The Yin of Inner Leadership - 恭 kyo

 

 

 

The Yin of Inner Leadership

 

 

陰

 

yin

 

literally, "the female principle"

 

 

 

4. Respect

 

恭

 

kyo

 

literally, "respectful" or "reverent"

Respect for all living things

underlies all the Tao leader's decisions and actions.

 

 

Those who would govern wisely

Must first respect life.

 

(Tao, 75)

 

 

 

Respect for ouselves,

Respect for one another,

and Respect for life itself.

 

 

Tao leaders live close to nature.

Their actions flow from the heart.

 

(Tao, 8)

 

 

Respect as Power

 

 

Take time to listen, observe,

and discover the spark of greatness in the people you know.

As a Tao leader,

you inspire others by making that spark come alive.

 

 

Soft is Strong

 

 

The Power of Trust

 

 

Who gives from the heart to all the world?

Only one who leads with Tao.

 

(Tao, 77)

 

 

Live the Tao:

Giving not only to those

Who affirm the good,

But also to those who do not;

Respecting not only those

Who respect you,

But also those who do not.

For respect increases respect,

Creating essential harmony.

 

(Tao, 49)

 

 

Dealing with Negative Situations

 

 

Living respecfully,

they can transform even negative sithations into new possibilities.

 

 

When Respect is Missing

 

When people lack respect,

Trouble follows.

 

(Tao, 72)

 

 

"Theory X,"

an outmoded hierarchical approaching,

is an unhealthy propaganda.

It produces a self-perpetuating negative cycle,

a successiion of troubles,

and falls into crises.

 

 

 

The Tao of Self-respect

 

 

Analyzing others is knowledge.

Knowing yourself is wisdom.

Managing others requires skill.

Mastering yourself takes inner strength.

 

(Tao, 33)

 

 

Leveling Up Our Self-concept

 

 

Greatness evolving

In infinite cycles,

Reaching and returning.

 

(Tao, 25)

 

 

In Search of Excellence—Not Perfection

 

 

Perfection is not natural, not human.

What is natural is to keep on growing throughout life.

 

 

The Tao reveals that life is dynamic.

Our destiny is to grow, to evolve, to learn,

always becoming more of who we are.

 

 

I'm Learning

 

 

Learning is an essential part of our nature.

What carries us through life is

our ability to grow,

to discover new possibilities in ourselves and our world.

 

When they don't know what they're doing,

they embrace the experience,

realizing with every fiber of their being that they're learning

and that learning is what life is all about.

 

 

"I'm learning"

and enjoy the process.

 

 

Transcending Ourselves

 

 

Tao leaders, unaware of their virtue

Are truly virtuous.

The lesser person tries hand to look good

And is therefore not virtuous.

 

(Tao, 38)

 

 

Respect as Discipline: The Lesson of 盆財 (pun jai; bonsai)

 

 

Cultivating the Tao in our lives

involves the wisdom of a master gardener.

 

Self-respect requires time for regular tending.

 

We must give ourselves the right amount of nutrients,

fresh air, and sunshine

and take time to study the pattern of our life,

discerning the main branches from the unnecessary details.

 

Every so often we must prune our roots,

assenssing ur choices, renewing our priorities,

making the necessary cuts to allow ourselves room to grow.

 

 

The gardener train pun jai (盆財)

to affirm a threefold balance.

 

The trees grow in an asymmetrical triangle

with the highest point representing heaven;

the lowest point, the earth;

and the mid-point, humanity.

 

 

Tao Exercise

 

How do you affirm

your spirituality—your connection with heaven? 

your physical health—your connection with the earth? 

and your connection with other human beings?

 

 

Tao Affirmation

 

Words are powerful tools for self-cultivation,

subtly influencing our thoughts and choices.

 

Put the word respect out in front of you,

and Feel the subtle influence of this powerful Tao affirmation.

 

 

Healing with Respect

 

 

Constantly learning and living from the heart,

Tao leader is a Tao healer

who respects other human beings

and evolving cycles of life.

 

 

Political Healing

 

 

Healing with the Tao comes in many forms,

but always begins with basic respect.

 

 

By living with integrity and respect, people like Tao leader

transcend the darkness of conflict and confusion,

holding out the light of hope,

leading with the Tao.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Dreher, Diane. The Tao of Personal Leadership. Harper Collins Publishers. New York. 1997.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 to be continued...