As an ECK leader, each of you has run into dozens of situations with people that leave you scratching your head. You are flabbergasted.
You wonder, Whatever could you (he/she/they) be thinking?
Yet there it is, a potful of steaming trouble. And you, lucky you. You quickly check your magic pouch for jim-dandy ideas, but it’s empty, completely empty. And you feel empty too.
You look out on the scene about you with a perplexed yet vacant stare. Of course, as a seasoned leader, none of that will show. You are not indecisive—you are thinking great, wise, wonderful thoughts.
In truth, you are floundering.
But then a dim light of hope pierces the malaise in your mind. Yes, there is a way. There is hope!
You’ve remembered the Mᴀʜᴀɴᴛᴀ, the Living ECK Master in the nick of time. Why, of course, the Master’s here. He’s always with you. You breathe more easily, waiting for the Master’s voice to gently speak, to send images of what to do to fix things.
Yet nothing comes.
You check to see that your ears are on. Check, present and accounted for. Ready to receive your transmissions. Over.
Nothing.
Well, he is speaking, but there’s so much static in the air. Reception is unreadable.
So the Mᴀʜᴀɴᴛᴀ’s there, he’s talking, but there’s simply too much clutter in the air from all the heated emotions in the room.
* * *
All right, there’s a lighthearted look at your feelings at least once as a beleaguered leader. There will be times you cannot hear my voice. Don’t worry, I understand. It happens to all of us.
But a leader is ever resourceful. He’s thinking on his feet. People are the cause of most of our problems. So it’s only reasonable, isn’t it, to study the art of how to work smoothly and well with them. By looking around, you can see that some leaders naturally handle pot-scorching quandaries better than some other leaders do. That suggests there is a better way of dealing with people.
In this light, then, may I mention again a top-drawer guide that some of you may already use to make better, happier, more confident and relaxed decisions about such riddles?
Here it is: Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. Study it; you’ll be glad you did.
There are four main parts to this gratifying, easy-to-read book. Part One: “Fundamental Techniques in Handling People.” Part Two: “Six Ways to Make People Like You.” Part Three: “How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking.” Part Four: “How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment.”
This is a delightful way to become a superior ECK leader.
—Sri Harold Klemp
Expect to learn a lot about yourself as you make this special study of how to work smoothly with others. There are timeless keys to loving others—and yourself—in this undertaking.
You can begin now by reflecting on situations that challenge your people skills. Invite the Mᴀʜᴀɴᴛᴀ to help you behind the scenes, and look forward to your next encounter!
“There will be times you cannot hear my voice. Don’t worry, I understand. It happens to all of us.”
-Sri Harold Klemp.
Recently a traffic police officer pulled over a moving car, in a busy road for a minor violation. The car slowed down and parked by the roadside. But there was nobody inside the car. The car was designed to drive itself. Time passed as the officer tried to figure out how to proceed. This seemingly inexplicable encounter was simplified as soon as the officer listened to the car manufacturer.
Just as the traffic officer was willing to listen to the car manufacturer, so should one be willing to listen to the MAHANTA.
No one has ever been defeated by listening to the MAHANTA.
It is not between one and another. It is actually between oneself and the MAHANTA. Everything else is part of the spiritual training.
“At first the Sound Current is weak, often imperceptible, but variable. However by continual training, a transformation takes place and the Music of the Spheres is heard quite distinctly.”
-SHARIYAT KI SUGMAD, page 223.
Thank you MAHANTA for the ECK teachings.
Right before reading this I had an interaction with someone at work who has scolded me in the past for trying to contact someone on her team in order to get an answer to a customer asap. I was hesitant to ask her for help on a new problem, but did anyway. Her response was slow (for me) and she took it before a much larger audience without even asking or even suggesting we do this. So I waited. And I waited some more. We chatted privately and she told me how she would proceed, which wasn’t in my list of options. More patient waiting. And then someone else responded to the support case so the customer had an answer (or at least a possible answer), and I reassigned the case as my ‘difficult’ coworker suggested. In the end I got a nice “Thanks!” for the effort.
I certainly didn’t expect any of this to go the way it did, but with some careful listening, which felt more like waiting, everything worked out really well. I had to let go of a support case that had been assigned to me, which took some HUs. And I had to stay positive about the possibilities in the end. I was also careful to treat other’s ideas and actions like I would have wanted my own to be treated. In reading about similar situations that ECK Leaders go through, I felt a huge relief. I think I/we (includes the Inner Master) made it.
Next challenge!
People. Relationships. Patience. Each presents challenges that are often ignored and substituted with our own sense of “righteousness”.
Thankfully, we found the true path, Eckankar, and we have the ‘ready to go’ attention of the Mahanta at all times.
I have so much to learn in this lifetime and I am grateful for the Mahanta’s ever-ready love, guidance and support.
Thank you, dear Mahanta.
Post script: And today I’m reading Dale Carnegie’s book, only I got the newest version: “How to Win Friends & Influence People in the Digital Age”. Even the index is full of wise advice where it describes the book as a “bestselling soul-help book”, rather than a self-help book. It goes on, “For it is the soulish underpinning of the Golden Rule…” and “…The principles herein are more than self-help or self-promotion handles. They are soulful strategies for lasting lucrative progress in your conversations, your collaborations…” and “…you will fulfill a philanthropic purpose every day.”
Thanks to Sri Harold for the reference. Looks like I’ve got some studying to do.
Thank you JMK for this tip. I ordered this title following your suggestion! The digital age is a different animal! Best Wishes…
ECK is all about love, courtesy, and respect.
Thank you Harji
For me, the best solutions come from Divine Spirit through the Mahanta to me: Soul when my mind is using its virtues: contentment, discrimination, detachment, humility, tolerance/forgiveness as the filter. Mind passions can thwart/sabotage my best efforts.
Thank you Mahanta for this article. Firstly,to be a good or better ECK Leader you have to obey guidelines. Obeying guidelines simply means working in harmony with the laid down rules by the leader of your service area. If you can do this, then you are a better leader. Because you too will find yourself in a position of leadership.
What is one person’s silver lining is another person’s rainy day. If only we could see life as God does. The sun is always shining above the clouds.
For me to be the best is paying attention to the details – big and small.
Pay attention to the needs of attendees to the minute details and ask the Master for help and guidance and then follow those hints received in dreams , golden tongue wisdom and on the inner corners of heart at all times