How do we cultivate a sense of Oneness while navigating our differences? We look for our common values. We begin to understand our interdependence in the world.
Wait- what does this have to do with Spirituality in Action and Finding your Voice?
My friends it has everything to do with it.
Spiritual activism requires that we develop the consciousness or the understanding as the Dalai Lama speaks to it, to see our brothers & sisters as ourself. When we cultivate an understanding and compassion for one another then we can take action while being grounded in the power of Love.
When we take action from fear, the results are temporary. When we take action from love, the results are more sustainable.
Fear works to mitigate something external, and Love works to bring forward something eternal that comes from our true nature as spiritual beings having our human experience.
Fear separates and love unites. Fear destroys, love creates.
We must face our fears or risk being driven by them.
"A human being is part of the whole, called by us ‘universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." Albert Einstein
This optical illusion of separation causes us to act from fear which is a child of a belief in separateness. My invitation is to choose to act from love - its children are compassion and kindness and its family is Oneness.
We are so interdependent and yet we live from this idea that independence is the goal.
We come into this world completely dependent on other human beings for our survival, in fact, humans are one of the few mammals that require a long period of parenting to survive. Despite this fact that we need others to thrive, our culture has created a greater value of independence than interdependence. Independence is prized and interdependence is generally seen as a weakness.
Interdependence is our super power… we need each, and we thrive when we realize this and work together toward our common good.
Suffering is real, change is necessary but discernment is vital. Perspective is necessary. It helps us to break through our delusion of separateness and see our Oneness.
There are real issues facing the world today… Our society continues to value separation. It’s up to us to change the tide. We do that first in consciousness and then in action.
“Many times a day I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men [and women], both living and dead.”Albert Einstein
The Dalai Lama speaks to this as well when he shares the exercise of each time you sit down to a meal, take a moment to appreciate all the people involved in bringing this food to your table. Even the dishes you eat off of are part of this web of livingness that aided in you having what seems like a simple and independent action of making and having a meal.
This week my invitation is to raise your awareness to all the many hands that go into all that you eat and wear and drive and live in. Cultivate a genuine appreciation for all the "human-doings" that went into supporting this life you are living.
Happy Harvesting!
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