For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

Listening Leadership – Gandhi, M.L.~King and George Washington & Leading Through Love - Amma

Introduction

Until 60 years ago, there was an expectation amongst the masses of humanity in 'democratic' societies, that our elected leaders would try to walk in line with a higher power and intelligence that holds us all as part and parcel. In the old monarchy system, the 'subjects' held the belief that their leaders were representative of God's will, which is why they had been given power. In the last 30 years, evidence of this expectation seems to have disappeared.

The new mass religion of capitalism, is 'science and technology.' We have on a mass level given Absolute Authority to this new religion. It can do anything, take any number of lives to achieve its ends, and destroy any part of the creation, for obscure reasons, and we are not to complain, or even make a comment. It pits us against Nature, then tells us we are lucky we found a way to survive, in spite of Nature.

The media that it has spawned has sickened us all, and we are no longer allowed to hold Love, and the care of our children, especially our future mothers, our girl children, their moral well-being and character development, as the central pillars of societies. If the women and children are OK morally, if they have sound characters, the men will automatically come around. That's the simple fact. We can attempt to deny and defy it, but we can't change the way the dominoes fall.

Any leader that has captured the attention and the allegiance of humanity, has done so because of this great inner concentration upon higher principles and ethics within themselves.

Listening Gandhi

Gandhi gave an example of a leader whom we could respect. He held himself accountable to a higher power than himself, and continually tried to align himself with that power, to walk in harmony with it.

He used all kinds of methodologies to do so: He kept silence. He used the Fast. He practiced Rama-nama, the continuous chanting of a name of God. He prayed morning, noon and night. He took pains to make sure his speech was truthful, kind and only spoke when it was necessary. He walked the path of brahmacharya, and he sought to control his senses, his thoughts, in every direction that was distracting the concentrated attention he was constantly trying to give – to his conscience. Gandhi listened and listened, his ears straining to those subtle sounds within to find his way. He put his rational mind in subservience to his intuition, his conscience. Once, before he entered a Fast at age 73, he stated:

``I see the Fast coming. I have been outwardly engaged in different activities, but inwardly, I have been listening all the time. I have not been able to hear the inner voice clearly, but something within me tells me that I cannot get away from the Fast. After much thought I have come to the conclusion that the idea of the Fast as it came to me at Sevagram was in response to the inner voice. I have discussed the subject threadbare. I have delayed embarking on it but I see now that I cannot avoid it."

(From: Nayar, S.~(1996). Mahatma Gandhi’s Last Imprisonment: the Inside Story. Har-Anand Publications, New Delhi. p. 186.)

Listening M. L. King, Jr.

True leaders are those we can rely on to make every effort to connect to that inner reservoir of genuine wisdom and guidance, a faculty that is beyond rational conceptions which may be far more limited and narrow in view. When we recognize these true leaders, we cling to them. Because of the sincerity of their aspirations, Dr. King and Swami Vivekananda's words still powerfully draw our minds up even today to the larger Reality we all share.

From the sound of his voice, we could trust Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. His efforts to connect to the Great Intelligence that runs the planet and universes was clearly genuine. His last words to us were of his deep acknowledgement to the source of life:

“We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live - a long life; longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

A short aside on educational relevance

Holy Mother Amma ( Mata Amritandanandamayi) has emphasized the importance studying the scriptural works of a real Jnani, a Self – Realized person. Their understanding is complete, and they are able to give commentary that reflects the truth of the Scripture. This is why Paramahansa Yogananda's works are so enthralling.

India has had many writers that have written so well in English, who touch so profoundly and clearly on the nuances of the Indian metaphysical understandings, that it is a great pity her educational system does not take them into account. Children are presently bogged under the old Shelley, Byron, Keats, Burns, Shakespeare, Kipling, Steinbeck, etc. whose works are noticeably devoid of that subtler metaphysical expression.

She should instead fill her children's minds with noble thinking by reading Tagore, Premchand, Yogananda, Gandhi, Subramanium, Thiruvalluvar, there are so many worth while authors, many who have written in the very best English... its a great pity, and actually a great loss to the self-esteem of Indian students.

Paramahansa Yogananda's English is impeccable, his vocabulary awe-inspiring, his sense of compassionate humor that runs through his commentary is dry and delightful. His footnotes, exhaustive, and informative. In a footnote, Paramahansa Yogananda had an interesting anecdote about George Washington's visions of the guardian angel of America.

Listening Washington

The founding fathers and mothers of the USA were men and women who struggled to place themselves in attunement with conscience, no matter how difficult, no matter what the sacrifice. The opinion of conscience mattered more to them than anything or anyone, or money:

“Among respected accounts of the current age is the experience of George Washington, a revelation bestowed on him by a heavenly being during the dark days of the American Revolution, in the year 1777. His was a vision of the future of a great nation arising on the American continent. An angel, “a singularly beautiful female, “ appeared to him: “a new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me...Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy, and yet more distinct to my sight than before...I heard a voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.'” A remarkable scene of “ a dark shadowy being like an angel, standing or rather floating in midair, between Europe and America” unfolded a vision representative of the American Revolution and America's ultimate victory.

Similarly, a second vision unfolded, predicting the Civil War.[long after the life of George Washington]“And again I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.'” At this, a third vision of great conflict was revealed to him. Then, “The dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long fearful blast. Instantly, a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shone the word, 'Union, and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed battle.

Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' As the voice ceased...the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious...“...I found myself once more gaping upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, 'Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted. Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, passing which the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and Union.'”

(Condensed from “Washington's Vision, “ National Tribune, Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1880)This footnote in: Yogananda, P. (1995) God Talks with Arjuna, The Bhagavad Gita: Royal Science of God-Realization, the immortal dialogue between soul and Spirit A new translation and commentary. Self Realization Fellowship. Los Angeles. (pg.356)

Commentaries on Washington's Vision

There are many sources which claim the story as true, some of them are what I term rather doom-saying, fundamentalist type, others, the intellectual-shredder type, claim it as false. Its always interesting to note other view. I found this response to a 'false vision' blog, which I think is worth noting in one's consideration as to whether the story is true, and therefore, worth our thoughts or not.

James Armbruster says:

January 30, 2008 at 11:02 pm

What is amazing to me, is that all these websites use the story of a 99 year old man. From that, some websites discount it as a story of a 99 year old man, told in the third person and therefore isn’t true. Others, just take it as true. There is nothing to say it is true, other than a reporter reported it as true.

However, there is another source, there are Washington’s letters and personal prayers, which mention this vision as well.

[bold italics mine.]

Either way, if a person chooses not to believe that he had this vision, no matter what is brought as evidence, the story will be discounted, and the unbelievers will continue to not believe. Somewhere in this clash of beliefs, the believer will have their character assassinated. I believed it originally, and after finding other sources, I now know that my belief is well founded. God Bless America!

(Source: http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2007/01/02/washingtons-valley-forge...)

US Senator, Dr. Ron Paul's friends maintain a blog in the interests of informing an un-alert American public, (http://www.dailypaul.com/forum) on it was stated:

``...there has been a campaign by globalists to destroy the 'character' of these founding fathers of The United States of America. I am so appalled by this when I read comments by people dissing these founders as though they were some kind of low life. I am so sick and tired of it. And some of this is coming through so called 'Christian' organizations who are spreading lies about the founders being 'evil masons', 'practicing witchcraft' and other ridiculous tripe.

One thing is for certain. These founders could never be capable of producing such sacred documents like the Declaration and the Constitution if they did not harbor such deep feelings of love and intense desire of freedom for humanity from all forms of bondage.Early Americans who were vigilant about our country knew of this vision.

When I first read this a year ago, it gave me gooseflesh.

The site that his web page refers to for the story of George Washington: http://www.veracity.org/Legend2.html

Holy Mother Amma - Leadership through Love

It wasn't so very long ago that we had leadership that sincerely strove to serve the larger Life, the Intelligence that holds us all - the Truth - that we are one human family. In lieu of political leadership that seeks to align itself with Truth now, what is our duty?

At present, the people's Love and Leader, Holy Mother Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi, who lives and breathes in full awareness of us all as one human family, a fully illumined being, is here with us. She has not entered politics. This speaks volumes. She has not entered politics, because it is not necessary for her to do so, according to the Great Intelligence that she is in total harmony with. We must ask ourselves, why is this?

One thing is certain. We are to stand up for Truth, and we must become strong enough to resist evil and unrighteousness. Holy Mother Amma has stressed again and again, that if we keep SILENT in the face of bad behaviour or unrighteousness, then we become guilty of it as well.

Her message to us in these times is certain, we the people, must become united and strong, cultivating positive character traits, and heal our hearts, by giving one another our love, kindness and compassion. These means will help us to face Reality, to deal with the times ahead. We have no political leadership to speak of. Rebuilding our families and communities, our humane relations with one another, we will create the societies we want to live in. We can consensually lead ourselves. It doesn't take cash, it doesn't take political power. It only takes our will to unite as friends and family, in light and love of the fragile moment of our lives on this Earth.

This life is a Great School, we all pass out of here, and we are being tested continuously as to whether or not we will be fearless in obeying our conscience. Those who are completely truthful, never have anything to fear.

George Washington, Founding Father of the USA, Communing with Truth, through Prayer.
A painting by Arnold Friberg, 1999