and carries the seeds of love from one flower to another”. Yellow couldn’t believe that she, an unattractive worm, could be a butterfly. Nor that she would have to die before she could have this new life, when she could really love. The grey-haired caterpillar assured her that after she was changed, she could fly to Stripe and try and convince him also to become a butterfly. And so, she took the risk …
Meanwhile, Stripe was making fast, ruthless progress up the caterpillar pillar. But the pillar was taking its toll and he was quite exhausted as he neared the top. And those nearest the top were all ruthless, and their only way to the very top was to get rid of competitors. Many fell off.
And eventually he saw that there was nothing at the top. But lots of other caterpillar pillars could be seen. He thought of Yellow. And then: “A brilliant yellow winged creature was circling the pillar, moving freely – a wonderful sight! How did it get so high without climbing?”
Most were unable to let go of the dark and gloomy space that was the pillar, but Stripe, having seen a butterfly, began the long way down the pillar. At the bottom he fell asleep and on waking the yellow creature was “fanning him with wings of light … stroked him with her feelers … looked lovingly at him” and showed him how to enter a cocoon. Although afraid, he took the risk.
And Yellow waited. And one day …. (Paulus, T. 1972)
Two aspects of spirituality deserve special mention. Maturity and presence.
Maturity
Areas of maturity (applied intelligences if you like), include:
SPIRITUAL
MATURITY
Is an
outcome of being that precedes doing and realises that values
that are not converted to character virtues remain empty talk. Spiritual
maturity is demonstrated by metanoia (bigger picture, non-dualistic thinking),
and kenosis (self-emptying beyond merely being prosocial). Ken
Wilbur points out that spiritual waking up without growing up can be disastrous
and abrasive. Thus, taken further, cleaning up should precede showing up.
Wilbur
also points out that pioneering psychologist Abraham Maslow topped his
framework for self-actualisation with transpersonal needs, which include
compassion.
“…
according to this more recent research, those at the lower stages of Growing Up
almost always interpret their spirituality in power-driven, egocentric, and
ethnocentric ways, thus actually predisposing them—causing them—to be
hatred-driven and given to murder, torture, and warfare—and all, of course, in
the name of the love of their God. Yet individuals at the higher stages of this
Growing Up development almost always interpret their spirituality in open,
loving, compassionate, and all-humans-included ways.
The
stunning breakthrough in the last century is that we finally discovered the
major steps and stages that this overall Growing Up or development goes through.
And thus, for the first time in history, we have some say as to whether a
person’s spiritual reality will incline them toward hatred and war, or toward
love and compassion”.
(Wilbur, K. 2018)
EMOTIONAL
MATURITY
Emotional
Intelligence is being self-aware and managing our own emotions effectively, and
with due respect to others. (Goleman, D. 1995)
Emotional
immaturity is when people are unable or reluctant to express their feelings
appropriately or at all, shy away from venturing beyond being shallow, work
towards becoming other-oriented and being empathic - and instead, remain
self-serving, egoic. They cannot admit to being wrong or having made a mistake
and have commitment issues. ...
Emotional
immaturity makes people prone to work-a-holism (often to mask their lack of
self- esteem)
SOCIAL
MATURITY
Social
intelligence is the way we apply a rational, moderating brake to our
evolutionary-wired and memory-driven primitive, impulsive being. As we mature,
we become more socially adept, grow skills like listening, understanding, being
prosocial, and building healthy relationships. Share stories.
Where
the focus is on self and others do not matter, then the development of
narcissistic tendencies is possible. A sociopathic component of personality makes
us socially immature. Conversely the development of reliability, respect,
trust, compassion and a giving rather than taking nature (especially in hard
times) indicate social maturity. (Goleman, D. 2006) A recent interesting
finding aligns with dan Siegel’s shared mind idea (discussed in article 3) –
that leader-follower minds fuse (Goleman D. & Boyatzis, R. E. 2008)
COGNITIVE
MATURITY
Thinking
with a larger mind (metanoia) allows for engagement with paradox, ambiguity,
uncertainty, unpredictability. Thinking non - dualistically in ‘and/both’ terms
rather than ‘either/or’ terms often lead to better sense making, problem
solving, decision making, and a predisposition to accept diversity. (This
includes thinking in terms of relationship-building being the best route to
superior task performance).
Cognitive
maturity allows for open-mindedness, adaptability, and agile response. It
usually goes hand in hand with sound self-esteem (which in turn admits to
genuineness, authenticity, imperfection and vulnerability). And a mature
thinking capacity spans the temporal range (future, past and present) including
non-tick tock/linear time.
ETHICAL
MATURITY
Oberlechner
puts it succinctly: “Virtue ethics … emphasizes the character,
motivation, and intention of the decision maker. The understanding of ethics in
virtue ethics represents a comprehensive approach, not a specific approach,
because it moves beyond the examination of single isolated issues or
situations. It looks at ethics from an agent-based perspective, not an
action-based perspective; it addresses characteristics of the decision maker’s
personality rather than particular actions (as in the rules and guidelines for
actions in deontological theories) or consequences of actions (as in
consequentialist theories)”. (Oberlechner, T. 1997)
Development is affected by numerous factors but tends
to move from self – interest (reinforced by punishment avoidance, then
later by reward seeking), then meeting the expectations of others (for their
approval, and later in the interest of law and order); then becoming principled
(adopting principles that promote societal welfare - a ‘social contract’,
followed by entrenching principles that are arrived at through independent
reasoning - a personal virtues framework
and a level of responsibility to self) (Oberlechner, T. 2007)
PHYSICAL MATURITY
Embodiment
and interoception are areas of study based on an interrelated mind - body
concept. (The physiological, psychological and psychosocial interplays between
the causes, reactions to and alleviation of stress and trauma, for example, are
now widely accepted). Physical stirrings may trigger intuitive insights.
These different maturities are not separate from each other. Cognitive maturity might come into play when having to solve a problem, make a decision, make sense of something - but without the spiritual aspect of wisdom it will not be sufficient. Technical/ Task maturity and all the knowledge and experience in the world, if not linked with the relationship dynamics of emotional and social maturity, will not result in optimum workplace performance and employee growth. Ethical maturity is in some ways an outcome of an intersection of spiritual, cognitive and social maturity. And being mature in the midst of a heated argument, and pausing to identify feelings and reaction possibilities before responding (verbally or physically) may be driven by the intersection of a number of the maturities outlined above.
Presence
(Bonnell, D. 2011)
Summary of this 5-article series
We need a meaningful response to malaise that cloaks society as economic, environmental, technological and societal woes beset us and we find ourselves leaderless, betrayed, lied to, and on the cusp of losing not only our freedom but our very humanity. I have been disturbed to see the very fragility of democracy, and how easily the legal system can be kidnapped to introduce undemocratic and discriminatory laws, to harshly punish the ‘disobedient’, reinforce totalitarianism.
(This is nothing new. Round about 80 years ago C.S. Lewis (as discussed by Steven Wedgeworth) wrote "(The Abolition of Man,) The Hideous Strength, about the 'elite' technocrats (and "their applied science from a National point of view", who run the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments; their 'logical positivism'. These “men without chests” - those thinkers and supposed educators who promote brain and stomach, but reject the validity of mind and heart". In their viewMan doesn't need nature and should evolve beyond mere humanity - and will use 'science' freely, use emergency powers, transcend normal law in order to achieve their aims, and in the process become god. (Wedgeworth, s. 2013)
Reversal of this evil requires
the building of solid, sustainable values that convert to virtues, the building
of structures that last, the building of bridges not walls at every level.
Such a meaningful response draws on latent,
emerging capacities of heart and mind, a counter-intuitive process of
engagement with others, and an understanding of the degree to which we are
interconnected, compassionate beings – a humankind that is human and kind. This
is soul work.
This is not a call to activate protest but to
invoke compassion, wisdom, connection, beauty, wonder, gratitude, forgiveness –
and habitual reflection that fills our minds with good.
“Maybe urgency is inviting us to slow down,
to listen, to see who is here with us, to consult, and then to respond to
glimpses of possibility that peek through the fabric of the moment” – Bayo
Akomolafe, Nigerian-born philosopher, author and psychologist.
Meditation and Dialogue is in some quarters referred to as and ‘sacred activism’, and integral to our response. As is Story bridging and circle work. We lead from the heart-mind (with a deeper understanding of ‘mind’ as having a bridging capacity that operates in both explicate and implicate reality)
A thread of healing runs through the 5
discussions
Can we do enough? Can we be enough?
Dominique Lapierre relates an incident when he
offered a contribution to Mother Theresa’s work:
“Mother, I know that what we have brought is
only a drop in the ocean of need…”
Her reply: “But if that drop were not in
the ocean, the ocean would miss it. And it is God who has sent you”, she
interrupted me with amused gentleness. (Lapierre, D. 1999)
Rabbi Baal Shem Tov died in Ukraine in the 18th century. During his last days because he knew that his disciples would feel lost without him, he called on them disciples to gather around, saying to them, “For many years I have gone to a special place in the forest, lit a fire, prayed. And God has always come to our aid and we felt His love”.
“But what now that you are leaving us?”, they cried out in anguish.
“You know where to go and what to do”,
he said.
For many years after his death, his followers
did as they were instructed when they were in need, and all was well.
A generation later, the people forgot how to
properly make ready and light the fire. But it was enough. God still came to
their aid. And they let His love.
Years later as changes took place and yet
another generation came into being, the community could no longer remember
precisely where the holy place was. But because they still prayed, God heard
them, loved them, and came to help them.
Eventually as time went by, they lost the
habit of prayer. All except for one person to whom Baal Shem Tov’s story and instructions
were handed down.
That person continued to pray, and retold the
story, once more shared the instructions.
And it was enough.
Poised
The world is in a sorry state, but a wonderful
new world is poised to emerge from the ashes as things play out. We are poised
to contribute in a wonderful way (without any superiority nor arrogance) as we employ
our minds and hearts and connections and tap into the capacities and resources
available to us. What, how and when are of course highly individual matters and
choices.
Contemporary of Sigmund Freud, Japanese psychologist Shōma Morita: “When it is raining, if you have an umbrella, then use it”.
Bashō beautifully and exactly captures this uncertainty of what happens next. Like the dragonfly, humankind is delicately poised. (Hass, 2010).
The dragonfly
can't quite land
on that blade of grass (Bashō)
During this poised, liminal space, a personal
exercise worth doing may be:
R.P.Steiner
Think about the negative occurrences and consequences, the baggage that hinders your ability to live fully. Actively imagine lifting this heavy weight (symbolised by a rock) and throwing it away. A rock that is keeping the boat (you) from being able to float and travel as it was designed to do.
The
rocks may represent a relationship that needs mending, a limiting belief, a
button that keeps on being pushed, a fixed/ rigid mind-set, a bias or prejudice
that surfaces from time to time, a shadow aspect of yourself that you have pushed
beneath the surface because you’ve been conditioned to hide from others what
might make you less acceptable - a behaviour, a compulsion, aspiration, fear, even
the hiding of a wonderful interest or strength.
As each
rock is lifted and thrown out of the boat, consider its impact on yourself,
others.
Letting
go of divisiveness releases inclusivity, a threat or problem may become an
opportunity, criticism gives way to acceptance and praise, releasing anger and
hate ushers in peace and love, seeing beyond doubt about someone’s ability
exposes their potential … most times the cost of letting go is less than the
cost of hanging on. Letting go, discarding what inhibits, holds back is
wonderfully liberating and frees us to do and become what we may be. More than
enough.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Will staying true to the Tao, slowing down, returning to nature and our true nature, practicing of gratitude, wonder, forgiveness; building small communities, being compassionate, standing up for and ushering in a new normal we can be proud of and wish our children to inherit – help to turn things around? What early steps would you recommend to someone wish to escape the paradigms, values and behaviours of the World that have recently emerged, and instead live wild and live free?
2. What actions are most needed in our society and our organisations now to bring Hope for the Flowers?
3. What do you read into Antony Gormley’s sculpture “Quantum Cloud” in terms of the 5 articles in this series (bringing light in - to counter darkness; our interconnectedness, integration and the mind; the nature of dialogue and thought pools; living wild and living free with heart and soul)?
REFERENCES
Bonnell, Daniel painting (2011) The Road to Emmaus
Campbell, J. (1988) The Power of Myth New York: Doubleday
Goleman,
Daniel (1995) Emotional intelligence Bantam Books, NY
Goleman,
Daniel (2006) Social Intelligence Hutchinson, London
Goleman, Daniel and Boyatzis, Richard E. (2008) Social Intelligence and the Biology of leadership HBR https://hbr.org/2008/09/social-intelligence-and-the-biology-of-leadership
Karakas, F. & Sarigollu, E. (2013) The Role of Leadership in Creating Virtuous and Compassionate Organizations: Narratives of Benevolent Leadership in an Anatolian Tiger Journal of Business Ethics 113:663–678
Kurtz, Ernest & Ketcham, Katherine (1994) The Spirituality of Imperfection; storytelling and the journey to wholeness Bantam Books
Lapierre, Dominique (1999) A Thousand Suns Simon & Schuster UK
Marques, J.F. (2008) Spiritual performance from an organizational perspective: the Starbucks way Corporate Governance: The international journal of business in society, Volume: 8 Issue: 3
Oberlechner, Thomas (1997) The Psychology of Ethics in the
Finance and Investment Industry The Research Foundation of the CFA
Institute 2007, citing Dobson, J. Ethics in Finance II Financial Analysts
Journal, vol. 53, no. 1 (January/February):15–25. 1997
Oberlechner, Thomas (2007) The Psychology of Ethics in the Finance
and Investment Industry The Research
Foundation of the CFA Institute 2007
citing Kohlberg, L., C. Levine, and A. Hewer Moral Stages: A Current Formulation and a Response to Critics In Contributions to Human
Development, Vol. 10.
1983 Edited by J.A. Meacham. New York: Karger
Paulus,
Trina (1972) Hope for the Flowers Paulus Press
Rohr,
Richard (2020) Love, the Highest Form of Knowing (Knowing and not
Knowing) Centre for Action and Contemplation Friday January 31st
2020
Siegel, Daniel J. MD (2018) Aware: the science and practice of
presence (The ground-breaking meditation practice) Perigee
Tolle,
Eckhart Eckhart Tolle Teaching the Power of Presence Personal
Growth Information.com
Vincent van Gogh - Enclosed Field with Ploughman
Wedgeworth, Steven (2013) From The Politics of N.I.C.E. Calvinist International
https://calvinistinternational.com/2013/02/24/the-politics-of-n-i-c-e/
Wilbur, Ken (2018) Wake Up. Grow Up. The Leading Edge of the Unknown in the Human Being Amazon
http://integral-life-home.s3.amazonaws.com/Wilber-WakeUpGrowUp-TheEdgeOfTheUnknown.pdf
Williams, Graham with Chalmers, Carolynn
(2017) The Arrival of Corporate Spiritual Governance Journal of
Spirituality, Leadership and Management, 2017, vol. 9, pp. 1-19 www.slam.org.au Published by Spirituality, Leadership and
Management Inc
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