the anti-power meme
For most of my childhood and as a young adult, I had no interest in power. I was interested in chess, and books, and writing—in following my own curiosity, without justifying what I was doing or why, and without needing to share with others what I learned.
My relationship with Power came into question, and eventually transformation, when I trained at what is now called the Monastic Academy (MAPLE).
Training at MAPLE re-wired my relationship with power. Instead of implicitly avoiding it, power was forced upon me. I progressively held a series of different roles, from more minor roles like kitchen manager all the way to being the Fundraising Director and Assistant Director, or being part of the core team of monastics helping to start a new California branch of the monastery. Whenever a role became too easy or familiar, we would be graduated into a new, more challenging role that would force us to develop new skills or capacities.
My teacher, Soryu, really embodied what we were trying to cultivate: trustworthy leaders. He was a wise, loving being with an abundance of power and skill. He also had deep belief in me, that I was a good person, that I was worthy of having and using power, also, because I would use it for good, for the world’s benefit, for the benefit of all living beings. He showed me that again and again, in interactions small and large.
