Not All Change Is Progress- let’s make this one progress.
Whether we like it or not, Life is change – every moment of every day – I think we have accepted that but may not have accepted that we can’t choose the changes that come.
It would be too obvious to say, we are in a state of global change. Life as we have known it, has been disrupted and change fatigue is beginning to show up –
Now suppose this change is transformational, trans mutational and transcendent – this change is an opportunity not just to be disrupted, to be challenged and perhaps to be gravely affected – but a change that will bring progress. Progress to a kind, just, loving, global society.
I choose to see this period as the one started long ago and enhanced by the last 40 years of accelerated human development. I can vaguely remember being on the UC campus in Berkeley when meditation began to be offered. It was considered weird – and a result of the hippy, dippy era that everyone was hoping would soon end. I remember hearing the Dalai Lama say during that same period, that his intention was to have meditation become a household word. So for 40 years meditators of all disciplines have been meditating for peace – for loving kindness – for mindfulness – to come to our society and be present in our work, in our schools, in our communities. If you haven’t noticed, mediation has become a household word.
Recently I heard the Dalai Lama say he is now focused on compassion – seems like his wisdom is always a little ahead of our humanity. This could be the time – these events could be the catalyst – so the question to ask ourselves is this.
Are we participants of change, are we bystanders, or are we in the way? If we choose to be participants that we are working towards change that brings progress – not just change that drives us all crazy.
I have many friends who love baseball – they love football and they really want to see the NBA playoffs – I am with you- those changes in our preferences are just annoying.
But change for the better – change towards love – towards understanding – towards inclusion – towards justice – towards kinship (see last week’s blog)…these are the changes worth struggling through and for.
These are the changes we meditated on – we protested for – we wrote petitions to sign – here it is – thrown in our lap with a tailspin that is hard to keep up with. Be careful what you ask for I guess.
The field we create around us as we handle this change – will become the life we live. It may seem overwhelming – it may seem impossible – but there is something each of us can do.
One of my favorite teachers, who I have quoted in other blogs once said “ One person who has total love in their heart, is a more powerful agent of change than any political structure, any philosophy or doctrine.”
Can we do it – can we transform, transmute and transcend the illness, the hatefulness, the fear and the doubt – I say we can – I say bring it – it’s time for love.
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD Ghandi
