“O Captain! My Captain!”
“O Captain! My Captain!”–Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
When a boat is moving through the water, it creates waves that trail away from both sides of the boat in the form of a letter V, with the boat leading at the apex of the V. If the boat is big enough, moves fast enough, thereby creating a large disturbance in the water, then it is possible for a surfer to follow the boat without using a towrope. All the surfer need do is surf the large waves on either side of the boat. In this way, the surfer can follow without actually being physically tied to the leader, which would cause drag and slow the leader down.
This phenomenon also appears with the migration of birds, namely that flocks of birds travel in a aerial formation shaped like the letter ‘V’. The reason behind this occurrence was explained by a Native American Shaman by the name of Red Elk. He stated that the bird in the lead position is actually using its strength to make the migration easier for the other birds by cutting thru the air, thereby creating shockwaves in the same manner as the boat just mentioned. And all the other birds follow along with the leader, trailing away in a ‘V’ formation because that is the shape the shockwaves take in the medium of air, just like the shape revealed by a boat moving through water, except that in air the waves move much quicker since the atmosphere is less dense than water. Nevertheless, the surfer analogy fits even here. The Shaman stated that it is easier for the rest of the flock to migrate if they assume this aerial formation which conforms to the natural way the shockwaves flow, essentially meaning the birds trailing away from the leader experience an easier flight, expending less energy, all because they are also surfing along the shockwaves that trail away from the formation leader which sacrifices a bit of its strength for the overall good of the flock.
This same surfing-scenario also occurs when some powerful person, some mover & shaker, is busy with some activity in the world. They do what is in their will to do, and anyone who wants to follow along merely has to find one of the waves caused by the leader and just surf along to wherever the leader is going. Naturally, this pattern finds manifestation among spiritual groups.
If the leader is selfish and/or egotistical, rest assured that the voyage will never really end, or else end up in disaster for all. Those who follow in this leader’s wake will experience all kinds of hell. Being selfish and therefore unenlightened, the leader is unwise and will eventually end up passing through violent storms in which his wake will get swallowed up by the rough waves of the storm which the foolish leader should have navigated around in the first place. Being difficult to surf when one cannot easily find the misguided leader’s waves, some followers will undoubtedly fall away in the storms. Others will do whatever they can to cast a towline to the leader, causing drag and slowing him down. In such a situation all will lose their way eventually, as the leader is not wise enough to sail around the storms that cause such loss, much less strong enough to pull the others with a towline. All will soon lose their way.
If the leader is selfless, then rest assured the voyage has a destination and will reach a safe port one day. All the student has to do is follow along by surfing the waves the leader leaves in his/her wake. The leader is awake in consciousness and causing a wake, which the student merely has to follow along by staying balanced (the key to surfing) as the wake moves along with the leader. And being that the spiritual leader is wise enough to avoid storms by sailing around them or even using their energy to propel him faster, fewer students will be lost during the voyage, as the wake will not get lost in a stormy sea.
Is it any wonder why being a sea captain is such a universally prestigious and respected occupation?
“O Captain! My Captain!”–Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
