The Language of Power & the Language of Love
Solving Tough Problems in Practice
by Adam Kahane
“This experience in India left me depressed and confused. I had seen the generative face of power, the capacity to achieve purpose, and also its other, degenerative face. I had seen the potent face of love, of re-connection, and also its other, impotent face. And more disturbingly, I had seen all of these faces - generative, degenerative, potent, impotent - within myself. So what to do?”
Kahane will bring lessons from the practice of “solving tough problems” into a 2008 Summer Institute module co-led with LeAnne Grillo. To read an account of the 2007 version of this module, see David Holt’s Progress magazine article (October 2007) The Power to Act
Victory Without Battle
by Jim Gimian and Barry Boyce
“Conflict — in the sense of the interplay between polarities — seems woven into the very fabric of life, and yet it so often can lead to wanton destruction,” write Jim Gimian and Barry Boyce in The Rules of Victory, their latest commentary on The Art of War. “The answer within the Sun Tzu is that it is possible to come through the other side of conflict, having gained our objective, without blood on the floor.”
Reflection
Roots of Aliveness
Leading as a Living Process
by Michael Jones
“Giving our attention to the ground of being beneath an organization or a community involves an artful process of creating form out of the ambiguous circumstances and variable conditions we find ourselves in.”
From the Field
Cycling for Stories
by Aftab Erfan
“I was slowly losing my own position on ‘the right thing to do’ in Alberta. On one hand, the stories of environmental and social degradation painted the dark side of tar sands development in fine detail. On the other hand, the stories of economic dependence on the oil industry made it clear that there cannot be a quick and clean break without devastating the people who depend on it.”
With Love from the Ukraine
Spotlight on Emerging Leader Yuliya Filippovska
By Lyn Hartley
“I consider the Orange Revolution a very positive step for the nation, though not for the government.”
Wedding Blessing in Zimbabwe
by Margaret Wheatley
with an afternote by Bob Stilger
“We only know who we are when in relationship.
We call this ‘love’ but really, it is life we are loving.
We can be human only together.”
From the 2007 Summer Program
Sounds and Images from the 2007 Summer Program
297 people from 22 countries, 10 modules, 3 arts performances, 5 meditation talks, a Nova Scotian heat wave — these were some of the ingredients in this five-day journey of learning and connection. Our senses, our intellect, our stories, and our burning questions were all engaged — and then we returned to the meditation cushion…
Shambhala Insights
The Big Squeeze
by Pema Chodron
“It’s the rub between those two things — the squeeze between reality and vision — that causes you to grow up, to wake up to be 100 percent decent, alive and compassionate.”
Announcements from Friends and Partners
Authentic Leadership Certificate Program January - May 2008 (Boulder, CO and online) Directed by Susan Skjei, with Mark Wilding, Micki McMillan, Julio Olalla, Mark Gerzon and Arawana Hayashi
Authentic Leadership is a fifteen–week leadership certificate program that integrates the best of Western management practices with the wisdom of Eastern contemplative traditions to provide a transformative learning experience.
Embodied Presence: The Art of Making a True Move with Arawana Hayashi, June 5-8, 2008, Sky Lake Lodge, Rosendale, NY.
This unique kinesthetic learning experience strengthens personal confidence, creative collaborations, teambuilding, group communication, and leadership skills. Cost is $825 US, including meals and accommodations. For more information visit the link above or contact jrankin39@shaw.ca
Parent Child Learning Journey to Southern Africa, first two weeks of August 2008.
The Berkana Institute and Kufunda Learning Village invite you and your parent or child to join a Learning Journey to South Africa and Zimbabwe that will open your eyes, mind, hearts and hands to the work of pioneering leaders. Berkana needs two more families as “early registrants.” These families will join with three others already registered to assist in the final design of the journey. For full information please send an e-mail to lauren@berkana.org
Art of Hosting on Whidbey Island, near Seattle, WA, January 24-27, 2008
“The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter” is a practice for all who aspire to learn and find new ways of working with others to create innovative and comprehensive solutions.
Women’s Learning Retreat, Axladitsa-Avatakia, Greece, September 20-28, 2008.
The Berkana Institute invites you to join us in a week-long retreat for reflection and energetic collaboration amid the inspiring beauty of an olive grove in Greece’s Pelion peninsula. We call women together to claim the special gift of women’s leadership at this critical moment in our lives and our world. More information, details, and cost to come. Please contact Lauren Parks at lauren@berkana.orgor 617-868-0445, ext 14 with any questions or if you’d like to receive updates on this program.