“When you gather together in a group, the Higher Beings are forced to appear.”

Master Choa Kok Sui

There are several categories of people. Those in the first category, live to make themselves happy, even at the expense of making others suffer. People in the second, live to make their party or nation happy, often at the expense of other nations.

Those in the third category on the other hand, live to serve and help others get happier, healthier and more prosperous.

As a result, the first category, often end their lives with unhappiness, grief and remorse. The second increase the pain of humanity while the ones in the third category enjoy life and increase health and happiness in the world.

There is also another category which consists of people who are more aligned to the dark forces – forces that influence humanity through hatred, fear, anger, jealousy, slander, malice and separation! “Once a person falls into the hands of such a group, there will be no hope for him, because they will destroy his foundation and make him a person without a soul.” Torkom Saraydarian

A group is a collection of people from different categories but with a common goal, who try to achieve that goal through cooperation, perseverance and selflessness.

The group might be small or big! Size never decides the quality of a group! However, the bigger it is, the greater virtue and efficiency will be required to keep the group intact. A group is not a true group, unless the consciousness of the members are fused, merged and blended with each other, creating “One Mind” or a “Group Consciousness”!

This Group Consciousness can be achieved through applying specific principles. These principles are in fact the basic ingredients that can contribute to the group’s success regardless of its size. Without such principles there will be no harmony in a group, but instead, anarchy!

These principles are:

RESPECT

Without respect, there will be no group! Group members must learn to respect each other, in thoughts, feelings, words and actions. Respect can only be achieved when we start seeing value and potential in the other members and maintain a good relationship with them based on such value.

“In group work, criticism affects the ability of a person to do his or her task successfully.”

Master Choa Kok Sui

A group without respect is similar to a stone wall without cement. The stones will tumble down and there will be no wall anymore!

The members of a group should also not wait to be treated with respect to give respect in return. Respect should be a default virtue within the group and among all the members. Even if there are signs of disrespect or lack of it, group members should react by showing a great deal of respect to any offender. This attitude will eventually create an atmosphere where respect will be an intuitive and default act.

PROMOTING A COMMON GOAL

The goal should be clear and observed by all the group members. With a clear goal, members will have better communication with each other and cooperate more intelligently towards it.

Problems and tensions often happen when the group members try to fit the group goal to their own self-interests and use it for their personal advantage. As the operator of an orchestra demands all the musicians to follow the symphony by playing their parts, the group goal demands the members not to force their individual goals upon the group. Therefore, to be part of the group consciousness, the members must resign from thoughts, feelings and actions that do not resonate with the common goal.

“Your personal trivial feelings are of no importance. The work should not be disrupted by politics.”

Master Choa Kok Sui

HARMONY

Group members should try to work in harmony with each other, towards the group’s common goal and the goals of the individuals that does not contradict with the group goal. If the personal goals of the individuals do not obstruct the common goal, they can be encouraged and empowered too.

“The more affluent the members of a group, the more affluent the group will be.”

Torkom Saraydarian

Therefore, helping the members to reach their individual goals, that are not against the group’s goal, will help the individuals to become empowered, that at the end will help the group.

PROTECTION

The group members should protect each other from attack and danger, which results in group consciousness, progress and integrity. Such attitude is often observed among soldiers at a war field. In critical situations, the life of each soldier is dependent on the survival of the rest. Therefore they strive to help and protect each other from harm and danger, which in return creates a strong sense of group work in them. This is how a group, a family or a nation should learn to act!

Group consciousness can only grow, when members don’t mind risking their lives to protect the rest of the group.

This is how our body works! Survival of each cell and each organ is dependent on the other. Such strong unity and group work in our bodies, makes us survive as humans; and sickness is a sign of disharmony between one system and the rest.

When one system is affected in our body, the other systems try to help it recover, as they know their survival is dependent on the well-being of the affected system.

Humanity should work the same way, just how the body works! The reason behind the sufferings of humanity, throughout history, has been in fact the lack of group harmony and breaking the Law of Group Consciousness!

DEVELOPING GREATER POTENTIAL IN GROUP MEMBERS

“In a group, one person balances the deficiencies of another.”

Master Choa Kok Sui

Every group, in order to accomplish its goal and purpose, requires certain qualities and skills. Such skills are not always available within the group members.

Therefore each group member needs to encourage others to excel, to grow and be something more than what they currently are. Each member should also try to excel him or herself and increase his or her beauty, to contribute to the beauty of the group.

This can be observed through the concept of scholars. Often we see countries or organizations sending some of their members for higher education to other countries, so when they come back, they can increase their overall knowledge and skills.

The basic principle of group consciousness is to help others improve, so that in return they elevate you and the whole group!

TOLERANCE AND FORGIVENESS

The members should learn to forgive each other, be tolerant and give opportunity to other members to fit themselves into the labor of the group.

“It is not our duty to condemn an arrogant, stubborn, lazy, gossiping member who is full of these vices. Instead, we must find ways and means to bring the person to his senses so that he develops his higher virtues. In this way the group increases, instead of decreasing.”

Torkom Saraydarian

Often malice and hatred is used by the group members against the one who does not follow the demands of group consciousness. Instead, we must help him recover and understand how to cooperate! This can be achieved, through showing mercy, tolerance and forgiveness, until the person is fully assimilated into the group consciousness.

If one of our organs is aching, we do not cut the organ out of the body, rather we take care of it until it cures. Only in severe cases, we need to operate a surgery. A healthy group sometimes automatically discards such destructive members, and gains greater health and power as a result.

However, one must not think that whoever leaves the group is a bad person! Sometimes people leave a group to find one that is more suitable to their nature or perhaps the goal they want to acheive. Such people can observe whether they have been thrown out by the energy of the group or have chosen to leave for a better chance to progress, which is noticeable by gauging their integrity, beauty and solemnity after leaving the group.

“Before condemning someone else, it is very good to check for things in yourself that need to be condemned. It is important to help people enter into the rhythm of the group so that it is made more rhythmic and efficient.”

Torkom Saraydarian

SENSITIVITY TO THE LEADERSHIP

First of all, leadership doesn’t mean exercising force to make members sensitive to the leader! Instead, leaders should use the principle of freedom and try to educate people to realize the importance of sensitivity to group leadership.

If a person wills to move his hands and legs and they don’t obey, it means that he is seriously ill. The leader of the group, in the same way, should have the power to lead, guide, advise and discipline the group, using the principles of education, guidance and freedom. If such doesn’t happen, the group may disintegrate and vanish. Chaos happens when the elements of a greater whole are not in harmony with each other and do not follow the commands of a central leader.

Democracy doesn’t mean Anarchy! Real democracy can only be achieved at the light of responsibility and group consciousness.

Although sensitivity to the leadership and group consciousness is necessary for group’s survival, sensitivity doesn’t mean servility.

A true leader prevents servility, but develops readiness, sensitivity, and true discrimination in the members. Leadership doesn’t refer to a person in charge of the group, but refers to the goal, the plan and the purpose presented by any leader for the welfare of all.

INCREASING THE JOY

If our thoughts, words and actions cause distress, pain, suffering and sorrow to other members, we need to abstain from them. Such words and actions don’t add value to the group, but lead to separatism and depression.

Every group member needs to ask him or herself, “How can I think, how can I speak, How can I behave, to increase the joy of the other members?”

In joyful atmospheres, great labors are accomplished, valuable actions are performed and group consciousness is developed.

“Joy attracts higher impressions and inspiration from lofty spheres of light. Joy increases as every member of the group meets his responsibilities and is free of guilt feelings from wrong doing.”

Torkom Saraydarian

“Development and progress is possible only in group labor, cooperation, and discipline.”

Torkom Saraydarian

References

1. Master Choa Kok Sui. (2004). Inspired Action, The Golden Lotus Sutras on Teaching. Institute for Inner Studies Publishing Foundation.
2. Torkom Saraydarian. (1989). The Psychology of Cooperation and Group Consciousness.S.G. Publishing Foundation.