“Lead Regally with Self-Sacrifice”

Contributed by Anandasagara Reese

“Lead Regally with Self-Sacrifice.” This was one of the instructions from Dharmanidhi when he met with the Bay Area Jnanagni Kula Admin Group about electing a president. I thought to myself, “Uh-oh! Who’s going to try and take that on?” Turns out it was me!

How did this happen? Well, it started when Dharmanidhi said the Admin Group needed a point person. This person would be someone to turn to when a last minute decision would be needed or in case of a tie in voting. At the next Admin Group meeting, we discussed the idea of a president and thought it was a good idea. We thought it would be a powerful statement to have a woman president, since Dharmanidhi had just given many beautiful and moving teachings on the power of the feminine. So to make a long story short, here I am: president.

You might be asking yourself: what does the president do? First of all, some direction that came straight from Dharmanidhi was for the president to perform Aim Star practice every day, to pray deeply to the lineage for guidance for the kula, to look at the big picture of where the Bay Area kula is and where it is headed. As a group we also decided that the president should be at 80% or more of all kula functions (which is why you’ve been seeing so much of my smiling face).

Looking at the “big picture” for the Bay Area kula is challenging to say the least. But, we keep on trying – throwing ideas back and forth and hashing out the details. A couple of items we have been working on is setting up a system for new people to feel welcomed and to have a way for them to get involved with teachings and activities right away. Getting this streamlined and efficient is a work in progress. We have also been organizing and implementing the new “Kula Dues” program, which is–again–a work in progress.

On a more personal note, I have been attending 80% or more of all kula functions and it’s been pretty amazing. Something has really shifted in terms of my natural effort. Instead of feeling drained or exhausted after a meeting, puja, morning practice, homa, prostrations, etc., I feel nourished and nurtured. I feel like I’ve opened up to a wider experience of kula kundalini and have a deeper sense of how the kula works as a body to help support us on our spiritual journey. I am slowly but surely getting away from the idea that I am the star in my own movie and moving towards a deeper sense of being a part of a community. Not so much effort, more relaxation. It feels nice.

As far as “leading regally with self-sacrifice?” Well, it’s a work in progress!

Jai Kula! Jai Gurudev!

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