蜜芽传媒

Emily Thornberry's resignation from Labour's front bench after sending a tweet which was branded as "snobby" during the Rochester and Strood by-election adds to the ever increasing list of MPs who have been forced to resign following public scrutiny of their attitudes and behaviour. With the increased use of social media our leaders are under the spotlight more than ever before.

But how good are we at choosing our leaders? Leadership is understood as a process of social influence where one gains the support of others in achieving a common goal. How clear are we about we want and whether someone is fit to lead us in achieving it?

In the Bhagavad Gita one of the core texts for Hindus, Krishna says that 鈥淲hatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues鈥�. He goes on to further emphasise that the greatness of a person lies in their ability to love others and value them as a whole person, body, mind and spirit. The history of Lord Rama illustrates that he cared about his citizens so much that he could not even bear to see one person unhappy and was willing to sacrifice his own happiness just to make that person happy. He ran his kingdom in a way that saw to the material and spiritual needs of his people and they always felt like they had enough because they felt loved. The people of Ayodhya loved their King, Lord Rama and that's why they were unhappy when he wasn't there and celebrated by lighting up the entire city when he returned.

I think we can have this today - leaders who love and are loved by their people. Some personalities who effected social change in a positive way, long before they were given an official position of leadership include Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. I think one of the reasons people followed them was because they felt cared for. These leaders also considered the whole person and had spiritual values at the core of their thoughts and actions. The Hindu texts advise that as well as maintaining our physical and emotional needs, we should also nourish the soul or we are in danger of sacrificing long term happiness for short term gain. Paying attention to all parts ourselves leads to a society which is balanced, has enough of everything and more importantly is motivated by selfless service at all levels. When we live our lives as whole persons we will value ourselves and others more because we will experience spiritual equality coexisting with material diversity and create leaders who we vote for from the heart.

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