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Caroline also blogs at the intersection of migration, China and the emerging world, the arts, social innovation and entrepreneurship, women's issues, spirituality and leadership at www.love-not-fear.org 
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Spirituality and leadership – going beyond religion

2/14/2015

3 Commentaires

 
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Attending Davos a few years ago, I was invited to attend a panel session on the role of religion and spirituality in leadership

 

The panel was made up of representatives from the world’s mainstream religions and the conversation rapidly moved towards what can only really be described as the ‘politics’ of religion.  Although I don’t remember exactly everything that was discussed, the issues of Israel and Palestine and the added implication of hatred between Jews and Muslims became a focus for discussion.

 

Towards the end of the session, I asked a question: What would it take for all leaders to recognize that their role was, ultimately, to be healers in their communities and in the world? I suggested that the role of spiritual leaders was to go beyond religion and politics towards a spirituality that required of us an ability to bring deep healing of conflict, disease, discrimination and suffering.

 

The panel agreed and, after the session, several people came up to me to further the discussion and agree that this indeed should be the ultimate direction with which we are headed.

 

Wouldn’t it be amazing if spiritual and religious thinkers were all able to bring a deeper, more nuanced understanding of their faith to such discussions and to move beyond the politics that so often crowds out the beauty and uniqueness of their particular religious affiliation?  It seems the world is crying out for healing and that the world religions carry within themselves the truths that can liberate us all from limitation, suffering and conflict.

 

It is heartening to see a growing awareness of these issues and, even at Davos, an opening of thought to the importance of mindfulness and spirituality as a necessary part of the leadership journey.  No matter what one’s own spiritual practice is, it can be desirable to maintain and pursue an interest in, and deep respect for, the essential truths found in all faiths and the deep commitment to Love that all religions and systems of enlightened thought express.  It is a spirituality that goes beyond particular religious affiliation that most inspires me and, I believe, is the only force that will unite us all in the end, bringing an end to suffering and conflict.

 

Whether one is the head of a religious institution or is seeking to bring one’s spirituality out in a more secular form, we all have a role to play in expressing higher order thinking and enabling that to inform our leadership journey.  Some of the greatest leaders in this world – Mandela, Gandhi, King – had a unique understanding of the importance for the divine order to be expressed in the human experience and, as we can now see, this brought profound healing transformation to our world.

 


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3 Commentaires
MCK link
2/13/2015 09:03:07 am

Caroline, I really enjoyed this post. And the question that really got me was:

What would it take for all leaders to recognize that their role was, ultimately, to be healers in their communities and in the world?

I have these conflicting thoughts about religion and think you worded it quite nicely, how the conversation digressed to the politics of religion, rather what is meant to be there - something that supports us and loves us, not demeans and divides us.

All too often that seems to be what's happening. Religion (and particularly all of our religious politics) is a real conversation stopper for so many people.

In some ways it's too bad, because there can be a lot of good in there. I mean, there's so much about the fundamentals. The most basic things that matters to us as humans. To love, care, support, and look out for others in our community.

Yet, instead we get the I'm right you're wrong. If you don't do things this way, then I guess we can't be friends. Or even as extreme as, I know what you're going to say, so I'm not even going to pay attention, perhaps not even give you the opportunity to say anything because I fundamentally disagree with any word that comes - or might come - out of your mouth.

And it's all in the name of a better world?

So with religion we're operating on this strange spectrum from relatively benign stuff to the most extreme in the name of this "better world."

And if spiritual/religious leaders are supposed to be the top of the top when it comes to healing leaders, then where do the rest of us heathens turn to as models for how to love, not fear, as we lead ourselves and others in this lifetime?

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Alex
2/17/2015 10:08:31 am

Excellent! I'm so glad you asked your question at the end of the pannel and got the thinking moving in the right direction!

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Painting Contractors Virginia link
12/23/2022 11:07:03 pm

I enjoyed reading yyour post

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    Caroline 

    Born and raised in Hong Kong, Caroline first came to global attention through her founding of Hua Dan, one of China’s first and leading social enterprises.  Hua Dan uses the power of participation in drama-based workshops to empower grassroots leadership. 

    Caroline has developed the work she did in China into a globally-replicable model for using theatre-based and creative approaches for the empowerment of leaders. 

    Caroline was the first Chair of the Global Agenda Council on the Role of the Arts in Society, which lead to the founding of the Global Arts Impact Agenda, leveraging the power of the arts for the achievement of the SDGs.  This is an addition to the work that she does with government and business leaders through her innovative Act for Impact programme at the corporate level. 

    Caroline has been educated at Harvard, Yale, Oxford, INSEAD and Lancaster and leads her enterprises across Europe, North America and Asia, whilst also developing her consulting and speaking business. 

    She and her husband live in the Parisian countryside with their six children.



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