Good morning! What a difference a week makes; last week it was snowing here in Western North Carolina, but now we are finally getting some warm weather!
This is an open thread for members of the DKos Sangha and others who are interested in discussions concerning how we integrate our progressive political activism into our spiritual practice. If you have observations about the political discourse of the week, or about practice, or about anything else related to walking a spiritual path through the political world, if you wish to share or if you seek support, or if you simply want to say hello, please do; this space is for you.
If you would like to host a weekly open thread, please let me know.
If you care nothing for spiritual practice and only wish to denigrate and disparage, please do so elsewhere, and respect that this is a community diary for the DKos Sangha.
Earlier in the week, drnatrl wrote a diary, Mindful Veterans at NN13. If you haven't read it yet, please do; it's short and for a good cause.
In the comment section of last week's open thread, there was mention of Claude Anshin Thomas and his book, At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey From War to Peace; and as I was looking for something to include in today's post, I ran across a quote from Charles R Johnson in the book Mindful Politics that includes a quote from Thomas. Together, these words struck me as very appropriate for what we are trying to do here. While the reference is in context of Buddhist sangha, the message is on point for all who are engaged in spiritual practice and in engaging in the political process.
... Buddhists will need the support of their sangha as they engage in political action. No one understands better the importance of taking refuge in the community of dharma followers than Buddhist monk and Vietnam veteran Claude Anshin Thomas ... In his memoir, At Hell's Gate .. , he says "as a Buddhist I cannot think myself into a new way of living, I have to live myself into a new way of thinking." That wisdom is captured concisely in his reflections on how dharma followers approach the goal of peace:
Peace is not an idea. Peace is not a political movement, not a theory or a dogma. Peace is a way of life: living mindfully in the present moment ... it is not a question of politics, but of actions. It is not a matter of improving a political system or even taking care of homeless people alone. These are valuable but will not alone end war and suffering. We must simply stop the endless wars that rage within ... Imagine, if everyone stopped the war in themselves - there would be no seeds from which war could grow.
I love that, and it is reflected in the way that our teachers and so many who have a spiritual practice move through the world. When we are at peace, that inner peace affects everyone we touch; it has a ripple effect through our communities. "Be the change you wish to see in the world" is about inner transformation, waking up to your true nature as compassion. Then the work we do in the world becomes more effective.
Enjoy your day!
David