Ep #3: The Individual as the Heart of the Institution | feat. Deva Madhava

In this episode of The Free Radical Podcast, Swami Padmanabha and Deva Madhava courageously explore many facets of Radical Organization and the shape it takes as institutions, and the relationship between them and people. During this balanced, thoughtful and free-flowing discussion, honestly acknowledging the deficiencies of both the institution and its members—such as over-expectation, idealization, exploitation, guilt, shame, feelings of unworthiness and bypassing the needs of the individual for the sake of the institution— it became clear that deep compassionate caring is the foundation for any meaningful institution seeking to facilitate and support its members to grow into a position of personal responsibility and stability; where caring for people is seen as the goal rather than a means to sustaining the institution; and how one of the functions of an institution is to hold a sacred space so that the individual can attain heights that they could not attain on their own. Deva Madhava also shared the challenges he experienced by consciously trying to approach leadership with a community member-centered focus, and how, once the pretense that people usually hide behind in institutions is removed, it is overwhelming to see just how deficient and broken people are. The need for deep healing was discussed as well as possible ways we can work toward that. If we keep in mind that an institution is a natural, organic extension of a mission, and that mission is the shape of a heart, then the commitment to care for each other with the affection of kindred spirits will not be superseded by the needs of the institution divorced from its members. Tune in to learn about a new underground railroad currently under construction.

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