I get a snapshot of world politics as I move through each day: captions in newspapers and on magazine stands, conversations on social media, and through the atmospheric vibration I touch in my daily meditation practice. I know that there have been clouds of dissension in the ethers for some time. I can see them in the media and sense them in the unseen.
Over the past decade, our world has been struggling with increased local and global unrest as well as greater natural disasters. In every moment, all over the world, people are violently attacked, raped and brutally murdered, be it in international conflicts or in personal vendettas. Millions are suffering right now from profound lack—not just from lack of the basics such as food, water and shelter, but from lack of fundamental goodness, such as kindness, respect and love.
Don’t get caught up in the storm
Whether we are drawn into the spiteful worldview of political leaders like Donald Trump, or we join protests and rallies that inflate a self-righteous ego, we become a part of an againstness storm. Anything that causes us to lose sight of compassion, kindness and interconnection, and leads us to choose sides and perceive others as separate from us, is fuel for the raging hurricane of suffering on the Earth – no matter how good we may think our intentions to be.
As cloudy thoughts pass through our minds, clouds in the atmosphere and in our collective thinking come and go. Clouds of all kinds are temporary. If we focus too closely on them, we lose sight of the sun that has always been shining, just simply out of view. This is why I am devoted to that which inspires clarity of mind and wisdom of heart. We are all growing and learning to become more conscious, loving and aware. Our minds, hearts and souls need nourishment that makes us patient, kind and loving. We stay open to the light of the sun, so that we may imbibe its qualities and have the greatest amount of compassion to serve those who are suffering from passing clouds or torrential tsunamis.
To help others, stand on solid ground
As we face the ebb and flow of each day and witness the inevitable suffering that is a consequence of our human greed and antagonism, we need to make sure not to lose sight of the eternal light—our true nature. Focusing on that light does not deny the presence of the clouds, the violence, the pain we all can feel. But we do not add to them with our own inner agitation and wanting. As when we help a drowning man, we must make sure to stand on solid ground when we extend a hand to those in need. If we jump into the whirlpool, we too will be lost in its eddy and undertow. The solid ground we require is the sanctuary of our inner peace.
We all get seduced by our minds’ wilful perception of a situation based on what we think we need. It is simply our human tendency, the way our ego operates. It is how we live to some degree or another until we are enlightened and have remembered that only love is real.
Making peace with ourselves and the world
In every situation there are two sides to every story, then that which is really going on. How easy it is for us to make someone right and another wrong. If we are transparently honest with ourselves, we come to realize that we each have cast stones of hatred and revenge—even just as passing thoughts—at some point in our lives. We all can buy into the clouds and forget the sun. We all err. We all need to make amends with ourselves, with our families, with our brothers and our neighbours. We all can learn to love better, in each moment, of every day, until we have realized that we are neither right nor wrong—but love.
There can be no external peace in our world until we experience inner peace—peace with ourselves, who we are and why we are here. If you want to be a hero at this time of conflict and inspire peace, don’t take sides, pick up a gun or post vengeful notices. Return to the reality of the eternal light—the sun ever shining, the light of love that you truly are, your inner sanctuary – and make peace with this moment.