Tag Archives: #meditatesby

Spiritual Activism and the Climate Crisis

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In a world grappling with the climate crisis, the need for action has never been more urgent. The challenge we face is immense, but so is the power of collective consciousness and spiritual activism. Beyond the protests, policy changes, and technological advancements, lies a potent force that can transform the very essence of our response to the climate crisis.

What is Spiritual activism?

Spiritual activism is not confined to any religion or belief system. It is the fusion of spirituality and social consciousness, weaving together the threads of empathy, compassion, and awakened consciousness into the fabric of our environmental struggle. It goes beyond a mere intellectual understanding of the crisis; it stirs the soul, ignites the flame of hope, and fuels the commitment to create a sustainable future for everyone.

At the heart of spiritual activism is the realization that we are all interconnected, interdependent beings, intricately woven into the web of life. Every living organism is part of this grand tapestry, and each one of us carries the responsibility to protect and nurture it. Recognizing this profound interconnectedness encourages us to view the climate crisis as not just an environmental problem but a spiritual one—a call to transform our consciousness and way of life.

“Planetary survival is now predicated upon the alignment of our notions of both human and ecological rights with our highest principles. As such, ways of knowing that are embedded in religion, philosophy, spiritual ethics, moral traditions, and a culture that values the community and the commons—as an essential resource for the transformation necessary for environmental regeneration and renewal—are indispensable.”
~ Rita D. Sherma

By integrating our spiritual principles into our environmental actions, we can find profound meaning and purpose in the pursuit of sustainability. It’s about living in harmony with nature, honoring its beauty and wisdom, and acknowledging the inherent value of all living beings. This reverence for life drives us to be more mindful of our consumption patterns, to reduce waste, and to support renewable energy sources that honor the Earth’s abundance without exploitation.

Care for Everyone

The vision of oneness naturally leads to compassionate action and service of humanity because we see the pain and joy of others as our own. Just as we are instinctively inclined to
care for our own body when it is injured, so one who is awake cannot resist caring for others
– Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian

Spiritual activism invites us to practice radical empathy and compassion. It urges us to understand the plight of those disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, often the most vulnerable communities who contribute the least to environmental degradation. By standing in solidarity with them, we can create a global movement that transcends borders and cultures, addressing the crisis as a shared human challenge rather than a divisive one.

While we advocate for policy changes and technological advancements, we must also engage in deep self-reflection and inner transformation. The climate crisis is not merely an external issue—it mirrors the internal imbalances within our hearts and minds. Spiritual activism calls us to confront our fears, greed, and apathy, so that we can align our actions with our higher values and principles.

When we embark on a spiritual journey for the climate, we build resilience, hope, and the courage to face challenges with unwavering determination. In this collective awakening, we discover that our greatest strength lies not in our individual efforts but in the unity of purpose—a united force for good.

Let us bring our energies together and grow strong

So let us rise as spiritual activists, awakening to our potential to shape a brighter future for generations to come. Let us light the way with our compassion, ignite the flame of hope in the hearts of many, and weave a tapestry of unity that transcends boundaries and beliefs. The climate crisis may be daunting, but the human spirit, ignited by love and mindfulness, is infinitely resilient. Together, we can usher in a new era of sustainable living, transforming our world, one conscious step at a time.

Freedom in Letting Go

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Very early in life we learn the concepts of me and mine. As children, we start to develop this sense of self by coming into awareness of our body as separate from other bodies, that we have control over our limbs, and that there is power in our voices to make things happen. Our cries bring mommy and what we do with our hands has consequences.

Soon after, we understand that we are individuals with agency, and at the same time we learn that others do as well. They can enter into our personal space and sometimes change conditions. For a child, this is a rude awakening. This is the moment we learn to assert ourselves with the war cry, “Mine, Mine!!!”  Though it has been many years since I was a toddler, I can still relate to the sharp feeling of upset, indignation, and often anger that comes with unwanted change. Can’t you?

On the yoga path, attachment or possessiveness is named as a primary obstacle to living in freedom. If our happiness relies on circumstances, possessions, relationships, our jobs, our bodies, our partner’s bodies, or our capabilities to remain unchanged, we will be consistently disappointed. Change is at the heart of life, and to acknowledge that frees us from unreasonable expectations.

Non Attachment, while hard to perfect, offers abundant opportunities to practice. It would be unusual and probably untruthful to say that any day was free of unanticipated change. How we respond to change reveals how attached we are. Change is not always a bad thing though. We often choose change in favor of a better life. And at those times we can recognize the inherent freedom we have to shape our future.

When we discover we are attached, we can turn and step into our freedom. Some helpful questions we can ask are:

  • what does this change represent for me?
  • does this change change me?
  • what becomes possible now that this change has occurred?

This second question, “does this change change me?”, is an important one. As yogi’s we learn that only Ultimate Reality or Absolute Truth is unchanging. And as individualized expressions of The Changeless, we share that enduring quality. Through the processes of individualization, and embodiment, everyone and indeed everything is subject to the laws of physics (as we currently understand them) and the laws of karma (cause and effect). Both are in constant, dynamic flux, reacting to and informing circumstances in every moment. Both are giving and receiving input which affect outcomes. To pin our hopes and happiness on any of this remaining unchanged is a recipe for suffering. Yet, understanding this allows us to move skillfully within the framework to ensure that our actions (thought, word, and deed) don’t lead us to mistake the impermanent for the lasting, and then lose our joy when change inevitably arises in our lives.

What can we do to safeguard ourselves from unwanted change? Well, we could “want” less. Change happens. We can release the outcome of circumstances to the “force for good that is operating the universe,” as Roy Eugene Davis so wisely said. This is not simply a release of attachment, but an act of faith which  strengthens our resolve, and sharpens our spiritual vision to see the way ahead as it is unfolding in divine right order, unmanipulated by our desires or aversions.

These words from Lahiri Mahasaya are a guiding light for me on my path, “Always remember that you belong to no one, and no one belongs to you. Reflect that some day you will suddenly have to leave everything in this world — so make the acquaintanceship of God now.”

Whether we call that One Reality God, Truth, Divine Mother…  we can want less and trust more in the unfolding, inherent prospering nature of the universe. We can step into the freedom of now – where all needs are met and nothing belongs to any one but to everyone.

Breath in Peace

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Affirmation – Sept 6, 2022
Today I become a witness to my emotions and notice moments when I lose my peace. Rather than react I choose to take a conscious breath and infuse the moment with peace. I offer that peace with any required response.

Use Affirmation for Transformation
Consider taking a moment after your meditation session to affirm an intention for the day or week. Call forth circumstances that support prosperity or fulfillment of your goals or simply acknowledge a spiritual quality that you wish to bring more fully into expression.

With faith, go forward into your life anticipating signs of change.

Daily meditation practice provides a glimpse behind ordinary thought processes, where restless or dull mental states can be dominant. If we sit long enough to allow the mind to become still, we witness the transient nature of thoughts and emotions and experience the luminous state beyond thought activity. This experience, when repeated regularly, transforms us.

It is entirely possible to change our minds intellectually and our brains physiologically through meditation. Studies have proven that, due to the inherent malleability of the brain repeated experiences of meditation (profound internal focus) can result in rewiring the brain’s neurons. The brain can be reconditioned to change unwanted behaviors, increase empathy, reduce reactivity, improve memory, and much more.

Meditation offers advantages for our emotional life as well. With improved brain function and resting of the sympathetic nervous system we are better able to respond to life situations with poise, clarity, and compassion. The act of meditation itself trains us to be nonreactive (to thoughts) and exposes us to the inborn, anxiety-free state that is ever within us. One breath can reconnect us with our peace and each out breath can be an offering of peace to the world.

Behold the Light of the Inner Self

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“Spiritual practice begins as a part of life; then it becomes a way of life.”
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian

I greet you with the hope that you are well and thriving. And if life is difficult for you right now, I wish you peace and healing.

The above quote from my teacher is a simple and true statement about a not-so-simple process. The beginning stages of a spiritually centered life include the decision to make spiritual practice a priority. As we learn about the spiritual laws of cause and effect, the power of prayer and meditation, and our divine heritage as spiritual beings we find that we no longer perceive a distinction or separation between the spiritual life and the rest of our life. When we view life as a unified whole that supports our spiritual advancement, it becomes easier to make intentional and purposeful decisions. All our actions are guided in the highest way.

Meditation is at the core of the spiritual practices taught at Meditate & Thrive. The yoga teachings that are our foundation say that we are whole and complete spiritual beings now and spiritual disciplines only remove what obscures our awareness of that fact. The noise or static that clouds the mind through over-identification with the senses is the primary obstacle to awareness of our true nature. Meditation clears this obstruction, or at least lessens it, so we may behold the light of the inner self. This light illumines the mind and clarifies awareness.