Spiritual Activism

We live in a critical time in human history when the very sustainability of human civilization and our planet is in peril. This book is a comprehensive manual that offers a holistic approach not only to the dilemma of how can we both take care of ourselves and take care of the planet but also how we can discern the pivotal role we are being called to fulfill during this time of global awakening and planetary transition to a higher level of consciousness.

Excerpt from the Foreword
by Rev. Dr. Jim Rigby, peace and justice activist
and progressive Christianity advocate

Transformation is a metaphor expressed differently by different religions. Christianity speaks of transformation in terms of “repentance.” Others speak of transformation as “enlightenment.” Some faiths even think of transformation as “revolution.” Transformation should have all these qualities if it is to serve both the seeker and the species. . .

This book that your are about to read focuses perhaps more on inner work than what might be called activism. However, it is intended to compliment the activist life, not replace it. We change the world, as Gandhi said, by being the change we want to happen in our world. As important as activism is, plunging into it without inner peace aggravates the violence we are trying to end.

Excerpt from the Introduction
By Oliver Markley, PhD, Emeritus Professor
of Human Sciences & Studies of the Future

We live at a momentous time in human history. After millennia of growth in human activities and their ecological impacts on the Earth the very sustainability of human civilization is now in question. At the same time, how can we both take care of ourselves and take care of the planet? The view put forward by this book is that it needs to be an inside job. That is, we must start first with our own selves and our innate capacities for healing and wisdom that are customarily talked about in terms of the Divine, starting first with the Divine within and then realizing the Divine without as well.

The overall approach in this book is a holistic one, counseling the balanced development of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of being. Even though its primary emphasis is on individual development, its foundational tool—intentional manifestation—is clearly suitable for use by communities dedicated to the improvement of well-being at all levels, personal to planetary.

This is a book that can serve both as an introductory text, a laboratory manual, and a reference that you will return to many times. If used with care, it can take you “from where you are not to where you most truly are.”

Epilogue
Recreating a Better World: The Butterfly Story

We stand at a critical moment in earth’s history because we must now choose to either accept responsibility for one another and for our planet or choose to continue on a path to collective suicide. A frequently used and very adequate metaphor used to illustrate the times we are presently living in is that of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

When the ugly caterpillar has formed a cocoon, it then gorges itself until it becomes distorted, disfigured, and grotesque; after which, the worm begins to liquefy and die. This is a stage of biological “chaos” at the depths of which the potentials for a new order lie hidden, waiting to be expressed. Ultimately, the magnificent butterfly will emerge out of this chaos.

In like manner, we see chaos in our world—wars; the environmental crises; poverty, starvation, and other social injustices; more and more dark clouds gathering. In his book, The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community David Korten gives details of “the ugly caterpillar gorging itself.”

• Eighty-five percent of the world’s resources are owned by 20 percent of the population.
• Twenty percent of the world’s population subsists on 1 percent of the world’s resources.
• At the beginning of this century, our consumption was already seven times what it used to be in the 1950s and continuing to increase.
• In the last thirty years, our life support index (fresh air, clean water, ecosystem, etc.) has declined by 37 percent.

Dr. Korten points out that it would be futile to expect the change to come from the institutions that are now in power. They are corrupted to the core, and their time is running out. He explains that we are poised at the very real likelihood of a “perfect economic storm,” involving the following factors: overdependence on oil, climate control, and meltdown of the U.S. dollar. The house of cards that has become the support of the most powerful nations on earth is about to crumble.
Return once again to the process of metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a butterfly:

Scattered throughout the liquefied remains of the former worm are what biologist call “imaginal cells” that are vibrating at a different frequency from the rest. They connect with the other imaginal cells vibrating together at the same frequency. From the clusters these imaginal cells form will arise the vital organs and the magnificent structure of the butterfly that will emerge from the cocoon.

So too in our present times, the old order is collapsing and waiting to be transformed into a higher and more perfect world. This is no time to complain and disempower ourselves with a sense of hopelessness. You and I and everyone else who is motivated by compassion, care, yearning, love, intuition, and tenderness—we are the imaginal cells that will usher in “the great turning” and the shift in consciousness that will save our plant.

Already many of these imaginal individuals have come together to form an infinite number of social action movements all over the world, all striving for a better society. Paul Hawken describes this global phenomenon in his book, Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming.

In his estimate, there are well over one million organizations worldwide working toward ecological sustainability and social justice. These include various kinds of environmental movements, sustainable agriculture movements, save the children movements, youth movements, women’s empowerment movement, indigenous people’s movements, end to poverty movements, integrity movements, global grass-roots democracy movements, new perspectives on education movements, endless numbers of deeper spirituality movements, and on and on.

Societal transformation will be accomplished when the number of imaginal individuals has reached a critical mass and the various social action movements all over the world have created enough synergy among and between each other. Described below are different aspects of what Dr Korten foresees our world will be like after the great turning.

Spiritual values take precedence over financial values; decision makers put people ahead of profits; and international co-operation is much more important than international domination.

* * *

Our air and water are pristine, fresh and healthy. Our forest, fisheries and agricultural land are vibrant with diversity of life. Everything is balanced in order to sustain the optimum health of the environment and its inhabitants.

* * *

All people have a meaningful and dignified vocation that, not only provides for meeting basic needs for themselves and their dependants, but also allows the balanced living that nurtures the body, mind, spirit and emotions.

* * *

Our families are strong and stable; and all children are well nourished, receive a quality education, and live in secure loving homes.

* * *

We live in secure communities growing in mutual trust, shared values, and sense of connection. Civil liberties are secure even for the most vulnerable. Our leaders are respected for their wisdom, integrity, and commitment to the public good.

As we await this event, continue to listen to the voice you are hearing from the center of your being that is reminding you of what you came to this life journey to do. Acknowledge and nurture your unique gifts and talents that will allow you to serve and help others. Keep in mind that the great turning of our planetary society cannot take place until it has occurred first in our own hearts.

Scientists tell us that things as subtle as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can influence weather patterns on the other side of the world. In like manner, even though we might seem to be size of an insignificant grain of sand by comparison, the energetic vibrations of compassion, peace, certainty, and courage emanating from our own heart are helping to raise the energetic vibrations of the entire planet.
Therefore, carry out all your day-to-day responsibilities with love and good will and in alignment with your Higher Self. Remember it is never about “us against them.” It is only about loving or failing to love. Once you are no longer overwhelmed with negativity, insecurities, hatred, and/or frustration, you will then be able to fulfill your role as imaginal individual and allow the power of the Universe to move through you.