Our Paradigm of Service
We believe that the most meaningful form of leadership through service happens when our attitudes, beliefs and values line up with our heart and outward actions in a way that brings about optimal joy and energy.
Service remains at the heart of Shinnyo-en Foundation. We see service as a combination of the external actions we take in the world and the internal motivations that drive our actions. We believe that the most meaningful form of leadership through service happens when our attitudes, beliefs and values line up with our heart and outward actions in a way that brings about optimal joy and energy. By looking into what motivates you to serve or lead, you can make more conscious decisions about the actions you take.
Creating Harmony within Yourself
Service is a process of aligning with mind, heart and action
As you become more aware of the connections among your mind (cognitive thoughts), heart (emotions) and actions (physical movements) within yourself, you can learn to shift any of those elements so that service becomes more meaningful to you and for others.
The awareness of “being in alignment” within yourself is a continual process. In each moment, factors in our internal and external environment change. We have to be flexible and adjust ourselves to move with these changes.
Creating Harmony with Others
A state of alignment within yourself or with others is never static.
Just as aligning your own mind, heart, and actions within yourself is a never-ending process, the relationship between two or more individuals or groups is a dynamic, on-going process of exchanging thoughts, feelings, and actions. That is, a state of alignment within yourself or with others is never static. Instead, it is a fluid and dynamic process, depending upon your internal and external conditions. The needed adjustments are not necessarily huge or life-altering. Instead, most of the time they are minor and can be made on a subtle level. The most essential element of this adjustment process is a deep understanding of yourself. Knowing what you value, having a sense of your unique tendencies or patterns of behavior, and understanding some of the ways you get caught out of alignment are all very useful.
With that awareness, as situations arise when you feel out of alignment, you can pause and take a moment to reflect upon your thoughts, emotions or actions.
Harmony within Groups or Communities
Universal core values, such as lovingkindness, compassion and peace, hold us together at home, in school and communities.
Creating dynamic and effective relationships with more than one community or group can be challenging for any individual. Recognizing that we all hold universal core values, such as lovingkindness, compassion and peace, and that every community is connected to other communities can make our relationship-building and alignments among them easier.
Within a community, the group will only be as strong as the individuals that come together to support the hub of universal core values.