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Bhaktivedanta Leadership Newsletter

 

Character and Qualification

 

The brahmanas are the religious preceptors for all other castes, and the

sannyasis are the spiritual masters for all the castes and orders of

society. So also are the king and the public leaders who are responsible for

the material welfare of all people. The progressive religionists and those

who are responsible human beings or those who do not want to spoil their

valuable human lives should refrain from all the principles of

irreligiosity, especially illicit connection with women. If a brahmana is

not truthful, all his claims as a brahmana at once become null and void. If

a sannyasi is illicitly connected with women, all his claims as a sannyasi

at once become false. Similarly, if the king and the public leader are

unnecessarily proud or habituated to drinking and smoking, certainly they

become disqualified to discharge public welfare activities. Truthfulness is

the basic principle for all religions. The four leaders of the human

society, namely the sannyasis, the brahmana, the king and the public leader,

must be tested crucially by their character and qualification.

SB 1.17.41 P

 

Editor's Note

 

The important quality of leadership is courage. Leaders have the ability to

face their fears, to confront their fears, to do the things they need to do,

even if they are afraid. Leaders have the ability to act without guarantees,

and depend on Krsna. Followers always have to wait till everything is

guaranteed. Followers want assurances for everything but leaders dare to go

forward, they dare to move towards fulfilling Krsna's will and living by

spiritual values, even though there is no guarantee that they will be

successful. Everyone is afraid! If everyone is afraid, then why is it that

anything ever gets done? The reason is because the people that serve as

leaders, who make sure things get done, have the willingness to act in spite

of their fears. They dare to go forward even though they are afraid. That's

the mark of a leader.