Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness - Administration from a Metaphysical Perspective (Part-1)

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About the Author Bhakti Tirtha Swami was born John E. Favors in a pious, God-fearing family. As a child evangelist, he appeared regularly on television, and as a young man, he was a leader in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s civil rights movement. At Princeton University, he became president of the student council and also served as chairman of the Third World Coalition. Although his main degree is in psychology, he has received accolades in many other fields, including politics, African studies, and international law.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami's books are used as reference texts in universities and leadership organizations throughout the world. Many of his books have been printed in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Macedonian, Croatian, Russian, Hebrew, Siovenian, Balinese, and Italian.

His Holiness has served as assistant coordinator for penal reform programs in the State of New Jersey, Office of the Public Defender, and as a director of several drug abuse clinics in the United States. In addition, he has been a special consultant for Educational Testing Services in the U.S.A. and has managed campaigns for politicians. Bhakti Tirtha Swami gained international recognition as a representative of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, particularly for his outstanding work with scholars in the former communist countries of Eastern Europe.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami directly oversaw projects in the United States (particularly Washington D.C., Potomac, Maryland, Detroit, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia), West Africa, South Africa, Switzerland, France, Croatia, and Bosnia. He also served as the director of the American Federation of Vaishnava Colleges and Schools.

In the United States, Bhakti Tirtha Swami was the founder and director of the Institute for applied Spiritual Technology, director of the International Committee for Urban Spiritual Development, and one of the international coordinators of the Seventh Pan African Congress. Reflecting his wide range of interests, he was also a member of the Institute for poetic Sciences, the Center for Defense Information, the United Nations Association for America, the National Peace Institute Foundation, the World Future Society, and the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders.

A specialist in international relations and conflict resolution, Bhakti Tirtha Swami constantly traveled around the world and had become a spiritual consultant to many high-ranking members of the United actions, to various celebrities, and to several chiefs, kings, and high court justices.

In 1990, His Holiness was coroneted as a high chief in Wary, Nigeria in recognition for his outstanding work in Africa and the world. In recent years, he met several times with then-President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to share visions and strategies for world peace.

In addition to encouraging self-sufficiency through the development of schools, clinics, farm projects, and cottage industries, Bhakti Tirtha Swami conducted seminars and workshops on principle-centered leadership, spiritual development, interpersonal relationships, stress and time management, and other pertinent topics. He was also widely acknowledged as a viable participant in the resolution of global conflict.

Foreword A few steps down the hallway from the Pentagon office in Washington, D.C. where I once ‘worked is what I consider to be one of the most important rooms in the building. It is a small, quiet place designated by the Secretary of Defense as a haven for people who want to simply "be" in silence for brief periods throughout the day. In a sense, it is an important center for training U.S. Defense Department personnel to be spiritually conscious leaders. Each day, scores of civilians and men and women in military uniform go there to center themselves, meditating and preparing themselves to "be all they can be."

In a similar way, Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness provides guidance for anyone who wants to grow and progress toward becoming a spiritually conscious leader. Spiritually conscious leaders are capable of accomplishing much more than most people. The secret for success lies in their commitment to a deep, powerful process, the process of transformation. They know what it takes to remove barriers to their own thinking and actions without hurting others. They are also skillful in empowering others to move beyond their own limitations. The commitment to an ongoing process of personal growth and change reaches higher and higher to ever greater fulfillment and happiness, and ultimately to ecstasy in the service of God and humanity.

But how does anyone become spiritually conscious? An essential first step is to learn to be centered. This requires regular practice in directing the conscious awareness to the center of one's being. The center of being is ultimately God. One useful vehicle that can be used to reach the center is the process of thought.

The spiritually conscious leader is an unusually adept thinker who has awakened to new possibilities. Such a leader has an understanding of the importance of thought and knows how to use it to cause internal personal change, to empower others to change and, yes, even to produce changes in the surrounding environment.

Our consciousness is perhaps the most valuable asset we have to shape our destiny, give direction to our lives, and generate the results that will fulfill our highest aspirations. The mind is a builder. It can be used to build up or to tear down, and to bring peace or war, health or disease, chaos or harmony. Thoughts are in sense raw materials, building blocks that we use to build the foundations to make our dreams come true. When we are one with God in consciousness, our dreams are part of the Master's plan for a better world.

It boggles the mind to understand that our seemingly insignificant thoughts and feelings can and do affect our own circumstances.

Without even knowing it, we are often caught in a condition of mental blindness. Freedom from this condition comes with the realization that thoughts and feelings affect our well-being, our physical bodies, our health, and the welfare of the communities in which we live. Sometimes it is just as mind- boggling for people in positions of authority to understand how they could possibly benefit from surrounding themselves with staff members and other spiritually conscious people who know the most basic principles of transformation. Such people can be powerful supports to leaders who seek to center themselves in higher consciousness.

Since the infinite cannot be contained within the finite limits of human thought, only a shift in consciousness can take us beyond the rational domain. It is by entering into the realm of "transcendental" thought that we finally enter the sanctuary of self-realization. Living our lives from this holy of holies, we become ever more attentive to the inspiration of the Spirit of God moving within us, aware of the awesome power of the presence of God, aware also that God moves the physical world by thought.

Awakening to this realization is like discovering a buried treasure.

Introduction Are you a leader? Is the role of leadership a part of your life? Is it a tipcart of your dreams? If the answer to these questions is "yes," this book has been written for you.

Leaders emerge in every life situation to guide others along a particular path of change and toward a final destination point. Effective leadership is not easy. History has shown that the responsibilities and hazards of leadership are as great as its rewards.

Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness was specifically written to help people who choose a role of leadership at this time in history, when mature leadership is most needed. However, anyone can apply the principles discussed in this book, because they encourage each person, family, organization, and nation to live in a way that upholds the sanctity and stability of all life on this planet. After all, as a global family we share the collective responsibility for the earth and her well-being.

Humankind is currently taking final examinations. Will we pass or fail? The great negativity manifesting in the world today indicates that we need to rethink our present course. We may ask ourselves: Who are we? Where are we going? And whom or what are we following? Obviously, if we are not happy with our present path, we must change direction. If you, dear leader, feel a responsibility to make a difference, then please read on. We live in an age of global awareness. Global communication networks span the earth, making information from all over the world available to the ordinary person. In addition, we are in the process of discovering the intimate, universal connections between humanity and all other life forms on this planet and in the universe. With this understanding, the meaning of leadership must expand to include an all-encompassing vision of the whole.

Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness starts with a list often essential technologies for empowered management. These technologies, which are useful in a wide variety of situations, can provide valuable points for reflection as you read this book.

The book is divided into three sections. Part I: Raising Consciousness lays a general foundation, describing principles of higher consciousness and their relevance to leadership. Part II: Developing Skills discusses specific qualities and skills that can be invaluable to leaders in today's world. Finally, Part III: Taking Action suggests policy areas in which leaders can take action to alleviate suffering, protect the planet as a whole, and help people lead more productive lives as they grow closer to God.

At the end of each chapter is a list of "Highlights" containing important passages from the text for review. A "Mindsets" section follows, providing meditations, reflections and exercises to help you apply the principles discussed in each chapter. Thus, Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness can serve effectively as a handbook or study guide for daily practice. You might want to read through the entire book first, and then from time to time review specific reflections and exercises in order to evaluate your progress and to gain insight into various areas.

Within the pages of this book, you are being instructed by a loving, unseen coalition. We want you to know that we are your friends who sit with you as you address the United Nations, Congress, Parliament, the Board of Directors, the community, and even your family. We appreciate your great strength and would lend you ours to complement your own. We extend strong encouragement to help you resolve what may seem to you to be impossible problems. We are aware of your good intentions and alert you to the dangers of temptation and deviation. We care for you, we love you, and we offer you simple advice for your own well-being. Finally, we are your devoted counselors who urge you to consider the primary importance of one essential ingredient for your progress, success and survival. That ingredient is love.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages