Regardless of your position on any particular spectrum – religious, political, or other – it’s hard to deny that there is a lot of emotion churned up in today’s world. Many people are caught up in “big feelings,” as my daughter would say. The polarized division of “us” and “them” has become a powerful force in the national and global dynamic. Spiritual author Patricia Pearce refers to this as the “binge of separation.” It’s exhausting.
The Dao De Jing observes that “fierce winds do not last the morning.” Nature cannot sustain indefinitely the intensity of stormy weather. Nor can we, individually or collectively, sustain forever the destructive energy of antagonistic separation. In nature, nothing is ever truly disconnected from the integrated network of existence. Separation is an illusion that we have constructed in our thoughts and then believed it to be true. It is rooted in judgment as we assign isolated causes and blame for what we fear under our cloaks of righteous outrage. However, as taught by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, everything that happens is the cause of everything that happens. Let that sink in for a moment.
Nature seeks balance and harmony, and will restore equilibrium one way or another when things get too far out of hand. This is true in ecosystems, cultures, families, nations. Balance is inevitable. So, for those of us who wish to, how do we step off this hamster wheel of angst and anger?
We might start with just pausing and taking a breath. A deep breath. And another. Then, in a moment of calmness, step back and take a broader view, like looking through a wide angle lens. Look beyond the immediate concern across boundaries of time and space. (One friend says she is thinking in geologic time.) Look at history. Look at nature. Look within. Look with curiosity. Look without judgment. Whatever you see, touch with compassion.
This does not mean to do nothing in the face of suffering. This does not mean to not care. Quite the opposite. What we hold in our heart is reflected in the world around us. Everything is connected. It can’t be otherwise. So hold fear with courage. Embrace anger with compassion. Soothe pain with kindness. Speak to hostility with wisdom. Quiet confusion with trust.
We are all in this together. That is not a cliche. That is simply the truth.
It’s here
Right here
Oh look again
If you could see
All war would cease
For why would we fight
Our own reflection
So look again
Do you not see
Yourself
In every face you fear
So who then is your enemy
Please look again
Until you see
The face of God
For none else exists
Another wonderful sharing of insight and wisdom, perfectly timed, demonstrating that everything that happens is the cause of everything that happens!
See well!
Thank you, David. See well indeed!
Well put – thank you
This does not mean to do nothing in the face of suffering. This does not mean to not care. Quite the opposite. What we hold in our heart is reflected in the world around us. Everything is connected. It can’t be otherwise. So hold fear with courage. Embrace anger with compassion. Soothe pain with kindness. Speak to hostility with wisdom. Quiet confusion with trust.
We are all in this together. That is not a cliche. That is simply the truth.
Thanks, Esther.
I really needed this too.
Thanks, as always, for the powerful perspective.
Anytime, Chris. Glad you liked it.
I needed this right now. Feelings of dread and being overwhelmed by events are racing through my mind.
The wide angle lens metaphor, and thinking in longer time frames are very helpful.
Bless you for your thoughts.
Thank you so much, Bob. I’m glad this came at a helpful time.
Thank you Galen. I think it is important to keep this perspective in mind during this time. There are many forces at work to get us to see it otherwise but I believe your insight is one that will prevail. May we trust and surrender knowing that all is connected and that it will unfold as it should. ~Kathy
Trust and surrender — those are the two key practices right there. Everything else falls into place with those. Thanks for commenting, Kathy.
Beautiful! Thank you, Sweet One!
Thank you Liz!