Day 17 Reflection: Backstage. There are many idioms that ponder and illustrate the consideration of how silent and unseen things in this world are responsible for progress and enlightenment. This is, once again, simply a reflection of nature. We cant see amoebas with the naked eye, but as a part of a balanced ecosystem, they have their purpose - whether beneficial or harmful. It is claimed that behind every successful man is a woman (using for example only and not claiming agreement or disagreement), and youll even find in the theater that very often, some of the greatest stars of the show are barely credited or recognized for their work - the backstage and technical crew. This world runs on silence and invisibility. The seen and the heard are by-products of the toils and endurance of a quiet latency. Eastern philosophy has long recognized that the master and the student are one, because without the silence of observation, there can be no teaching. Without the shelter necessary during creation and evolution there can be no form, as form is only recognized once it can be determined and perceived. The silence has and always will be an imperative part on the process of the sound of life. Ideally, but even more so actually (though often not considered or recognized), leadership and authority also accept that they are products of the unseen and the unheard. Without the peasants and subjects of court, there can be no kingdom for majestic governance. Any idol with nothing but flowers at its feet is nothing but a slab of stone. It is actually the real-time process of a leader learning about the flock that makes the leader what it ultimately is. Mistakes and discrepancies are more responsible (in my humble opinion) for the mettle of an authority than any amount of study, practice and philosophical preponderance conducted through their solitary efforts. The greatest leaders of our time have actually been those people who have laid no claim to any such title, yet have become teachers of life by their very example of how they themselves learned from those they were expected to teach. The maturity and recognition of the never-ending process of learning is in itself the greatest unspoken teacher of all time. Tyranny and despotism is the result of claim staked over those who are actually a vital part of the order necessary for that position. There is such a very big difference between eradicating something and bypassing something. For instance, eradicate that backstage crew and what you have is a holy disaster of a show. But though they have been silently bypassed in the fame and glory departments, there is still a silent understanding of how vital they are to the overall success. This is the entirety and very nature of self-love and the ultimate act of love, which is sacrifice. They are in themselves aware of their true value and purpose and therefore do not innately require recognition or return. The greatest act of love, surely, is to make a sacrifice in love in complete silence and anonymity with intention of giving something vital and necessary to the well-being and happiness of a loved one or a supported cause. There is no desire to contaminate that offering or gift with the reception of personal glory. Leadership and authority in their truest and most raw essence know absolutely nothing about scratch my back and Ill scratch yours or Ill help you as long as theres something in it for me. Leadership and authority - when geared towards the benefit of whatever is under that leadership and authority - is a silent giver. It is someone who steps aside and loses painfully without recognition so that something better than the self can thrive. As Shakespeare very poetically put it All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players. I believe that while we have been on stage, there are things that have happened in our lives for our ultimate good that we have no clue about, and there are silent tears and struggles existing as a result for our beneficial progress. Today, with awareness that any ghosts of my advancement may be wandering at unrest, I give thanks with deep love and respect for their giving without intention of ever receiving anything. I thank the air for its love. X
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 06:29:51 +0000
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