Being is a higher realm of existence that you can lead yourself to.

The Upanishads tell another story about a boy who wants to understand Ātman, or the essence of the world and all beings. So, his father instructs him to place a piece of salt in a glass. The following day, the boy’s father asks if he can see the salt. When the boy says he can’t, the father tells him to sip the water and describe its taste. Naturally, the boy says that it’s salty.

The point is that just like the salt invisibly permeates the entire glass, so does Ātman permeate all being. That means that since we’re all beings, we’re all part of Ātman. For instance, think back to the two birds: the one in the lower branches is focused on material objects and experience, but the bird on the top is different. It’s our universal self, in other words, Ātman.

So, how can one embrace the higher bird?

Using the author’s REAL road-map, a guide to becoming a Being-Centered leader. The map breaks down into four parts, each of which shows how a lower bird can reach for the top of the tree.

The first step is to recognize that there’s something higher than yourself, the higher bird.

Second, you must experience connection to that higher bird.

Third is to anchor yourself in a stable vision of the higher bird while letting go of the lower bird’s fear.

And finally, you embrace leadership by example for other birds.

In this process it’s important to remember that the lower bird should be led by the higher one but both are necessary. That’s because being without doing has no outcome but doing without being has no higher purpose.