Wednesday 6 September 2017

Response to a young person overwhelmed.

Thanks for writing Laura. I wonder what are the delusions that would disappear when we are enlightened? Is it this paradox of everything being perfect as it is, and yet us feeling constantly dissatisfied with the way it is? I don't think that is going to change. We get a moment of delight when we see a possibility and then drop back into the gloom again.

There is a process going on that we cannot see. We have to learn to trust it. Every little thing is given to us for our benefit, to bring us to some greater realisation. It doesn't make any sense at the time, and it is never easy, even if it looks that way on the outside.

We have to get into the habit of appreciating what we have, the little moments, a breath, walking out after the rain. The issues we face are so big and out of control, as you say, when we begin to appreciate what we have, (rather than constantly hankering after what we don't have, which is the mindset engendered by a capitalist society) we will be able to think creatively about them, rather than be overwhelmed by them. So begin with the little things, the beauty of a flower, the sound of a bird. Find time to look at the sky or the stars. Come back to yourself during the day and breathe. Even if it's only when you are sitting on the toilet!  Lots of love Anna xx

Monday 4 September 2017

Kindness and Activism

https://www.opednews.com/populum/pagem.php?f=Kindness-and-Activism-by-David-Weiner-Activism_Activism-Anti-War_Alienation_Belief-170903-784.html


I found this article, 'Kindness and Activism', inspiring. I posted a comment, see below:


A lot of sense in this article, especially spelling out what it means to have a genuinely inclusive movement, that replaces antagonism with compassion, while maintaining the right to feel anger.

However, there are too many 'musts'. These processes cannot be predefined. I'm not sure what history can teach us since this is a totally new situation. And talking about holding political candidates to account sounds too much like tinkering with the same old system.

What binds us is kindness. Other than that we cannot know what we will need. I am in UK. Of course this needs to be international, so can't be based on a political party. What practical steps can we take to start this movement?

It is time for all the many organisations, communities, and individuals that are seeing the necessity for a change in ourselves and in the way we live, to link up together under one banner. Not to minimise the differences in approach and in details needed in different regions, and by different cultures. But by emphasising the common factors, to build a mass movement which can put pressure where it counts.

I am already making a list of organisations and individuals to approach, while admitting I am way out of my depth. But we have to start somewhere. I would like to take from your article all that will apply internationally, leaving out the specifics to do with the US. Are you in?