TAOISM AND THE I CHING is a scholarly article both for neophytes and professionals about the art of leadership from an uncanny perspective. The author's approach is original in the sense that he enriched and transformed the Western leadership paradigm through basic elements of Oriental wisdom, taken from Taoism and the I Ching. The central question of the article is to understanding the I Ching from a point of view of decision-making, and as an aid to decision-making. In this sense, the 'oracle book' becomes an effective guide for taking action, which can mean nonaction and right action. Depending on the circumstances in which the practitioner is, the I Ching will advise one of the three potential courses of action: going forward, standing still (nonaction) or going backward. The difference between the Taoist approach and the Western leadership approach is obvious. In the West, only going forward with a project is considered as the approach to take. Notions such as nonaction or retreat are easily connoted with character weakness or procrastination. In truth, going forward blindly often leads into an impasse or can be outright dangerous. Hence, the Oriental wisdom that recommends two more options to consider in any given situation: standing still or retreat.
DR. PIERRE F. WALTER is an international lawyer, researcher, author and lecturer. After finalizing his studies in German law and European Integration with diplomas in both disciplines in 1982, he graduated in December 1987 at the Law Faculty of the University of Geneva with a 'Docteur en Droit' title in international law. In his criminal law studies, he was specialized on elucidating the roots of violent crime and was for several years caring for prisoners who have been convicted for sexual crimes against children. Since 1994, he works as a consultant to government and industry, specialized upon service training and human resource development. In addition, he is a personal coach and has developed a self-coaching approach termed 'Life Authoring'. Pierre F. Walter writes, lectures and teaches in English, German and French; he has written more than ten thousand pages embracing all literary genres, including novels, short stories, film scripts, essays, selfhelp books, monographs and extended book reviews. Also a pianist and composer, he has realized 40 CDs with jazz, newage and relaxation music. Pierre F. Walter's professional publications span the domains International Law, Criminal Law, Holistic Science, Psychology, Education, Shamanism, Ecology, Spirituality, Quantum Physics, Systems Research, Natural Healing, Peace Research, Personal Growth, Selfhelp and Consciousness Research. 110 Book Reviews, forty audio books and more than hundred video lectures were realized in the years 2005-2010. Besides, Pierre F. Walter publishes 'Great Minds Series' which features scientists, artists and authors of genius from Leonardo da Vinci to Fritjof Capra. In his 2011 series of scholarly articles, the author treats various topics from the realms of social science, psychology, mythology, medicine, oriental wisdom and psychoanalysis. Pierre F. Walter publishes via his Delaware firm, Sirius-C Media Galaxy LLC, and the imprints IPUBLICA and Sirius-C Media (SCM).
