Finding Our Way Through Uncertain Political Times

Regardless of our spiritual attainment, our human experiences (and those of our students and clients) will be impacted longer term by what is happening now. As spiritual leaders and practitioners, what is our responsibility, if any? Are we called to be silent or to take action? What do the alternative paths look like? Is there a role for us, individually or collectively? 

We are noticing several attitudes among spiritual leaders and practitioners:

• I’m tuning out. The news disturbs my hard-earned inner peace. It threatens my connection to the divine. I have to protect my spiritual life and my mental health.
• I’m unattached. There’s nothing I can do about it, so I’m shifting into neutral. No judgment, no worries. I’m staying anchored in Spirit, witnessing it all.
• It’s all meant to be. It’s in God’s hands. I trust the universe to work things out. Whatever happens is part of the divine plan. 
• It’s all illusion. Unreal. Maya. Nothing ever happened anyway.
• I’m working on the spiritual level, healing the world by meditating / praying / chanting. That’s more powerful than any action in the material world.
• I’m staying positive. Darkness comes before dawn. There has to be destruction to make way for the beautiful new age that’s coming.
• I’m unaffected but I have a responsibility to help my followers deal with fear and anger.
• I’m rolling up my sleeves. There are dangers afoot. We can’t afford to be indifferent. We can’t hide behind our spirituality. We all have to pitch in.

Let’s share with each other how we navigate (or can’t navigate) our political climate. How can we protect ourselves and our followers and best serve the greater good? How do we stand on our spiritual values and not get caught up in political ideology?  How can we honor precepts and principles that are ethically sound?

Lightly facilitated by Phillip Goldberg.