A New Leadership for a New World
“Are we so deaf that we do not hear a loving God warning us that humanity is in danger of committing suicide? Are we so selfish that we do not hear the just God demanding that we do all we can to stop injustice from suffocating the world and driving it to war? Are we so alienated that we fail to see, hear, and serve God where he is present and where he requires our presence, among humankind, the poor, the oppressed, the victims of injustice in which we ourselves are often involved?”
~ Dom Helder Camara
What we see in politics is a reflection of who we are.
We are immersed in a culture of selfishness, greed, separation, isolation, exclusion, competition, and pursuit of power, and as long as we remain in it, it will be very difficult to reach more humane political solutions for our problems.
What should we do, then?
Well, we need to work on our own selves in order to experience that heavenly sense of oneness that infuses us with the knowing that our destiny is a common one, and that the ultimate goal of our existences is solidarity, cooperation, unity, and peace. We need to realize that we are here to connect, communicate, and commune with others, not to separate, compete, and isolate ourselves from others. We have to understand that we are here to bring the pieces together, and restore to wholeness what is now broken and scattered. We have to realize that we are here to help one another, and to live by the values of civility, mutual support, and care for all beings and the entire planet. We must understand that it is only when we grow in selflessness, kindness, and compassion—and live our lives guided by such qualities—that we will be able to manifest leaders and governments that will practice them.
The truth is that the world is an expression of who we are, and in order for us to reveal a better world, we must become better persons. More enlightened ways of organizing ourselves to live in society will spontaneously emerge when we change the prevailing ideas that dominate our thinking. A better world will come into existence when a vast number of individuals reach that deep-rooted conviction that generosity is better than greed, cooperation is better than competition, inclusion is better than exclusion, and compassion is better than mercilessness and indifference. When the number of such individuals grows, we will reach that critical mass that will tip the scale. Then, new, expanded visions of the ways we can live together in harmony will replace the limited concepts that currently prevail in our culture, and we will bring about a new and better world.
Inner work will allow us to go beyond the ego-consciousness and the tribal-consciousness, and reach that mystical-consciousness where we don't see ourselves separated from others anymore. Then we will not give in to the demands of our own egos, or those of the groups we belong to. We will not feel inclined to fight, compete, and conquer. We will not feel obligated to do those things we know to be harmful to others—and, in some aspects, to ourselves too—but that our clans, tribes, parties, churches, or nations demand from us.
It is by going through deep mystical experiences—the ones that make us realize our interconnection, interdependence, and inter-existence—that all the insanity that surrounds us will become evident and finally subside. It is by having those epiphanies of our oneness that we will gain the strength to calmly leave all this competitive madness behind. It is by experiencing those awakenings that we will be blessed with a clear mind that will guide us to think, say, and do only those things that harm no one and benefit everyone.
So, the inner work we do to know ourselves has a vast political reach, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. This inner work is itself a form of activism—spiritual activism, one may say—and ideally it should precede other forms of activism for social change, because it infuses those initiatives with wisdom. This inner work changes views, brings about a new consciousness, and allows us to see new possibilities that were previously unseen, such as less violent forms of organizing ourselves to live together in society. It has the potential to change the world and the lives of all beings that live in it for the better.
So, work on your own self. Do your introspective work regularly, and notice yourself moving farther from selfishness and closer to selflessness. Investigate your beliefs and rise above your prejudices. Practice and teach kindness. Teach all children to be gentle, compassionate, and caring. Foster nonviolent communication and cooperation. Be peaceful and bless the world with your peace. Guide others on the path that will lead them to personal awakenings and experiences of oneness. Transform yourself, help others transform themselves, and engage in the work of transforming the world.
Piero Falci teaches Mindfulness Meditation and Mindful Living and the acclaimed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. He leads Insight Meditation Silent Retreats and organizes Silent Peace Walks. Piero is an educator who believes that the inner work that leads to personal awakening and transformation is indispensable to create a wholesome world. He is a promoter of peace who believes in advancing the idea that Heaven is here if we want it to be. "A Better Life in a Better World: Can Mindfulness Save Us from Ourselves?" is his latest book. For more information, visit his website www.pierofalci.com