from swami beyondananda-- to face the music and dance

[niyad]

(for those of you not familiar with swami, he is the alter ego of political philosopher Steve Bhaerman, known as "the cosmic comic", calling for an 'up-wising" of the people. We are looking forward to his appearance in Colorado Springs on Sept 20th.

From Swami's website...
To Face The Music and Dance

So how do we face these issues on a higher level, and translate all of this happy-sounding philosophizing into effective action? How do we make the shift from politics as usual to politics as unusual? What does the American Evolution look like in practice? Here are some ideas which will hopefully lead to better questions, and clearer answers:

1. Cultivate the Field. Right now, the most effective thing we can do on a daily basis is speak the truth with calm passion. In their heart of hearts, a majority of Americans know there is something terribly wrong. We're not in Kansas anymore, and we may not even be in America, at least not the America we love. The media refuses to go any deeper than positional squabbling. So we must do it. The biggest obstacle we face right now is our collective unwillingness to see our own shadow. However, once a critical mass of us face this fear directly -- and act anyway -- it only becomes easier. Remember, the wall of lies is hanging by a threat. When we the people no longer feel threatened by that threat, the wall of lies will crumble into dust. The stronger the field of courage and truth we create at the grassroots, the more inevitable the breakthrough.

2. Stop Marching, and Stand Instead. No more yelling, no more shouting, no more spouting anger that squanders energy better spent. Marching indicates there is someplace to get to. Standing demonstrates that we are already here and are quietly steadfast as a stand for the world we know is possible -- and necessary. Standing is an acknowledgment that we are not fearful or intimidated. It is an invitation to courage, and an inspiration to those who are ready to evolve beyond dueling dualities. Standing also acknowledges that darkness isn't the opposite of light, it is the absence of light. So there is no need to fight darkness, as long as we shine the light.

3. Pray For the Soul of America, and Invite the People of the World to Do the Same. I'm sorry if this sounds unctuous, and before you secular humanists reading this run for the hills please take a minute to sit with this idea. There are many definitions of prayer, but if we go with the most generic, it boils down to shared intention for the good. In his book on the subject, Dr. Larry Dossey cites studies that show people who are prayed for actually recover more quickly from surgery and have fewer complications. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter what tradition the prayer is in. As long as there's healing intention, it works. In this sense, even a self-identified atheist could participate in this field, simply by wishing an individual, a group, or a situation well. In a similar way, practitioners of Transcendental Meditation have correlated an influx of meditators to an area with a reduction of the crime rate.

If all this sounds idealistic, remember that we are rapidly approaching the point where the ideal must become the real deal -- otherwise, when it comes to human life on the planet, it's no deal. For a long time now, we've been hearing that every generation must step up to defend freedom. Now it's our turn. In the past, we've been called upon to march to some foreign land, armed with a gun. In these times, being a stand for freedom looks like standing up where we are, armed only with the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and the knowledge that every religion or spiritual path boils down to some variation on the Golden Rule. A critical mass of citizens standing on the brink of evolution, firmly and fearlessly, stripped of illusion. Now that is the real naked power that will change the world as we know it.

© Copyright 2006 by Steve Bhaerman. All rights reserved. Steve can be found online at www.wakeuplaughing.com

[eleny]

1. He's a cutie

[lvx35]

2. Wow, I like that.

Great to hear people looking at the necessity of action and talking about what to do instead of what is wrong.

In these times, being a stand for freedom looks like standing up where we are, armed only with the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and the knowledge that every religion or spiritual path boils down to some variation on the Golden Rule.

That's great. :)