Exemplary Leadership

The best Leaders are the best examples of virtue and righteousness. A society will be blessed when its elite members—politicians, business leaders, professors, celebrities and sports heroes—recognize their duty to be examples of honesty, integrity and morality.

When they become role models, the common people will naturally follow their example. We can identify three aspects of exemplary leadership.

First, it begins in the family. The manner in which a leader cares for his or her spouse and children and manages the household is the starting point for his or her work in the wider spheres of government and social responsibility.

Second, it is leadership that governs by educating hearts and minds. In China, Confucius and his followers set forth the ideal of exemplary leadership against the views of Legalists who taught that leadership flowed from law and its vigorous enforcement— “power by the barrel of the gun” as Mao Zedong would later put it.

ConfuciusSubject countered that all the state’s power would not banish discontent if the leaders were corrupt; on the contrary, the people would only learn violence and oppression.

Third, we have examples of exemplary leadership in the saints and religious teachers whom God sent to this earth.

Jesus of Nazareth did not just teach through the words of his sermons but also by his practice of sacrificial love. The Christian who walks in the footsteps of Jesus asks, “What would Jesus do?” and does likewise.

Jesus likewise loved his enemies on the cross—a difficult example to follow—thus laying the basis for Christians ever since to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors.

When the political leaders follow these saints’ examples, they can establish world peace without doubt. These qualities of exemplary leadership are summarized in Father Moon’s teaching called the Three Subject Thought.

The standard of leadership is to be a “true parent, true teacher, and true owner.”

Such leaders partake of the nature of God, our Heavenly Father, who superintends this world as its Owner, cares for all its creatures with deep parental love, and continually educates us to the true way of life.

An Exemplary and Virtuous Personal Life

If a ruler himself is upright, all will go well even though he does not give orders. But if he himself is not upright, even though he gives orders, they will not be obeyed. Analects 13.6 (Confucianism)

When the king is deceitful, who will not be deceitful? When the king is unrighteous, who will not be unrighteous? Somadeva, Nitivakyamrita 17.183 (Jainism)

Concerned alone with the upholding of the world, You should act. Whatever the best man does, others do that also. The world follows the standard he sets for himself. Bhagavad-Gita 3.20-21 (Hinduism)

When cattle are crossing, if the old bull swerves, They all go swerving, following his lead. So among men, if he who’s reckoned best Lives not aright, much more do other folk. If the ruler be unrighteous, the whole land dwells in woe. When cattle are crossing, if the bull goes straight, They all go straight because his course is straight. So among men, if he who’s reckoned best Lives righteously, the others do so too. The whole land dwells in happiness if the ruler lives aright. Anguttara Nikaya 2.75 (Buddhism)

When the righteous man is in the town, he is its luster, its majesty, and its glory. When he leaves it, its luster, its majesty, and its glory depart. Genesis Rabbah 68.6 (Judaism)

Guide them by edicts, keep them in line with punishments, and the common people will stay out of trouble but will have no sense of shame. Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.9 Analects 2.3 (Confucianism)

Chi K’ang-tzu asked Confucius about government, saying, “Suppose I were to slay those who have not the Way in order to help those who have the Way, what would you think of it?” Confucius replied, saying, “If you desire what is good, the people will at once be good. The essence of the gentleman is that of wind; the essence of small people is that of grass. And when a wind passes over the grass, it cannot choose but bend.” Analects 12.19 (Confucianism)

If you have a good heart, you naturally become the object of others’ respect, but if you have a selfish motive, though you may receive respect to your face, behind your back people will ask, “What use is his being a lama, guru, etc?” Since they are free to speak they will do so, which may not be undeserved. Similarly, when a leader is strongly motivated by selfishness, though people may show respect and shower praises on him in his presence, later on if he meets with problems they will rejoice, which is natural. Tenzin Gyatso, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama (Buddhism)

The Book of Songs says, How profound was King Wen! He maintained his brilliant virtue without interruptions And regarded with reverence that which he abided. As a ruler, he abided in benevolence (jen). As a minister, he abided in reverence. As a son, he abided in filial piety. As a father, he abided in deep love. And in dealing with the people of the country, he abided in faithfulness. The Book of Songs says, Look at that curve in the Ch’i River. How luxuriant and green are the bamboo trees there! Here is our elegant and accomplished prince. His personal life is cultivated As a thing is cut and filed And as a thing is carved and polished. How grave and dignified! How majestic and accomplished! Here is our elegant and accomplished prince. We can never forget him. “As a thing is cut and filed” refers to the pursuit of learning. “As a thing is carved and polished” refers to self-cultivation. “How grave and how dignified” indicates precaution. “How majestic and distinguished” expresses an awe-inspiring appearance. “Here is our elegant and accomplished prince. We can never forget him” means that the people cannot forget his eminent character and perfect virtue. Great Learning 3.3-4 (Confucianism)

Verily in the Messenger of God you have a good example for him who looks unto God and the Last Day, and remembers God much. Qur’an 33.21

When [Jesus] had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” John 13.12-15

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. Peter 2.21

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
People who live for the sake of the whole should be exemplary in all aspects of living: work, speech, and behavior. Then they will be automatically respected as elders. (318:147, May 5, 2000)

What is goodness?

It is to discard what is evil and seek what is good. This means you should embody goodness and practice it. You should become that kind of leader. What is a leader? He is the model and standard for others to follow.

Although he is in the central position, he does not isolate himself from the people. Rather, he cares for the people, protects them and guides them towards goodness. That is why the people want to take him as their model and emulate him. (118:38, May 2, 1982)

Be a man who can respect his own character. You should be able to hold your head high before all things, knowing that they respect you. Then you can say, “Follow my example.” (Way of God’s Will 2.2)

To become a leader, first, you should be able to solve economic difficulties. Second, you should have skill at diplomacy. Third, you should be an eloquent speaker who can persuade the masses. (85:263, March 3, 1976)

What was God’s purpose in sending saints and prophets to this earth? It was to educate all people about the meaning of God’s true love by demonstrating the character and exemplary life that God desires. (219:110, August 27, 1991)

A Leader Strives to Be a True Parent, a True Teacher and a True Owner

Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church? 1 Timothy 3.2-5

Heaven and Earth are the father and mother of all things. Men are the sensibility of all things. It is telling the truth, thinking well, and seeing things clearly that make the principal ruler. The principal ruler is father and mother to the common people. Book of History 5.1.1: The Great Declaration (Confucianism)

What is meant by saying that “in order to establish moral order in his state, one must first guide his family properly” is this: One cannot convince others of what he cannot convince the members of his own family. Therefore the wise governor does not need to go beyond his family in order to find the principles needed for governing his state. Here he finds his own son’s respectful obedience to his father, with which a governor should be served; affection for one’s relatives, with which higher officials should be treated; and paternal kindness, with which all people should be regarded.10 Great Learning 9.1 (Confucianism)

Heaven, earth and man are the basis of all creatures. Heaven gives them birth, earth nourishes them, and man brings them to completion…

The enlightened and worthy ruler, being of good faith, is strictly attentive to the three bases. His sacrifices are conducted with utmost reverence; he makes offerings to and serves his ancestors; he advances brotherly affection and encourages filial conduct. In this way he serves the basis of Heaven. He personally grasps the plough handle and ploughs a furrow, plucks the mulberry himself and feeds the silkworms, breaks new ground to increase the grain supply and opens the way for a sufficiency of clothing and food. In this way he serves the basis of earth. He sets up schools for the nobles and in the towns and villages to teach filial piety and brotherly affection, reverence and humility. He enlightens the people with education and moves them with rites and music. Thus he serves the basis of man. Tung Chung-shu, Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals (Confucianism)

Those who in ancient times invented writing drew three lines and connected them through the middle, calling the character “king” (王). The three lines are Heaven, earth and man, and that which passes through the middle joins the principles of all three. Occupying the center of Heaven, earth and man, passing through and joining all three— if he is not a king, who can do this? Thus the king is but the executor of Heaven… He patterns his actions on its commands and causes the people to follow them… The highest humanity rests with Heaven, for Heaven is humaneness itself. It shelters and sustains all creatures, transforms them and brings them to birth, nourishes them and completes them…

Since man receives his life from Heaven, he must also take from Heaven its humaneness and himself be humane. Therefore he reveres Heaven and knows the affections of father and son, brother and brother; he has a heart of trust and faithfulness, compassion and mercy; he is capable of acts of decorum and righteousness, modesty and humility; he can judge between right and wrong, between what accords with and what violates duty. His sense of moral order is brilliant and deep, his understanding is great, encompassing all things. Only the way of man can form a triad with Heaven. Heaven’s will is constantly to love and benefit, its business to nourish and bring to age, and spring and autumn, winter and summer are the instruments of its will. The will of the king is likewise to love and benefit the world, and his business to bring peace and joy to his time; and his love and hate, his joy and anger, are his instruments… Therefore the great concern of the ruler lies in diligently watching over and guarding his heart, that his loves and hates, his angers and joys may be displayed in accordance with right, as the mild and cool, the cold and hot weather come forth in proper season. Tung Chung-shu, Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals (Confucianism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Our three great wishes are, first, to become a true parent; second, to become a true teacher; and third, to become a true leader. Do you want to be successful and become a governor or even the President of the United States?

First, you must become the head of your own household. To become the head of your household, you must inherit the family tradition and stand in the position of the head who can represent God and your ancestors. By doing so, all families in the nation will come to respect you. (205:20, July 15, 1990)

Among all parents, those who live more for the sake of their children are true parents. Teachers who do more for the sake of their students are true teachers, and the president who sacrifices more for the nation is a true president. (285:226, May 19, 1997)

A leader must take responsibility for his people. More than that, he must protect them. And not only protect them, but also raise them. (210:98, December 1, 1990)

Everyone here has parents and teachers, and you also have the leader of your nation. Everyone undeniably needs such people.

However, when compared to the true standard of parenthood, parents are at many different levels. What level of parent do you want to attain?

Likewise, the standard of a true teacher is not measured by whether someone is a professor at an Ivy League university such as Harvard, Yale or Columbia in the United States, or Oxford and Cambridge in England.

Also, leaders of nations are at different levels compared to the true standard of leadership. Even if someone is the president of a superpower such as the United States, does this mean he or she is a true president? Today in the family, children do not trust parents.

In school, students do not trust their teachers. Citizens do not trust the leaders of their nation. Whose responsibility is it that children do not trust their parents?

Since their father and mother are not united as one, not trusting each other fully, the children cannot trust them. Neither can they trust their siblings.

Family relationships have reached the breaking point. From this perspective, how can we possibly attain the true standard of even one of these three subject positions—either as a parent, teacher or leader? (285:214-15, May 3, 1997)

The principle of true parent-child relationships applies to the philosophy of management. The relationship between an employer and his employees should be viewed in this way, not as a conflict relationship… in the manner of Communism.

Problems in labor relations can be solved by practicing parental love. The owner of the company is in the role of parent, and his employees are in the position of children.

The owner should care for his employees as parents care for their children. Don’t parents save money to bequeath it to their children? The owner should likewise think that his purpose is to bequeath his company’s wealth to his employees. (116:121, December 27, 1981)

God expects you to become a true parent, a true teacher, and a true leader. What do you think is the highest standard and absolute model for those three positions?

It is God. God is the True Parent among parents, the true teacher among teachers, and true king among kings. God is the Eternal True Parent, Eternal True Teacher, Eternal True Leader, and King. If we are children of God, we need to become true parent first, just like God. We should also follow the way of a true teacher, just like God. And we need to follow the way of a true leader, just like God. The ultimate model for the three subject positions is God. (285:224, May 3, 1997)