Going Forth
This is the final post of this series on the training I took with the Pachamama Alliance. My hope is that these posts have given you food for thought. The last post discussed “game changing” actions that are needed to address the daunting issues we’re facing in our world today. We are being called to transform ourselves and our world — this involves the inner work of personally shifting our consciousness and the outer work of collective activism. This post offers some final thoughts on this monumental endeavor.
Let’s start with a quote of Buckminster Fuller’s.
If the success or failure of this planet and of human beings
depended on how I am and what I do…
How would I be? What would I do?
Fuller was obviously very aware of the inner and outer work. And, he poses essential questions for us all to answer. This process of transformation begs many such questions that need our thoughtful attention – questions such as:
Who am I, really? And what is my relationship to the whole of life?
What really matters? What are my deepest values?
What actions am I prepared to take? Who will I join with to have a greater impact?
These questions invite us into a process of introspection and self-awareness that is the foundation for how we become game changers in our world. It’s about answering those questions as honestly as we can and then embodying our deepest values and aligning our actions with what is most important to us. And the key is sharing this with others.
Many people today are feeling alone and disconnected from the dominant culture, not realizing there are many more people that feel the same way they do. The internet is helping greatly, but we also need to be sitting face to face engaging in conversations and building community groups. We need the power of community because together we become a force that can do anything. We also need community to help each of us stay awake, on track, supported and inspired.
The importance of taking action is highlighted by the convergence of spirituality and activism. Spiritual development now demands engagement with the outside world as activism becomes a necessary expression of our deepest values and spirituality. Many are speaking today about “sacred activism”. One of my favorites on the subject is Andrew Harvey.
Harvey defines sacred activism as the fusion of the mystic’s passion for God with the activist’s passion for justice, creating the burning sacred heart that longs to help, preserve and nurture every living thing. He suggests we “follow our heartbreak” and find the issue or cause that touches us deeply and become an activist in that area… abused animals, the homeless, the drilling in the rainforest, etc.
And, don’t forget involvement of some form in the over-riding issues of addressing our corrupted democracy and climate change. There are so many actions each of us can take — being brave enough to start a conversation that matters and trusting that meaningful conversations can change our world is a start.
The point is, if we do truly want an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on the earth, then we need to act accordingly. It’s about making a commitment, taking a stand and playing our hearts out. The good news — it enriches our lives and offers us endless fulfillment and happiness!
I’ll end with a quote from George Bernard Shaw.
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.
Life is no brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
As someone who has had more than my fair share of self-concern at times, I can tell you that focusing on the greater good instead has become one of the greatest blessings of my life!
May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe. May all beings be free.