Leaders are not selected or appointed, they emerge.  They emerge naturally because of the authenticity of their being, the power of their presence, the integrity of their actions, the courage of their hearts and their genuine care for others.  Perhaps this is why the real leaders in any organisation are not defined by their position or their privileges, but by their ability to command the trust and respect which, if sustained over time, eventually crystallizes into loyalty and commitment.

The profile of the complete leader includes many qualities and competencies which have spiritual roots, including the capacity to be sensitive to the feelings, emotions and needs of others, a consistently positive attitude towards every person and situation, and the ability to stay cool in the midst of crisis.

As we celebrate the 49^th year of the passing away of Brahma Baba, the founder of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, it is clear that all who met and worked with this inspiring individual were moved to follow him, not by force, fear or even devotion, but out of pure love and respect for a soul who embodied all the leadership qualities.

In all memoirs and stories that senior sisters have to tell us about this great soul, there are perhaps three qualities which stand out most frequently.  They are the qualities which provide the basis for all effective forms and styles of leadership – humility, respect and love expressed as genuine care.

Of the many faces of humility which were a natural part of Brahma Baba’s character, it appears that for all the experiences and wisdom gained in that final period of his life, he still considered himself a humble student of God.  By all accounts it seems the basis of his success in every relationship of his life was the absolute respect and unconditional love which he gave to every person he met, regardless of their background or age.  He never considered himself to be a guru, always discouraging that perception whenever he felt it in others.  He remained largely incognito and became a significant spiritual personality in India after his death in 1969.

Perhaps the one quality which is at the heart of his legacy as a leader of spirit was his intention and attitude of continuous service.  His leadership style was a living demonstration of three core attributes of the ‘servant leader’:

1. To serve the needs of others before the needs of the self.
2. To encourage and facilitate the growth and development of the spiritual dimension in others.
3. To be honest and truthful in all dealings with others.

Such was the purity and the power of his ‘servant leadership’, such was the selfless care and concern towards those who followed him, and such was the unlimited depth and breadth of that care that today, the senior sisters stand as living monuments to a true leader of spirit.  There is also a fast expanding international organisation which currently has over 8,500 branches in more than 130 countries where each student and teacher is learning the art of spiritual leadership, beginning with themselves.

To be a teacher we must first be a student.  To follow the footsteps of any human being is not to imitate them blindly, it is not to try to be exactly like them – for we are all unique and tread our own path back to truth.  True followership is taking the best, highest, truest and purest of all that a real leader of spirit has been, said and done, and then building that into our own lives, thus creating a pathway for our own journey of spirit.

Brahma Baba’s footsteps left many clear and radiant footprints for us all to follow.  These are perhaps the nine most important and inspiring for our own journey to personal perfection:

• Make God, the Supreme Soul, your constant Companion, Friend, Teacher and Guide by cultivating a very real personal relationship with the parent of all souls.

• Cultivate a love for pure silence so that the Supreme may reach you, touch you and teach you.

• Identify and renounce all that is false, beginning with the illusion that you are your body, and all the various subtle faces of ego, which arise from the illusion of physical identity.

• Accept and respect every soul you meet, regardless of his background.
• Have a clear aim and a focused vision of your final and highest spiritual state of consciousness – your inner destination.

• Understand and practice the consciousness of unconditional love as the highest form of service at this time.

• Completely eliminate anger, criticism and blame from one’s personal repertoire and behaviour.

• Study spiritual wisdom relentlessly until the final moments of your life.

• Serve with a heart that is pure, free from desire, and that wants to help the truth emerge in the hearts of others.  While Brahma Baba embodies each of these characteristics, there are many other qualities which he taught by example.  

Each January 18^th, the day he left his body, Brahma Baba’s spiritual legacy to the world is remembered and celebrated in communities worldwide by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.