Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Power of Li
I find it interesting that every
day we carry out the power of Li probably without realizing it. It is natural
to do what another asks if no harm comes to us or complete a ceremony by
shaking hands with another. But, what do we make of someone who realizes the
power of Li and abuses it? An example could be someone who constantly
asks the people around them to do things for him/her. The person requests are
not just simple tasks but annoying and unnecessary because they are lazy and
controlling. I think in this example, the power of Li would be broken because
it would turn into manipulation, which is not an aspect of Li.
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Your idea makes a good deal of sense. It seems that the key part of Li is that there is an agreement between the order giver and the doer that what is being asked is actually called for and needed. There is a sense of things being as they should be when Li is actually a component of the interaction. Manipulation generally lacks this aspect, and would be a good way to differentiate between true leaders and standard manipulators.
ReplyDeleteAs discussed in class, a true leader speaks, and those who follow that lead do as they are requested because they believe in their leader and that leader's goals. In the case of Manipulators, their followers do as they are told out of some kind of influence the leader has over them, not from an internal sense of the leader being right.
I think in this case it's not the power of Li. because for it to be considered a power of Li all the 'requirements' need to be met. So if the person start abusing it, i think it is no more considered Li.
ReplyDeleteRight, both of you. A ceremony fails if either the outward forms or the inward spirit are lacking. Both of these aspects require careful learning on the part of all participants. An egotistical bully does not really lead at all.
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