Learn from the people
Plan with the people
Begin with what they have
Build on what they know.

Of the best leaders
When the task is accomplished
The people will remark
We have done it ourselves.

Lao Tzu

Yes, the best of it is working together. (This subject seems to be popping before me at the moment.) Working together to actualize a vision, a dream, a plan, a project. Build a house, build a community, build a garden, cook for a crowd. Or in my recent past, knit a tank top for the late Iain Robinson’s grandson. Quite a number of people contributed towards it’s eventual completion. Completed this very night.

One can think that working together means a lot of people, or a few, all in the same place at the same time doing something – BIG. And of course that is true and very enjoyable. It can also however mean a number of individuals, with particular skills or resources, living at a distance, contributing at different times to achieve a vision.

The basis of Buddhism is that Shakyamuni Buddha found Enlightenment and if he, a human being with human weaknesses and strengths, can do it we can know that too. His life is our inspiration, our lives and actions can be an inspiration to others. …and what exactly IS leadership?

Bluebells in hedgerow. Nature does it so well!
Not for the first time I inwardly nodded with approval. Over the past few years, slowly but surely, a once crumbling building is being restored to a serviceable state. There is clearly a quality job being done. As I walked on it occurred to me that I might have been disapproving of this project. Interestingly I realized that it didn’t matter in the slightest what I thought! Thoughts are not the thing. How easy it can be to get caught up in ones own thoughts. To approve of approving or disapprove of disapproving! Uh! What a mine field, thankfully this time just seen from the edge of the field.

I walked on up the lane where life showed itself in that uplifting way which brings lightness to the step. A bird on a branch sings for you alone. A wildflower shows itself in its utter simplicity. An industrious Thrush pecks for worms. Lambs charm. The way only new lambs can.

Perhaps my regular steps past the builders work is much like being ignited by bird song, wild flowers and sunlight shafting through branches. I appreciate the beautiful brick work and the little architectural details emerging from the rubble. Brings a lightness to my step, now I think about it.

So what am I getting at here? Perhaps a small reminder to walk with a lighter step inwardly and find inward compassion when judgmentalism has us walk with heavy step.

As we are within so we are with others.

Woodland garden in spring – Black Forest.

What is of all things most yielding
Can overcome that which is most hard,
Being substanceless, it can enter in
even where there is no crevice.
That is how I know the value
of action which is actionless.

But that there can be teaching without words,
Value in action which is actionless
Few indeed can understand.

Lao Tzu (6th century B:C:)

Think about it!

Just came across this thought provoking post on Dangerous Harvest.

Thanks for linking to JM Nathen. I am back on-line again, on a borrowed computer. Having only a limited window of access is going to be a good thing I,m thinking.

Here is a video of Philip Gould pondering his impending death. Notice the Buddha and several elephants on the mantelpiece.

Thanks to Angie for the link to this rather interesting interview. Philip Gould died in November last year.