Bear's Blog

Energy Signatures is a model that describes an unconscious “operating system” behind many mental and emotional responses. It comes about through nature and nurture. Thankfully we can make conscious changes to modify those patterns to let our soul shine through! Our spiritual orientation is an overarching, bigger relationship to life. Whether spiritual or religious, we are looking for the ultimate meaning of our experience. Underlying that impulse is our soul’s longing for oneness.

Spirituality mostly bypasses religious issues with the ”right way”, which happens when the ego-mind orients itself toward power. Aside from that obvious (human!) flaw, most religions have teachings about the need to treat others with kindness and generosity. To love and help one another regardless of their looks, standing in society, or even their actions. Lifting up individuals is a way of uplifting humanity in general. We benefit personally when we act in accordance with our best selves.

Religious and spiritual organizations have a long history of organized social action. The founders of all the great religions led by example. Many who follow embody the spirit of those leaders. Whether as monks, nuns, priests or “lay” people, instead of avoiding suffering they tend to it, often in harsh circumstances. That translates into activity on many fronts - working for justice, environmental and peace initiatives, alleviating root causes of poverty and illness, and comforting the dying.

Roshi Bernie Glassman, who founded Zen Peacemakers, describes a process of attending to suffering and societal ills. Start with not knowing; bear witness, then take the appropriate compassionate action. Mother Theresa created Missionaries of Charity to serve the poor and sick in India, but eventually saw that “The greatest disease in the West today is… being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for… The only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love.” Big accomplishments and gestures aside, she counseled “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

Some of the world’s most powerful leaders didn’t have political authority, but made a difference because they held spiritual authority. Many led non-violent protest movements that created radical change and inspired the world. John Lewis suffered brutal beatings as an American civil rights leader (he later served in Congress for many years.) He called his actions “good trouble”. We don’t have to expose ourselves to that level of violence to “do good” - we can practice small acts that add up.

I’m inspired by the people of California and their creative response to brutality and lawlessness. Protests are moving from the streets to more specific places, like entry roads to farms and ICE detention facilities. Priests are accompanying migrants to their legally required hearings; others assist them to reschedule their appearances on Zoom. An app was created that tracks ICE movements to warn people. Employees successfully intervened when groundskeepers outside their business were threatened. Even simpler - buying groceries for someone afraid to go out, even to the store.

When I first heard the term woke I thought it alluded to Buddhism and “waking up” - spiritual enlightenment. It’s now used as a negative political label - but let's be proud to be woke! Lady Liberty’s flame represents the true American ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion. This is the moment we're all needed to embody those basic tenets; to express love and compassion through social action.

Peace, love and healing -

Bear

Joining together we can resist. Here’s a group that is on the forefront of helping do just that - Indivisible.org