A vision in the temple

This morning, our group met at the oldest temple in the world and the only Hindu temple dedicated to the Dancing Shiva in Chidambaram—one of the most sacred cities in southern India. This temple is actually a city of temples, each dedicated to a different god, and meeting areas spread over several acres.

Within one of the temples, there is a spot called the “power spot.” This is where the three paths of power all converge and statues of two Hindu gods—Vishnu and Shiva—face each other. So here I was at this temple, looking around, and I realized that it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. There were hundreds and hundreds of people bustling, saying prayers, mingling, pushing, shoving, bobbing their heads, and waving their hands. Goats were eating trash in the middle of the ancient complex, cows were milling about, and monkeys are jumping around on the tops of the temple roofs. I was in the middle of it all, walking barefoot in the dirt, avoiding cow dung and trying not to think about the stickiness under my feet that I hoped was from the coconuts that were cracked as an offering at the base of the various temples.

I was standing in the power point, which was called the “Hall of Consciousness,” and suddenly I started to feel nauseous and dizzy. My head was buzzing right behind the middle of my eyes. I was swooning in the midst of all these Indians offering prayers. After several minutes in this swirl, I stepped out and suddenly felt so incredibly clear. The colors were brighter, the sky was clearer, and I could really see the people—see who they were, what they looked like, what they were doing. It was as if I had walked out of a fog.

So what does a bout of dizziness have to do with a vision for being a coach? I’m the director of coaching for the Wright Leadership Institute. People come to us for coaching in search of feedback, guidance, and clarity in their lives. And what was I doing in India? Looking for the same thing. There is something very sacred about my relationship with my clients, and I have not always seen it that way. Too often, my work is more of a task to do or an appointment on the calendar, and not a sacred interaction.