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DHARm PROVIDES SUSTENANCE...
aDHARm CREATES DESTRUCTION....
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was
a major scholar of the English language, specializing in Old and Middle English.
Twice Professor of Anglo-Saxon (Old English) at the University of Oxford, he
also wrote a number of stories, including most famously The Hobbit (1937)
and The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955), which
are set in a pre-historic era in an invented version of the world which he
called by the name of Middle-earth. This was peopled by Men (and women), Elves,
Dwarves, Trolls, Orcs (or Goblins) and of course Hobbits.
Lord of Rings is tells the story of the eternal battle between
sur (gods) and
asur (anti-gods)...a story that is observed and experienced
in our every day life by all of us individually and collectively.....And since
the start o creation some 2.2 billion years ago, those creations who follow
DHARm are
sur and those who do not follow are
asur....And since the start of creation those who live their
life by DHARm are powered by their
aat`maa (soul) which is the
creator bRH`m-self and always win
against asur....Recent examples of
fallen asur are all those caught by
the big scandals in the commercial world involving billions and billions of
dollars or Hitler or Stalin, falls of mighty empires of the last
2000 years....
Lord of Rings portrays the story of DHARm
and upholding DHARm....Basic rule of
DHARm is never to hurt any of our
fellow creations, animate or inanimate, by either words, nor thoughts nor
kARm (actions)....and
DHARm can only be understood by the
study of science of aatmaa called aaDH`yaat`maa
(SPIRITUALITY) which can be studied at this PVAF web site daily through
continual postings of SCIENCES OF CREATION AND LIFE
called veD on PVAF web pages titled
TODAY'S PRAYER, TODAY'S VED LESSON, VED, AASHRAM NEWS
AND stsNg on MESSAGE BOARD....(preceding
veD knowledge has been shared by SRii
chmpklaal Daajibhaai misTRii of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Lord of the Rings can be seen as a powerful metaphor for any workplace
in current times which gives us livelihood and supports the evolution of mankind
writes RICK LASH in
Canadian Globe
and Mail. Rick Lash
is a management development expert and psychologist in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. Please click on the preceding red hilite or the next lien to
learn from Rick Lash how to figure out which
characters your colleagues may mirror sur
and asur characters of Lord of
Rings in your workplace....
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PORTRAIT OF sur and
asur AT YOUR WORKPLACE
By RICK LASH
Canadian
Globe and Mail: Friday, March 5, 2004 - Page C1
It's the battle that never ends: An epic tale of a little
person fighting against unimaginable power, demonstrating how sheer perseverance
in the face of overwhelming odds can achieve success.
There are those so corrupted, they're almost unrecognizable, others who seem
like allies but will stab you as soon as your back is turned; still others who
provide support when you least expect it.
The plot of The Lord of the Rings? Or just another day at the office? Well, it
could be both.
Middle-Earth isn't as far from reality as you might think. If you look hard
enough, you can find great battles of good versus evil played out in the
hallways and boardrooms of your organization.
The Lord of the Rings could stand as a powerful metaphor for corporate life.
Take a close look at some of your colleagues and see how they fit into
Middle-Earth Inc.
THE TRUE LEADER
Somewhere in your company is the person who should be in charge. He's proven
himself worthy and has the support of a broad range of employees and clients.
He's the leader who can help make the organization a better place and inspires
others to action.
Such leaders put aside self-interest for the good of the organization and
genuinely believe they have a responsibility to support the larger social good.
Good leaders create organizations where the need for greater meaning and purpose
at work can be realized. They encourage teamwork and the chance to be a part of
something larger than ourselves.
THE TRUE LEADER CHARACTER:
Aragorn, the king in waiting who wins the confidence of the Fellowship and leads
them through danger to victory. Like all great leaders, he engenders trust and
allegiance, inspires hope and recognizes the average folk who truly make a
difference.
THE FREE SPIRIT
Remember that colleague down in accounting who gave up that great job to
pursue something she truly loved? She was the talk of the office for weeks. Why?
Because we are all slightly in awe of those who have the courage to make a
life-changing decision based on the heart instead of the pocketbook. Such people
make choices to pursue a different life doing the work they love, rather than
spend an eternity doing something that leaves them feeling empty.
THE FREE SPIRIT CHARACTER
Arwen, the elf princess who gave up her immortality for a mortal life with
Aragorn. Even the elves of Middle-Earth, writes philosopher Bill Davis, knew
that immortality, like doing the same job year in and year out, can get
overwhelmingly boring. Arwen teaches that we all thirst for passion and meaning
in our work and that from time to time we need to have the courage to find it.
THE HIDDEN ALLIES
They take forever to get to the point or make a decision. They hide in a
forest of cubicles, taking care of their charges without noticing - or caring
about -- what's going on around them. But when you least expect it, they provide
you with the means and support to get the job done. It could be the IT
specialist who can miraculously locate the file no one else can or the person in
accounting who can find the obscure but critical piece of financial information
you need.
THE HIDDEN ALLIES CHARACTER
The Ents, the ancient guardians of the trees. Organizational Ents, like the
fictional ones, stay in the background and we miss seeing them unless we take
the time to discover them. . Wander into other departments and get to know these
people: You may find allies where you least expect to find them.
THE CROSS-BEARER
When was the last time you were drafted to take on a job no one else wanted
to do? It may have been to champion an important but unpopular project, deliver
a difficult message to your boss or inform your staff that the department is
being downsized.
Taking on tough jobs is an important lesson in the power of personal
accountability for any would-be leader. These are people who deeply care about
their organization and worry about its future. They have a strong sense of their
duty to do the right thing, even if it comes at some personal cost.
THE CROSS-BEARER CHARACTER
The hobbit Frodo Baggins, who volunteers to carry the ring of power to Mount
Doom to destroy it and save the world. Who in your organization takes up the
burden of trying to change the system and must bear the responsibility that
comes with it?
THE HEALER
In the hectic rush of going from one meeting to the next and putting out
fires, sometimes it feels that we're constantly on the battlefield with no place
of refuge. But there are those in the office who offer colleagues a place of
renewal and transformation -- a boss who can see your potential and takes a deep
interest in your passion and future career, or a colleague you can always go to
when in need of quiet reflection and renewal.
THE HEALER CHARACTER
Galadriel, the elf queen. She lives in the kingdom Lothlorien, the quiet and
peaceful refuge where the Fellowship can come to rest. It is a place solitude
and peace on the long journey. The Galadriels of the workplace serve to remind
us of the importance of finding balance and taking the time for quiet reflection
on our life goals. They can be true healers when called upon.
THE SAGE
Think back. In any organization there are the keepers of history, who
remember what the organization was like years ago, and are sought out for their
wise counsel. They may not be in positions of formal power but they wield their
influence through the strength of their character. These are the moral and
spiritual compasses of the organization. In their careers, they have faced many
battles and have grown wise in the use of power. They are often mentors and have
lessons to teach about life and how to navigate the corporate jungle.
THE SAGE CHARACTER
Gandalf, the wizard. Gandalf's role was to provide hope and inspiration for
Middle-Earth. The right hand of Aragorn, Gandolf influenced through his
collaboration with others, the power of his vision and the trust he inspired.
All organizations need those who have wisdom to remind others what is truly
important.
THE SABOTEUR
There are many people in organizations driven by individual recognition,
money and self-interest at the expense of their co-workers, their families and
friends, consumed by the fear of losing what they hold. But the ceaseless quest
for power to meet one's own needs has a big price tag attached -- a loss of
relationships and a sense of who we really are. How many lonely people do you
see wandering the halls of your organization who once had power but lost it, and
are now bitter, filled with jealousy and longing for what others have?
THE SABOTEUR CHARACTER
Gollum-Smčagol, who was corrupted by the power of the ring. Just look at what he
became -- a lonely, withered, starving creature whose mind has been emptied of
all but the desire to regain his "precious" and who has become a shadow of his
former self. Do you sometimes see Gollum in yourself?
THE MISCHIEF MAKERS
In school, they were the class clowns. Now we have to work with them. In
fact, they're quite likeable, well-meaning, and fun to be around. They are good
team players and protect others to whom they are loyal.
But they often seem to be getting into trouble, more often by accident than
intent. They like adventure but meddle in affairs they shouldn't, attending
meetings they have no business being at or making an off-handed comment that
gets you an unexpected phone call from a senior executive. Their occasional
misfortunes are vastly outweighed by their desire to do the right thing, even if
the road they take can cause heartburn for others every once in a while.
THE MISCHIEF MAKER CHARACTERS
The hobbits Merry and Pippin who, despite their fears of the unknown, take risks
for their friends and, along the way, learn to take responsibility and earn the
faith of very important people.
THE BLIND FOLLOWERS
We have met many of them in our careers -- middle and upper managers who have
given themselves over completely to the organization. Now rabid followers, they
do not question or challenge, carrying out the most odious orders without
thought or pity. Perhaps at one time, there was a real person under the cloak
but now they seem to have no identity beyond serving the powers that be. As one
senior executive once shared: "This place really isn't so bad, once you get over
the lobotomy."
THE BLIND FOLLOWER CHARACTER
The Ringwraiths, or Dark Riders, were once kings but they sold their souls and
are now slaves to the dark power. Have you ever found yourself getting counsel
from a co-worker, suggesting that the way to get ahead was to toe the company
line and not rock the boat? Be careful what you bargain for. You could become
one of them.
THE EVIL DOER
Like events happening in a distant land, decisions that affect us are often
made by those we rarely get to see but their glowing eye of power is keenly
felt. Those who lead today's global organizations wield unimaginable power and
influence. With that power comes the ability control vast resources --
financial, political and human -- and the temptation to use it to dominate
others and amass personal wealth. For these people, there is no debate: Power is
to be used purely for their own ends.
THE EVIL DOER CHARACTER
Sauron, the evil overlord who is hunting for the ring of power to use
Middle-Earth for his own greedy ends. We often need to look no further than our
own organizations to find echoes of Sauron. Under such a leader, the office can
begin to feel like the wastelands of Mordor.
THE TRAITOR
Can you recognize those who were once a respected member of an inner circle?
Perhaps at one point in their career they were at the top of their field,
respected and admired for their expertise and great accomplishments. Then they
sold out, turning their backs on the values and ethics of their profession and
rationalizing the changes as a new awareness of the real world. They become
deeply cynical, dismissing former colleagues as naive idealists. Their
behaviour, more often than not, leads them to professional ruin -- or to another
unsuspecting organization -- but not until much damage has been done.
THE TRAITER CHARACTER
Saruman, formerly the leader of the White Council, he embraced the evil of
Sauron but hid his conversion so he could keep tabs on what the council was
planning. Once unmasked and defanged, he lost power but was still able to do
great harm in other places.
THE TRUE FRIEND
There are people who delight in what they do, know their capabilities and
limits and have little desire or interest in moving up the corporate ladder.
Loyal and giving, they are often among the most devoted and trustworthy. They
are also committed in other areas of their life as well, working for charities
or perhaps coaching the local soccer team. They are interested in relationships,
not because it will get them somewhere but because they genuinely delight in the
company of others. They know who they are and where they belong and that
knowledge keeps them from being corrupted by power and office politics.
THE TRUE FRIEND CHARACTER
Samwise Gamgee, the brave, faithful companion whose support and loyalty kept
Frodo from going beyond his strength. Without Sam, the ringbearer would have
failed. The Sams of the office are happy to tend their gardens but will in a
moment forego their passions to help a colleague in need.
Rick Lash is a management development expert and
psychologist in Toronto
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