On Dangerously Irrelevant, administrator Linda Orozco describes what she and other California school leaders learned from a Thai monk during an international professional leadership program. The group of school leaders who traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand did not expect the orange-robed man, soft-spoken and barefoot, to understand the difficulties they faced at U.S. schools. But, they were inspired by the experience.
Towards the end of our time together, he asked us to meditate with him. We closed our eyes and listened to him describe a happy place free of hate, violence and pain. He then filled the void full of love, peace and comfort—an ideal environment we strive to achieve as educators. In closing our eyes, our consciousness opened we were reacquainted to the reasons why we entered this profession…
And in doing so, he moved some of us to tears as we realize how much further we need to go not only as leaders, but most importantly as human beings.