"Integral Transformative Practice," George Leonard and Grayfox Productions.
THE MOST VISIONARY writers and global thinkers often are the least-known in today's shallow pop culture. Sadly, one of them -- George Leonard, a journalist, aikido master and pioneer in the human-potential movement -- died earlier this month. A white man and military pilot from the Deep South, he documented the civil rights movement and worked as a senior editor at Look magazine (the Huffington Post and Politico.com of its era). He earned a black belt in aikido in his 50s, when most of us can barely squat, much less tumble and throw people half our age. Lastly, he wrote of the counter-culture movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and helped to create the Esalen Institute, a revolutionary think tank that was the TED conference of its day.
AS A YOUNG journalist, I read most of his books. For me, the most influential were The Transformation: A Guide to the Inevitable Changes in Humankind, which charted mankind's journey in politics, gender, the environment and spirituality; Walking on the Edge of the World, his memoir of the 1960s; and Mastery: the Keys to Success and Long-term Fulfillment Some 20 years ago, as a Los Angeles Times freelance contributor, I interviewed Leonard over lunch in Marin County and visited him at Aikido of Tamalpais, the dojo where he studied the Japanese martial art for years. Unfortunately, my story was killed. Too bad. It takes years, decades even, for closed minds to catch up to bold new ideas. Many values from Leonard's circle of free thinkers have influenced today's mainstream, from alternative health and fitness practices, to gender and race relations, to business creativity and management styles. (See "Can Feng Shui Ward off the Global Recession?")
IN AN AGE of snark and cynicism, where posers and brown-nosers seem to rule, George Leonard's passing is a reminder that the power of visionary thought can transform a culture.
- Esalen Institute, "George Leonard 1923-2010"
- The Bar Method Blog, "George Burr Leonard, the Bar Method's Spiritual Founder"
- Los Angeles Times, "George B. Leonard dies at 86; journalist a seminal figure in the human potential movement" by Elaine Woo
- Aikiweb.com, "Interviews: George Leonard Sensei, April 2000" by J. Akiyama
- Gawker.com, "George Leonard, Hippie Superstar"
- Scribd.com, "Mastery by George Leonard."
Mastery by George Leonard
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