Spiritual activism has an important place in history and especially now. As the weather begins to cool, the political scene is heating up and becoming more volatile. Spiritual activism can help cool it. Complacency just lets it continue to burn. Let’s cool it! Read on, please!
As some of you well know by now, we are politically active as well as spiritually active. The politically active part has been especially painful. It’s very tempting to numb ourselves or turn away from it all.
But we can’t and won’t let ourselves do that. Our spiritual “upbringing” is to turn toward the suffering, not away from it. It’s to do whatever we can to make positive changes.
Of course, the positive changes have to start with us. We cannot cultivate peace and healing in the world without first cultivating that within ourselves. We’re working on it! Yoga is working on us. Hopefully, you are noticing — or will notice — it works for you!
Graphic courtesty of storypeople.com.
The pairing of spiritual and political activism is not unique to us
We have many inspirational models to aspire to, including Mohatma Ghandi, who led the independence movement of India. He was guided by his Hindu-influenced spirituality, including satyagraha (nonviolent resistance). Another is Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr, who, along with other spiritual and political activists, led the Civil Rights Movement.
And then there was Jesus. Yes, Jesus was both a spiritual and political activist. Seeing him only as spiritual ignores an important part of what he lived and died for. Surely, he was not interested in political power (nor are we!). He was definitely interested in justice and equality for all. He confronted the political order of his time, which he saw as self-serving, corrupt, oppressive and outright mean to the poor and the outcast.
Graphic from The Catholic Worker website at www.catholicworker.org
The Catholic Worker movement is a melding of spiritual and political activism. Catholic Worker folks take a pacifist stance against war and weaponry. They also support workers’ rights and hospitality for the poor. Catholic Worker communities are located all over the world. One of them is near us, in Worcester: the SS Francis & Thérèse Catholic Worker, led by Scott and Claire Schaeffer-Duffy. Besides raising their own family, Scott and Claire provide emergency shelter and food for the homeless. In addition, they promote peace and justice locally and globally, through education and nonviolent direct action. (They have travelled to Gaza and Israel several times over the last few years.) Their work is funded almost entirely by donations generated from their wonderful periodical, The Catholic Radical. Scott has written a several enlightening and often hilarious books about life as an activist and person of faith. (For more information, click here. Donate if you can!)
Still another inspiration for us is the late Pope Francis. He linked faith with care for the Earth and justice for the poor. He saw climate change as a profound moral issue, not just an ecological one.
Last, but not least, are the indigenous peoples of the world. They view nature as spiritual: as a living, sacred entity deserving respect and reciprocity instead of exploitation. Environmentalism is integral to their spiritual traditions. They observe rituals that express gratitude for the earth and its resources.
The linking of political and spiritual activism makes good sense
Spirituality provides a moral compass to guide political action and promote social justice. Political activists lacking spiritual commitment might be inclined to disregard or disrespect those whose views differ from theirs. They might also become unsympathetic toward the suffering and injustice that other groups or factions endure. Such activism leads to separatism rather than unity.
Spiritually political activists are more likely to build bridges across political divides. They are more inclined to understand and respect people with different views.
Yoga and Spiritual Activism
The yogic (spiritual) approach sees personal or spiritual transformation as integral to global change. The personal and the political are part of a single, interconnected whole. We have seen for ourselves that our yogic spiritual practices have naturally and organically led us to political and social activism.
The yogic approach also includes seeing the Divine in all beings, whether rich or poor, black or white, democrat or republican, capitalist or socialist, theist or atheist. This viewpoint provides a potent antidote for the pain we feel upon seeing what’s going on politically today. Instead of becoming bitter and falling into depression and despair, we open our hearts to a deeper dimension of our own being — to our inherent Divinity. Like steadfast, peaceful warriors, we plant our feet firmly on the ground, stand tall (up right!) and regain our composure and inner peace, even in the midst of this stormy political climate.
As Swami Nirmalananda writes in her teaching article for this month, Dissolving Differences:
“… Your spiritual practices are not about protecting you from life’s crises. If they were, then they wouldn’t actually be spiritual. “Spiritual” means you draw on “spirit,” which is your own Divine Essence. Supported from the inside, you can face anything and love everyone, even while sailing through stormy seas. Find your way inside, especially in the midst of difficulties.”
That is the essence of spiritually political activism.