As the Paradigm Shifts: U is for Ubiquitous and Universality

I love the word ubiquitous. It’s got big energy. It has a quality of being that is bigger than, more expansive and universal in nature. It means everywhere, ever present, all pervading omnipresent, universal. So yes, this does describe that aspect of spirituality in business that I’m wanting to capture – that quality of presence that is always and everywhere: It’s pervasive in grace and glory and its capacity to transform business is beyond the beyond.

Look at all of the writings on leadership and business practices that intend to provide more effective, more prosperous practices for corporations, businesss, investors and employees. Everyone is looking for that magic pill, the big BANG that will transfigure our current circumstance to outstanding results. Anyone willing to engage the ubiquitous and the universal? Not many people are. It takes moxie, chutzpah, courage and bravery and the willingness to put everything on the line. You are facing the death of your identity, as you’ve known yourself to be. You are taking the leap with vision and compelling intention – there’s no stopping you when you are this committed, but are you? Are you committed enough?

My client, Orin, in Israel is on the verge of making the leap. He’s very good at what he does as a manager in a primo corporate position. He has the wisdom to know that he could set his sights low, settle for safety and security. He could continue to placate his manager, saying the right things ensuring he doesn’t rock the boat. However, he hasn’t hired just anyone as his executive coach. He’s hired me – someone who empowering clients to think and live into the context of ubiquitous universality. This means allowing a more expansive outlook to be included in his choice-making process. This notion challenges him. It’s daunting to consider a paradigm shift, especially when you have a wife and children that count on you. He knows though that what is at stake is right livelihood at work for himself, his direct reports and their direct reports, and those to whom he reports. Lateral, horizontal and vertically – he makes a difference.

He has an opportunity to affect the lives of many people, including the well-being of his children. By taking on a more ubiquitous perspective of the reality of life in the corporate world, and on the Earth, he has the ability to bring about a more expansive perspective one where the bottom line is calculated not only by the P&L statement, which includes profitability of conscious communication, sustainability of relationships, the inclusion of more self-empowering skill development.

“What is absolutely true is always correct, everywhere, all the time, under any condition. An entity’s ability to discern these things is irrelevant to that state of truth.” Steven Robiner

One particular dilemma of engaging spirituality in business is that certain principles and concepts have to be addressed in such a way that are ubiquitous – existing and being everywhere. Perennial philosophy is a term for principles and truths that are ubiquitous, conveyed within every religious and spiritual tradition that ever existed.

Perennial philosophy asserts that there is a single divine foundation of all religious knowledge, referred to as the universal truth. Each world religion, independent of its cultural or historical context, is simply a different interpretation of this knowledge. World religions including, but not limited to, Christianity, Islam, Judaism,Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Sikhism and Buddhism, are all derived from the same universal truth. Although the sacred scriptures of these world religions are undeniably diverse and often oppose each other, each world religion has been formed to fit the social, mental and spiritual needs of their respective epoch and culture. Therefore, perennial philosophy maintains that each world religion has flourished from the foundation of the same universal truth, making these differences superficial and able to be cast aside to find religion’s deeper spiritual meaning. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_philosophy

According to Aldous Huxley author of Perennial Philosophy (1945), According to Huxley, the perennial philosophy is: the metaphysic that recognizes a divine Reality substantial to the world of things and lives and minds; the psychology that finds in the soul something similar to, or even identical with, divine Reality; the ethic that places man’s final end in the knowledge of the immanent and transcendent Ground of all being; the thing is immemorial and universal. Rudiments of the perennial philosophy may be found among the traditional lore of primitive peoples in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a place in every one of the higher religions. (The Perennial Philosophy, p. vii). From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_philosophy

The gist of this series of Spirituality in Business has been to cultivate awareness of universal challenges and dilemmas that are part and parcel of our everyday life in our work environment. The ubiquitous nature of our humanity engages each and every one of us to discover, recognize and acknowledge the universal nature of our experiences. Regardless of your position in an organization there are certain aspects of being human that you cannot avoid: Assessments and judgments of our successes or lack thereof, fear of rejection and humiliation, conflict and emotional triggers, desires and frustrations, creative engagement with our work, fulfillment and meaning – these are just a few of the circumstances that we encounter every day and requests, no, requires us to transcend our normal operating procedures – our survival strategies, and reach for a way of being that serves the highest good of all ubiquitously – everywhere, always.

This is not rocket science. This is remembering that kindness is the most powerful force of change we have. Through the practice of kindness we transcend egoic conflict and move to a more compassionate, heart-centered engagement that allows all parties to be recognized and acknowledged for their unique perspectives, gifts and contribution to the unfolding of universal expansion. That is what we are all doing here – contributing to universal expansion.

As the paradigm shifts, we effortlessly act from a ground of being that is self-empowering and empowers others to live and work in right relationship with oneself, our teams, our investors – the planet and the Universe at large. It’s big work. Enjoy the adventure!