The Essence of a Good Human Being
01, 4.1.2014
There is a fairly large number of young men and women out there in the world, who do not want to be either leaders or even followers. The political class and their lack of accountability, staggering corruption and lust for power and ill-gotten wealth, sends many a well- meaning youth in the opposite direction, away from leadership dreams and responsibilities. Systems and processes can replace leaders, such people believe.
Many parents are wary of their children having aspirations of leadership, for fear that their focus should be on personal progress alone, which does not need creativity or social concerns or the desire to fulfil onself as a whole human being. There are no parents would not wish their children to grow into good human beings.
The essence of leadership is to be a good human being. Good leadership is not demonstrated by a corrupt politician or an alpha male. True leaders have exemplars in the Dalai Lama and Gandhiji. They lead by example and principles. Both leaders valued peace and non-violence above all means of action.
Rosa Parks, now deemed the first lady of the American Civil Rights movement, registered her protest against racial discrimination against the Afro American people in a non-violent way; by refusing to give up her seat in a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Leaders may, at times have to go it alone. Nelson Mandela was armed with nothing but vision when he chose non-violence and persuasion in South Africa, when the majority of black people, including his wife Winnie, felt that freedom had to be gained at any cost, even through violence and loss. Gandhiji lived and acted by his belief that the principle of non-violence was more important than political advantage that accrues to a demonstration of violence.
An academic institution and an educational one are different.The former prepares its students for a job; the latter prepares them for life. Human goodness is the foundation of self-actualization.
The essence, soul and pre-requisite of good leadership is basic human goodness. Man is innately good, it is believed, as in the Hindu belief of aham brahmasmi. Man is not born evil; he can become evil because of circumstances. Being a good human is a common denominator for a believer, an atheist, a leader and a follower.
Characteristics of a good human being include:
Be good and do good. One must lead by example.
The ability to love and be compassionate.
Forgiveness, which steers clear of retribution.
Leading an examined life of contemplation and reflection.
Considering means as important as ends.
Respecting all life, all beliefs and religions and believing in the brotherhood of man.
Belief in non-violence or ahimsa.
Following the middle path of moderation, harmony and balance.
Despite individual differences, we can serve a common destiny, because no man is an island unto himself. We rely on interconnectedness with each other to succeed in life and be happy.
(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)
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Date: 04/19/2024