The　wise　leader　pays　respectful　attention　to　all　behaviour。　Thus　the　group　becomes　open　to　more　and　more　possibilities　of　behaviour。　People　learn　a　great　deal　when　they　are　open　to　everything　and　not　just　figuring　out　what　pleases　the　teacher。
  The　leader　shows　that　style　is　no　substitute　for　substance；　that　knowing　certain　facts　is　not　more　powerful　than　simple　wisdom；　that　creating　an　impression　is　not　more　potent　than　acting　from　one's　center。
  The　students　learn　that　effective　action　arises　out　of　silence　and　a　clear　sense　of　being。　In　this　they　find　a　source　of　peace。　They　discover　that　the　person　who　is　down…to…earth　can　do　what　needs　doing　more　effectively　than　the　person　who　is　merely　busy。
  4
  Dig　as　deep　as　you　will；　you　will　never　come　to　a　thing　called　Tao　or　God。　Tao　is　not　a　thing。　Tao　is　a　principle　or　law。　Tao　means　how。
  All　things　behave　according　to　Tao；　but　Tao　does　not　behave。　Tao　is　never　an　object　or　a　process。
  Tao　is　the　law　of　all　things；　of　all　events。　Tao　is　the　common　ground　of　all　creation。
  Creation　consists　of　things　and　events。　All　things　and　events　are　vibratory。　Vibration　consists　of　opposites　or　polarities。　Polarities　may　cooperate　with　one　another；　or　they　may　conflict　to　varying　degrees。
  All　things　and　events；　whether　they　are　cooperative　or　conflicting；　harmonious　or　turbulent；　take　their　form　and　become　resolved　in　accordance　with　Tao。
  But　Tao　is　not　a　vibratory　event。　Tao　is　not；　for　example；　a　sound。　Tao　has　no　opposites　or　polarities。　Tao　is　one；　Tao　is　unity。
  As　far　as　I　know；　nothing　comes　before　Tao。　Nothing　made　Tao。　Nothing　created　God。
  5
  Natural　law　is　blind；　its　justice　evenhanded。　The　consequences　of　one's　behaviour　are　inescapable。　Being　human　is　no　excuse。
  The　wise　leader　does　not　try　to　protect　people　from　themselves。　The　light　of　awareness　shines　equally　on　what　is　pleasant　and　what　is　not　pleasant。
  People　are　not　better　than　the　rest　of　creation。　The　same　principle　which　underlies　human　beings　underlies　everything　equally。
  Neither　is　one　person　or　one　people　better　than　the　rest　of　humanity。　The　same　principle　is　everywhere。　One　person　is　as　worthy　of　the　next。　Why　play　favourites？
  Everything　demonstrates　the　law。　Just　because　God　is　not　a　thing　does　not　mean　God　is　nothing。　A　little　humility　is　in　order。
  Knowing　this；　the　leader　does　not　pretend　to　be　special。　The　leader　does　not　gossip　about　others　or　waste　breath　arguing　the　merits　of　competing　theories。
  Silence　is　a　great　source　of　strength。
  6
  Can　you　learn　to　become　open　and　receptive；　quiet　and　without　desires　or　the　need　to　do　something？　Being　open　and　receptive　is　called　Yin；　the　feminine；　or　the　valley。
  Imagine　that　there　is　a　pond　in　this　valley。　When　no　fears　or　desires　stir　the　surface　of　the　pond；　the　water　forms　a　perfect　mirror。
  In　this　mirror；　you　can　see　the　reflection　of　Tao。　You　can　see　God　and　you　can　see　creation。
  Go　into　the　valley；　be　still；　and　watch　the　pond。　Go　as　often　as　you　wish。　Your　silence　will　grow。　The　pond　will　never　run　dry。
  The　valley；　the　pond；　and　Tao　are　all　within　you。
  7
  True　self…interest　teaches　selflessness。
  Heaven　and　earth　endure　because　they　are　not　simply　selfish　but　exist　in　behalf　of　all　creation。
  The　wise　leader；　knowing　this；　keeps　egocentricity　in　check　and　by　doing　so　becomes　even　more　effective。
  Enlightened　leadership　is　service；　not　selfishness。　The　leader　grows　more　and　lasts　longer　by　placing　the　well…being　of　all　above　the　well…being　of　self　alone。
  Paradox：　By　being　selfless；　the　leader　enhances　self。
  8
  The　wise　leader　is　like　water。
  Consider　water：　water　cleanses　and　refreshes　all　creatures　without　distinction　and　without　judgement；　water　freely　and　fearlessly　goes　deep　beneath　the　surface　of　things；　water　is　fluid　and　responsive；　water　follows　the　law　freely。
  Consider　the　leader：　the　leader　works　in　any　setting　without　complaint；　with　any　person　or　issue　that　comes　on　the　floor；　the　leader　acts　so　that　all　will　benefit　and　serves　well　regardless　of　the　rate　of　pay；　the　leader　speaks　simply　and　honestly　and　intervenes　in　order　to　shed　light　and　create　harmony。
  From　watching　the　movements　of　water；　the　leader　has　learned　that　in　action；　timing　is　everything。
  Like　water；　the　leader　is　yielding。　Because　the　leader　does　not　push；　the　group　does　not　resent　or　resist。
  9
  A　good　group　is　better　than　a　spectacular　group。　When　leaders　become　superstars；　the　teacher　outshines　the　teaching。
  Very　few　superstars　are　down…to…earth。　Fame　breeds　fame；　and　before　long　the　get　carried　away　with　themselves。　Then　they　fly　off　center　and　crash。
  The　wise　leader　settles　for　good　work　and　then　lets　others　have　the　floor。　The　leader　does　not　take　credit　for　what　happens　and　has　no　need　for　fame。
  A　moderate　ego　demonstrates　wisdom。
  10
  Can　you　mediate　emotional　issues　without　taking　sides　or　picking　favourites？
  Can　you　breathe　freely　and　remained　relaxed　even　in　the　presence　of　passionate　fears　and　desires？
  Are　your　own　conflicts　clarified？　Is　your　own　house　clean？
  Can　you　be　gentle　with　all　factions　and　lead　the　group　without　dominating？
  Can　you　remain　open　and　receptive；　no　matter　what　issues　arise？
  Can　you　know　what　is　emerging；　yet　keep　your　peace　while　others　discover　for　themselves？
  Learn　to　lead　in　a　nourishing　manner。
  Learn　to　lead　without　being　positive。
  Learn　to　be　helpful　without　taking　the　credit。
  Learn　to　lead　without　coercion。
  You　can　do　this　if　you　remain　unbiased；　clear；　and　down…to…earth。
  11
  Pay　attention　to　silence。　What　is　happening　when　nothing　is　happening　in　a　group？　That　is　the　group　field。
  Thirteen　people　sit　in　a　circle；　but　it　is　climate　or　the　spirit　in　the　center　of　the　circle；　where　nothing　is　happening；　that　determines　the　nature　of　the　group　field。
  Learn　to　see　emptiness。　When　you　enter　an　empty　house；　can　you　feel　the　mood　of　the　place？　It　is　the　same　with　a　vase　or　a　pot；　learn　to　see　the　emptiness　inside；　which　is　the　usefulness　of　it。
  People's　speech　and　actions　are　figural　events。　They　give　the　group　form　and　content。
  The　silences　and　empty　spaces；　on　the　other　hand；　reveal　the　group's　essential　mood；　the　context　for　everything　that　happens。　That　is　the　group　field。
  12
  Endless　drama　in　a　group　clouds　consciousness。　Too　much　noise　overwhelms　the　senses。　Continual　input　obscures　genuine　insight。
  Do　not　substitute　sensationalism　for　learning。
  Allow　time　for　silent　reflection。　Turn　inward　and　digest　what　has　happened。　Let　the　senses　rest　and　grow　still。
  Teach　people　to　let　go　of　their　superficial　mental　chatter　and　obsessions。　Teach　people　to　pay　attention　to　the　whole　body's　reaction　to　a　situation。
  When　group　members　have　time　to　reflect；　they　can　see　more　clearly　what　is　essential　in　themselves　and　others。
  13
  If　you　measure　success　in　terms　of　praise　and　criticism；　your　anxiety　will　be　endless。
  Having　a　good　reputation　or　becoming　well…known　for　your　work　can　be　a　hindrance　to　your　further　development。
  Fame　is　as　burdensome　as　caring　for　yourself　properly。
  What　is　the　problem　with　praise　and　criticism？
  If　the　group　applauds　one　thing　you　do；　and　then　you　feel　good；　you　will　worry　if　they　do　not　applaud　as　loudly　the　next　time。　If　they　are　critical；　if　they　argue　or　complain；　you　will　feel　hurt。　Either　way；　you　are　anxious　and　dependent。
  How　can　a　good　reputation　be　a　hindrance？
  A　good　reputation　naturally　arises　from　doing　good　work。　But　if　you　try　to　cherish　your　reputation；　if　you　try　to　preserve　it；　you　lose　the　freedom　and　honesty　necessary　for　further　development。
  How　is　fame　like　caring　for　yourself？
  In　order　to　do　good　work；　you　must　take　good　care　of　yourself。　You　must　value　yourself　and　allow　others　to　value　you　also。　But　if　you　make　too　much　of　yourself；　you　will　become　egocentric。　Egocentricity　injures　both　self　and　work。
  If　you　can　live　with　the　fruits　of　success　and　care　for　yourself　properly；　you　will　be　able　to　foster　success　in　other　people。
  14
  When　you　cannot　see　what　is　happening　in　a　group；　do　not　stare　harder。　Relax　and　look　with　your　inner　eye。
  When　you　do　not　understand　what　a　person　is　saying；　do　not　grasp　for　every　word。　Give　up　your　efforts。　Become　silent　inside　and　listen　with　your　deepest　self。
  When　you　are　puzzled　by　what　you　see　or　hear；　push　less；　open　out　and　be　aware。　See　without　staring。　Listen　quietly　rather　than　listening　hard。　Use　intuition　and　reflection　rather　than　trying　to　figure　things　out。
  The　more　you　can　let　go　of　trying；　and　the　more　open　and　receptive　you　become；　the　more　easily　you　will　know　what　is　happening。
  Also；　stay　in　the　present。　The　present　is　more　available　than　either　memories　of　the　past　or　fantasies　of　the　future。
  So　attend　to　what　is　happening　now。
  15
  ＇The　Leader's　Teachers＇　practiced　meditation。　Meditation　made　them　good　at　seeing　how　things　happen。　Meditation　grounded　them　in　the　infinite。　That　is　why　they　sometimes　appeared　deep　and　inscrutable；