Lately I’m taken back to the 60’s when protest marches were common place as they are now. I remember the angry arms, fists raised in the air, and loud voices over megaphones blasting out about injustices. There are so many similarities in the demonstrations taking place today.
In light of the contemporary social justice movement that is really gaining strength this year, I have been re-examining the idea of the spiritual activism. I think of Martin Luther King and his non-violent protests that brought out the masses and lobbied for transformation and civil rights reform. I also think of Mother Teresa, that little body of fierce compassion and conviction who swayed the conscience of the powerful to support her causes. We can look to both of these beautiful beings for inspiration – two humans who strove for enlightenment, embraced compassion for their fellow beings, and pledged their lives to work towards their convictions. One human can inspire others and start a movement for peace, freedom and equality.
Spiritual activism is not about religion. It is about being willing to participate in creating change with the spirit of compassion, love, appreciation for the interconnectedness of all beings, and the determination to stand on conviction.
Buddhists hold sacred the tenets of compassion, mercy, altruism, and loving kindness, among others. In some Tibetan Buddhist traditions, practitioners will meditate on the female deity Tara, to develop these qualities. This practice maintains that Tara can remove obstacles that get in the way of personal growth and the cultivation of activism – and that everyone can achieve enlightenment.
Tara is said to have been born from the tears of the Hindu Lord of Compassion, Avalokitesvara, who dedicated his existence to rescuing all humans from suffering. But eons ago the Earth was going through a very challenging epoch where people behaved terribly toward one another. Just as this great being rescued one person, another would fall. He became frustrated and began banging his head against a wall from the futility of his efforts. However, since he was blessed by the Buddha, instead of wounds or bruises, two large eyes emerged on the back of his head. From those eyes tears began to fall… and from the tears emerged Green Tara and White Tara.
Green Tara pledged to remove obstacles from the path of humans so they could walk the path to enlightenment with greater ease. White Tara vowed to help humans by increasing their fortunes and extending their lives. Together they help Avalokitesvara, making it easier for us humans to receive blessings and to achieve enlightenment.
These deities model for us the meaning of compassion and spiritual activism. They have the altruistic mindset of service, not done for personal fame or aggrandizement, but offered because they care about the human condition. They want us to live better lives so that in turn we can become enlightened spiritual activists working for the betterment of humanity. The Taras stay focused on the positive and proactive, focused on what they can do to help us to overcome obstacles, especially our negativity, so we can create a better world for all.
The Taras also understand that all beings are interconnected. When one human achieves enlightenment and can live more in a spirit of compassion, then they have a positive influence on those they come into contact with, raising the vibrations of people around them. This model helps us to consider how as one of us becomes more compassionate and caring, we can demonstrate to others the power of compassion and the importance of standing up for our convictions.
One thing that I feel it is important to note is that each Tara have their specific assigned tasks. They do not take on everything, like so many of us humans try to do. They choose selectively where to put their efforts, rather than being all over the board. We can also use wisdom and discernment when we select a cause to fight for. When we focus we can apply 100% of our efforts and thus have a chance to make a difference. When we splinter and apply our efforts among multiple causes, which are all very important, we dilute our effort, and end up making minimal impact.
At this moment of turmoil in the world, we can take time to reflect on the lessons from Green and White Tara. It is possible to become a spiritual activist, to take a stand and make a difference. We can allow these role models to remind us to come to our activism with an altruistic and compassionate heart. Remember to focus on the positive. We can stand for what we are ‘for,’ not what we are ‘against,’ and the mindset can stay positive.
All of us are interconnected. What we do and how we do it has an impact on those around us. Your bad mood can dampen the mood of others. When you are full of joy, it radiates to those around you, lifting their moods. Finally, choose what you commit to with wisdom and discernment. Remember it is always better to under-commit and over-deliver than to over-commit than under-deliver.
If you, and I, can commit to these gems of wisdom, then we will have a chance to change the world – together!
This article was inspired by a blog posted in 2015 on http://fiercelove.wordpress.com
We often don’t want to look at our “shadow stuff”- our fears and wounds that lie in hidden in our subconscious, sometimes referred to as the Shadow Realm. We learn to hide these aspects of ourselves, even from ourselves. We develop all kinds of coping mechanisms that range from outbursts of anger, to defensiveness, or feigning submissiveness in order to protect ourselves. Or we find ways to soothe ourselves with food, drugs, video games, partying, etc. Eventually, however, our coping mechanisms stop working. Or they lead to more problems making our lives unmanageable at times. These coping mechanisms can create major limitations in our lives.
This is when I make myself stop and ask, “Did I know any better at the time? Did I have access to the knowledge I have now? Did I have the skills or training that I have now?” Usually the answer is NO! The reality is that at that time I was floundering, in a lot of personal pain, and doing the best that I could. Finally, this is when I am able to have compassion for myself and begin to heal some of the wounds from my past.
This is the benefit of working with your Shadow. Yes, looking at the past can be unpleasant. But when you look back with compassion for your younger self, then you begin to love yourself and find the courage and hope to build a better future. You deserve a great life!
The myth of Aphrodite’s love for Adonis is a good example of how too much caring can be smothering which can backfire and lead, not to ‘happily ever after,’ but to destruction and separation.
Aphrodite senses something is wrong and rushes to his side. She is too late to save Adonis, however. Stricken with grief she turns his blood into a field of anemones, small red flowers, in his memory.
I’ve read and watched the news as much as I can emotionally handle. It has been both distressing to see the rioting and destruction, and inspiring to see peaceful non-violent protests by those who are demanding change, while being cognizant that violence and destruction only begets more of the same.
I am old enough to remember the Civil Rights Movement. I remember the pride I felt when I saw whites and blacks marching in unity for the rights of black to simply drink from a water fountain, go to a decent school, sit at a lunch counter without fear of retribution. I thought our country was moving out of the darkness of racism and bigotry to the favored status of equality. I was inspired to volunteer for Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) requesting to be sent to the inner city to do my part. Unfortunately, it was during the race riots of 1968. Instead I was shipped off to an Indian Reservation in Minnesota. Though, I have to say, for a naïve suburbanite that was still an eye-opening, life changing experience!
I’m not out protesting because, regrettably, I have physical limitations that make it difficult and painful to be on my feet for long periods of time. I did attend a program in 2019 on raising consciousness about injustice for blacks, but only whites showed up. We were attempting to view the lack of inequality and injustice through our ‘white’ lens. It just didn’t authentically translate. I have been meditating for peace and justice, which is something I can do, but it doesn’t feel like enough.
