Soul of Compassion

Every word, every act, every thought we hold or put forth in the world has a ripple effect that determines the future, not only for oneself, but for all of humanity and nature. Like the ripples in a pond when you toss a pebble, our thoughts and actions  –  even the smallest ones  – move outward in ever-expanding circles. These ever-expanding ripples become waves that lap upon shores too large and too distant to imagine.

In trying times such as those we live in, it is important to guard our thoughts and actions carefully, to hold forth from a core of joy, rather than allowing ourselves, our attitudes, and our states of mind to be affected by negativity. This is not to say we should hide our heads in the sand or turn deaf ears to the needs of the world (in fact we should actively strive to mitigate negative circumstances),  but to insistently shine our light in the world by holding forth with a joyful and peaceful demeanor while doing practical things to make it a better place.

There is no exceptional effort involved in sending our light to the world; it does not require special powers. A kind word, a smile, a positive outlook are powerful beyond measure. Maintaining a joyful attitude leads to having the passion to do whatever is given to you to do, be it great or small. Follow your passion. Passion is Guidance. Be it good works, community service, art, music, writing, teaching, scientific inquiry…  these passions are given for a purpose that you don’t need to question or analyze. Nor do you need to worry about your abilities  –  having a passion for something proves that you are able to do it. No need to figure it out; just start and you will be guided as it unfolds.

The world does not need you to feel anxiety just because the world is anxious. It does not need you to feel dread just because it is dreadful. It does not need you to feel angry just because it is an angry place. The world needs you to feel and exude joy, peace, and love, which are the only things that can possibly mitigate the ills of the world. All else, no matter how seemingly justified, simply exacerbates those ills.

Be a beacon of light. Even when it’s hard. Even when you don’t feel like one. Refrain from revenge and defense. Your presence in the world is sacred. You are the Light of the World. Be the Light.

The world has changed. What used to be “normal” is fading quickly away, taking a back seat to a new reality. As I contemplate the enormity of the changes we see, I remind myself constantly that only now is what’s real. This is a time of deepening, of learning, of quiet contemplation, of sharing and caring. What we will learn from our current worldwide situation may well be much more than how to handle so many crises. It may teach us the best of life skills.

Potentially, we may emerge as a wiser human race on every level. Although the present moment is always the only true reality, memories keep appearing for me that provide perspective. For instance, I am reminded of a situation years ago when I spent several weeks doing consulting work in Phoenix, Arizona, and stayed in a house owned by a friend who was away on an extended trip. I didn’t know anyone in the neighborhood, in which large new houses were set close together. Aside from the sounds of their TVs, all I saw of the neighbors was their comings and goings in their cars. What I observed, however, told a great deal about their general way of life.

Every morning, most of the people in the neighborhood would leave for work, including myself. In the evening, most of them didn’t get home just after 5:00 as I did, but returned at around 8 or 9 o’clock. Then the TVs would come on and I could hear all those commercials for the products urban dwellers are encouraged to think they need: bigger TVs, bigger cars, sound systems, games, expensive cosmetics, fancier cell phones, jewelry, patio furniture, appliances, and so on.

On weekends, most everyone would leave their homes mid-morning and come back mid-afternoon with cars full of those products, which they had just bought at the mall. I never saw anyone playing with their kids outdoors, or visiting with other neighbors over the back fence, or even having parties. A few people walked dogs but never spoke to anyone.

It appeared that the majority of people in the neighborhood were spending their late evenings being influenced by advertisements that made them feel they must have this or that expensive thing to enhance their lives; then they were spending a day or two every weekend buying those things, and then they were working overtime five days a week so they could pay for them. It was a vicious circle. When I extrapolated how many neighborhoods just like this one held how many people living this same lifestyle, the obvious numbers were staggering.

Fast forward to the recent pandemic: among the many obvious challenges we faced, we found the biggest ones often involved sharing our physical and psychic space with our families 24/7. But probably we started having actual conversations with them beyond “What’s for dinner?” and “Did you get the mail?” We had to learn how to get along with and acknowledge each other more fully. We had to take closer looks at ourselves as we altered our own behaviors and attitudes.

Amazing things were emerging: deeper connections with those who share our space, deeper connection with self, realization of how important friendships are, and discovery that there are many things we had thought we needed that we really don’t. We learned to be simpler. some let their hair will grow out to its natural color, some started wearing what’s comfortable instead of what’s impressive. Maybe the need for more income is now seen as questionable. The gasoline budget is way down. We’re spending less in general. Maybe we have begun to see that the “work too hard and buy too much” way of life is an artificial system that doesn’t serve us. In reality, the biggest sacrifice we make in life is not in foregoing having a lot of stuff, but in living just to obtain and maintain it.

Can we reap the benefit of living simply? Can we learn to live happily without what we don’t really need? Can we stop working so hard to earn money to buy what we don’t need? Can we instead make the deep connections we need to make life really worth living? After all, what is it we’ve been seeking all along? Even the stories we see on TV are, if you look closely, mostly all about love or friendship or self-discovery; all else is a means by which we think we might find them. Yet all along, the ingredients of a satisfying life have always been right here under our noses, if we had just paid attention. What a blessing that now we have to.

Now we face terrible wars in places that no longer seem so far away. Now we face the threat of fascism in our own country. It’s possible that the recent pandemic strengthened us, and that we will be able to weather these storms as well. Instead of being scared, upset and stressing over an uncertain future, what if we consider that perhaps these are sacred times. Take a deep breath. Then take action and be the change you want to see.