The world has always been made up of leaders and followers. Reasons for this are not difficult to understand. The majority of mankind, as it is now constituted, are far more inclined to follow than to lead. Most people are willing to let someone else do their thinking, as long as these individuals make sure the public's basic needs are met. This apparent indifference by the public to control their lives leaves the field of leadership open wide to all who desire to rise above the ordinary.

Basically there are three types of leaders:

1. Those who desire to dominate their fellowman and make themselves a seeming demigod. Most dictators fall into this category.

2. Those who desire to rise above the common lot and succeed in some useful endeavor. Individuals in this group do not necessarily desire notoriety, but they do appreciate the things that wealth and power can bring. Titans of industry and top men and women in the professions are represented in this group.

3. Those who are of the servers of mankind. The determined leader from this group desires to help his fellowman rise from a low estate to a higher one and will do all he can to help him toward this end. These leaders tend to dedicate themselves to a noble purpose and continue with this course come what may. They are frequently misunderstood, castigated, and in some instances even destroyed by those they attempt to help.

Although much of interest can be - and has been - written concerning the nature of the leaders in the first two categories, attention in this dissertation is placed on those servers of mankind who comprise the third group.

Public Attitudes About a Spiritual Leader

What does the public look for in a spiritual leader? Someone who will teach them the Laws of Life so they can learn to use these Laws and through their own efforts become a success? To give such an impression does not accurately state the case, In actuality, it would seem, most individuals are looking for a leader who will do for them what they really should be able to do for themselves. Think of the realities of the world and then ask yourself if this is not true.

Where is the popular religion that does not offer some sort of leader - past, present, or future - who is expected to do for his followers that which every honest person must do for himself? If such a religion did exist, it would not remain popular long because, without doubt, its adherents would soon be drawn away by those who promised much more. This is not meant as a condemnation of today's religions - only as a comment on a common attitude of those the true spiritual leader desires to help.

In politics, do people not look to the men who will make their life better and easier, thinking little of whether the methods to accomplish the deeds are just or fair? Do they not look for a leader who will guarantee them a good job with short hours and excellent pay, regardless of the personal effort they are willing to expend? Do they not want to be assured that they will be cared for under all circumstances, irrespective of their worthiness? One can but wonder if the public, today, is looking more for a set of universal indulgent parents than for actual leaders.

The Need for Spiritual Leaders

Real leadership, especially in the spiritual field, is different. It is not a position to be envied, because such leaders are rarely appreciated except by the very few. The reason for this is not hard to find. A true spiritual leader of the third type described above, comes only to help mankind bethink itself and its ways, so that it may learn to come into closer harmony with the Laws of God and Nature. Although every normal human being desires what such a leader has to offer, most are not particularly enamored by the procedures necessary to achieve those ends. "There must be," they say, "and easier way! Surely, we can live as we have been doing and still have our desires fulfilled!"

Of course, a legitimate leader cannot satisfy this desire, so the masses look elsewhere to find those who will promise them what they want. Such desires, on the part of the public, have made the world a fertile ground for false prophets. Pickings have always been good for this breed. But, remember, they are not to blame for the situation. They only fulfill a need. If the public did not demand something of this nature, these do-called leaders could not prosper.

If you are interested in becoming a leader, think well on the above. Do not consider such a course unless you are prepared to be reviled, condemned, abused, ignored, and generally mistreated. Some of this comes, as mentioned, from the nature of the endeavor, the rest, as a testing and tempering so that you as a leader will be able to develop the humility, compassion, and graciousness necessary for the position.

There is always a need for authentic spiritual leaders, although there is not always a demand. Such a leader can do little good if none are willing to listen. For spiritual leaders to be effective, certain attitudes must prevail among a reasonably large percentage of the people. The morale of the public must be of such impoverished condition that they are willing to listen to the truth; by this time, a good part of them will have lost all faith in those leaders who promise much, but deliver little.

When such despondency prevails, the world begins to look for genuine leaders. We are now beginning to enter such a period. Soon, many people will be searching for a new foundation for their lives and only the truth (at least as much of it as they are able to absorb) will satisfy them.

We should prepare, now, for the time when these leaders will be both needed and desired. Although the acute need still is in the future, it is not too early for those who are interested to begin their preparation.

Thorough preparation is essential for the dedicated leader. Many conditions are to be met in the qualifications of a leader and teacher. A worthy cause may be thwarted by the meager or superficial training of its representatives. When an individual is, in essence, attempting to represent God, too much stress cannot be placed on thorough and careful preparation. No one can, or should, become a leader unless and until he is willing to prepare himself for leadership. To this end a number of things are required.

Qualifications for Leadership

Willingness to Follow. To become a leader of others, an individual must first become a follower, for only by following is it possible to master the requirements of leadership. The Ability to follow demands that there be in the heart (inner being) both a hunger and a humility. This humility of the heart makes one so eager to learn that he will not shrink from following in the footsteps of another. A person deserves the homage and respect due a leader only in proportion as he himself renders heartfelt respect and homage to one to whom he himself looks as a leader. The more devoutly one serves as a follower, the better prepared is that person to meet the obligations of leadership. And do not forget, on the Godhead Himself does not have a leader to look up to and follow.

Reserve, Silence, and Discretion. Among the most important qualifications for leadership are reserve, silence, and discretion. He who seeks to become a leader must cultivate the ability to maintain at all times scrupulous reserve in regard to his own personal affairs. One of the quickest ways to lose the respect and confidence of others is to parade before them one's own personal suffering, grievances, losses, or anxieties. Likewise, to parade before them one's own personal victories and achievements is to lose power. The less one says about one's own personal life and interests, the more true self-respect and real power does that person manifest. The wisdom of sacred silence in regard to one's own life and experiences cannot be emphasized too greatly.

To some, these qualities come as second nature and they are what we might regard as natural leaders, at least in this respect. However, these admirable qualities can be developed by all who have the desire to become a leader. Self-discipline is the key here; the individual must first convince himself that reserve and modesty are at one a mark of wisdom and an unquestionable index of power. Once one is thoroughly convinced that reserve and sacred silence are desirable traits of character, it is comparatively easy to establish them in one's life. The more difficult this is to do, the more glorious the reward and the greater the victory when it is accomplished.

It is of particular importance that the leader-to-be exercise scrupulous reserve and silence in regard to his own training and special mission. This is an individual and specialized program; to discuss it with others, except your instructor, is to court disaster.

Silence in regard to this training should also include all things that relate to one's teacher. Nothing is more sacred than the communication between teacher and student in this context. The student has a right to know that his communications, both verbal and written, are held absolutely sacred and confidential by his teacher be given as much reason to expect absolute sacredness and confidence on the part of the student. The teacher's communications and instructions are intensely individual and personal; no good, and much harm, can be caused by repeating them to others .

Actually, the admonition to cultivate reserve, silence, and discretion is applicable to everyone who seeks higher development, not just to prospective leaders. Masters of all ages have enjoined these qualities upon all who sought admittance to the Temple of Knowledge and Power. The reason for this admonition becomes increasingly obvious to the aspirant with each step taken toward his ultimate goal. In time he will come to realize that it is to his own best interest to develop these qualities. They are, in reality, a condition of growth just as love and purity of heart are also conditions of growth. The experience of Masters for many ages has proven that reserve, silence and discretion are cardinal virtues for all, but especially for leaders.

A wise leader spends little time defending his teachings. A leader gives irresistible evidence of his faith in the power of truth, his faith in the power of the teachings he represents, by the sparseness of his words on the subject. An overabundance of words in regard to a system of teaching tends to make others feel it may need support or even apologies. The power of a teacher is in direct proportion to his absolute faith in the teachings he advocates.

The true leader must be far above the thought of personal following. He would never ask for or expect loyalty and support on the plane of the personality. He must develop an indifference to personal praise or personal censure. The leader should ask himself these questions: Is my action right under the Law? If it is, then is this the right time for such an action? And if the action is good and the time is right, what is the most effective way to proceed? To be accepted, a teaching must not only be true, but it must be presented at the proper time and in such a manner that it will be understood and utilized.

Compassion and Graciousness

Nothing can retard the progress of a would-be leader more than the critical self, the self that finds fault with the habits of others, with the shortcomings of others - the self that is never satisfied, no matter how things are, simply because they are not to his particular tastes or standards.

Not only does this spirit of criticism retard leaders and delay Soul growth, but is can become a most potent cause of ill health to the body and unrest to the mind and heart. In fact, this critical spirit is a poison that permeates the entire being and causes everything to be seen "as through a glass darkly." It prevents clear judgment. It clouds the vision of a given situation, causing it to be inaccurate and untrustworthy. It tends to create a pessimistic condition of body, mind, and heart (the emotions). Another individual of more wholesome, sweet-spirited inclinations may view the same situation and find it preeminently encouraging.

The critical personality invariably is out of harmony with itself. It seeks in the externals of life and in other people that which can be found only in its own inner consciousness. Once an individual has found peace and harmony within, he will find that the inconsistencies and inharmonies of others no longer bother him.

He will know when his efforts have brought him to this stage of development by the way he feels in situations that used to "drive him up the wall." When he can remain calm and at peace in such circumstances, he knows he is making progress.

When we are bothered by certain traits in another, it is usually a good indication that we have some of the same weaknesses within ourselves. In this way the individuals who irritate us do us a real service; they point out to us our faults. This gives us an opportunity to make the necessary corrections.

Perceived crudeness in another, which shocks or startles us, invariably reveals a limitation in our own character, and should direct our attention to the need for a deeper work of grace in our own heart. We serve as a mirror of one another. That which offends as well as that which pleases reflects a corresponding condition in the beholder.

The leader must learn to be all things to all people. In the world are to be found those on every possible strata of society. The leader must be ever prepared to meet and help all who come to him. He must be willing and even eager to help those men and women who are ignorant, according to his standard, men and women who are unpolished and crude, men and women who are unappreciative and unresponsive. But he who complains of stupidity, who becomes irritated by crudeness, or who is annoyed by lack of responsiveness has not yet reached the level of leadership, and has much to overcome before he can successfully lead others to that "peace...which passeth all understanding."

Most of a leader's work will be done among the common people, for, as Lincoln said, "God must love them, He made so many of them." They are plentiful and are the bulwark of our nation. As they can be helped, so will the nation be helped.

To serve the common people the leader must possess true culture and refinement of heart. None are so keen to detect superficial culture as the man or woman who is looking for true spiritual help. These individuals are dissatisfied with pretenders and want the real thing. In working with them, the leader must be so highly cultured that he does not feel himself superior to them. He must never consider himself above them, nor hold himself beyond them. Even though he may strive to conceal it, any feeling of superiority in his heart will be detected by the people and will repel rather than attract. If their ways and idiosyncrasies are a shock to his temperament, it indicates that love has not yet perfected its work of purification in his own heart. As Benjamin Franklin said, "They are not well bred, who cannot stand ill breeding in others."

An excellent Spirit. Let the leader-to-be always remember: True culture is never manifested in criticism or condemnation, never in snobbery or scathing sarcasm, never in passing judgment or in finding fault with the lowly; but, forever and always true culture is manifested in giving the helping hand, with a heart full of love - a heart so full of love that the humblest of the humble may feel its radiations and be convinced of its genuineness.

You cannot call the faithful dog to you while you are holding a ship behind your back and pretending you want to pet him. Instinctively, he will feel the deceptive motive and turn away. Neither can you attempt to assist the uneducated and the lowly and make them believe that you love them while cherishing in your heart a feeling of criticism, judgment, or superiority.

Interestingly, this principle of love and kindness in the heart is also related to a leader's special form of constructive indifference and with the spirit of nonresistance to wards the actions of others. The wise leader will discipline himself in the art of benevolent indifference and sweet nonresistance of spirit. The term indifference is used here to describe that quality of benevolent neutrality for which all leaders should strive.

The truly developed leader sees and hears many things without allowing them to make an impression on his mind. The act of seeing and hearing is accompanied by the act of taking no notice; consequently, it is the act of forgetting. It is possible and desirable to place oneself under such careful self-discipline that one becomes comparatively impervious to the act and the characteristics of others, especially those that tend to disturb, shock, or annoy.

This ability of benevolent indifference is another essential for leadership. Most of us are so situated that the affairs of others are seemingly thrust before our notice, giving opportunity for pronounced opinions in our mind regarding them. To maintain peace and harmony within our own hearts, thus enabling us to be our best for our goals and dreams, it is wise to cultivate the art of attending strictly to our own business. For our own contentment we would do well to learn the art of presenting the attitudes of "holy indifference" and "sweet nonresistance" towards the affairs of others. This does not mean, of course, that we should not devote attention to the things that demand our legitimate concern, but even here we would be wise to ask ourselves, ‘Is this really my business?," before proceeding.

It cannot be too strongly stressed that the leader should be prepared in mind and heart to meet men and women from all walks of life, and meet them with the feeling that there is no gulf between. The student, and especially the leader, can accomplish nothing in the Inner Work by theoretical means. All true advancement must be accomplished in actual physical realization and in this way the leader will receive the testing and tempering that comes only through actual experience. Consequently, he who is in preparation fro leadership will be thrown into many difficult circumstances in life so that he will have numerous opportunities to learn to love, overlook, and forgive. In every station of life there is demand for those who have attained kindness of heart and an excellent spirit. Remember, the young Daniel was preferred above the princes and kings of the Earth because of his excellent spirit.

The Real Lady and Gentleman. One of the most rigorous tests for any leader is to remain a true lady or gentleman, refined and pure of heart and mind, even while serving the lowest of the lowly. This test and service brings the highest of rewards; and only those, in whose hearts dwell pure love and devotion to mankind, will be able to give such service.

It is thought by some that service to the more common people does not require as much preparation as work with the most cultured. Actually, just the opposite if true. As mentioned earlier, those who are of the lower strata of society are far more critical of those who would help them than those of more refined nature. One possible reason for this is that those of less refinement depend more on their feeling nature than on their intellect. Although it may be possible for one who has not yet developed his love nature to deceive one who has not yet developed his love nature to deceive one who depends on his intellect for discernment, he is likely to have little success with those who depend more on their feelings than on what is said.

Ability to Face Hardships and Trials. The spiritual leader must be prepared to be criticized, berated, slandered, threatened, and betrayed. A study of the past will quickly reveal that most, in not all, of these conditions - and more - were the lot of those who desired to be of service to their fellowman. All these are but test of the mettle of those who so aspire. Those would-be leaders who draw back from the thought of these hardships are not fit to serve.

Only those leaders who have absolute faith in the system they teach will be able to triumph over these trials. To succeed they must understand the various aspects of the Divine Law and have a keen insight into its requirements. They must understand that obedience to the Law is absolutely necessary if man is to free himself from slavery to the carnal self, slavery to others, and consequently slavery to disease, unhappiness, and misery.

Not only must the leader have supreme faith in the principles in the abstract, but he must have an unwavering confidence in them as a power functioning in the lives of those to whom he ministers. He must never forget that he is working with the soul of these people and it deserves the very best he can offer.

He must constantly keep his own will power on the alert to instantly allow him to rise above doubt, suspicion, and surmising. He must teach impersonally and impartially the principles of truth and righteousness, and the importance of one's own thought control. But, he must never sit in judgment over those who do not heed his admonitions.

Unequaled Opportunities

Never before in the history of the world have there been such opportunities for men and women to help their fellowman as today. A work of this nature, at least in the beginning, calls for courage, as does any work that does not have the universal approval of mankind, but those who truly have the welfare of humanity at heart care little for the approval of men. Bear in mind that no one can truly serve God and humanity unless he is willing to do so regardless of the favor of men. But, even though a spiritual leader is not honored in this life, the satisfaction that he knows he has done his best, that he has followed the dictates of is own Heart and conscience, is sufficient reward for all the suffering that may be his lot.

Spiritual leadership, however, does have many solid rewards in this life. What is to compare with the feeling of helping to turn around a life? This is a communion of Soul to Soul. No honors men can give can even come close.
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