Personal transformation through social action?

In his novel, Doktor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak writes "the way people see the world determines how they and the world are put together." So if it is assumed the late famous Ruski author/poet is correct in this, that would leave two basic ways of viewing and making manifest the world: We could adopt the view of the world that makes it a threatening, dangerous, static and solid phenomenon apart from us, that denies the truth of existence's fluid nature in turn creating a defensive and egotistical person and a chaotic world in which only the strong survive; Or we could see the world as the mercurial sum of humanity's vain attempts to keep it apart, static and solid which makes it a place easy to get hurt but basically trustworthy and receptive to compassion; See the world as empty of all our strategies to maintain this materialistic fixation that causes so much suffering and which can be quite delightful once we let go; See it as a fathomless though intelligible mystery of which in reality we are very much a part and with which we are very much inter-connected.

Pasternak's assertion that the way we see the world creates the individual and the world is a hopeful vision: It gives the power back to the people. It gives unlimited opportunities. The obsession to see things incorrectly as solid and different from us has made planet Earth a world of division, conflict and strife (in which Pasternak uses the Russian revolution as a metaphor in 'Zhivago') ; A world wherein the people of the northern hemisphere see a dangerous world from which it must protect itself by, --practically speaking, --raping and pillaging the southern hemisphere. This view excuses the injustice of these acts with the false understanding that every person is out for herself or himself. Not interconnected at all.

To drop this view is to see the infinite opportunities in the movement of which we are already a part: The movement that exposes the myth that humanity and nature are disconnected; The movement that heals the division, conflict, and strife of the world by addressing the injustices of the north on the south (which is a metaphor of the injustices with the haves on the have-nots everywhere); The movement that exposes the mentality that plunders the earth's resources and returns a balance of humanity and the world.

On this web log, Personal Transformation Through Social Action, it is assumed Pasternak was correct in maintaining the way people see the world determines how they and the world are put together. It is taken for fact. Furthermore it will will examine how the only way to free oneself of the false and solid view of ourselves and the world is by joining hands with the rest of humanity so afflicted by this static prison. If you are a 'have' and you look to your left and right seeing no 'have-nots' that means you still have a way to go. If you are a 'have-not' and you look within and see you are still blaming and punishing yourself for your predicament that means you still have a way to go. Look to your left and right! There are 'have-nots' and 'haves' waking up all around you finding opportunities in the movement to create a harmonized balanced and just earth! Personal transformation through social action!

The Eckhart Tolle quotes to the right give examples, --metaphors, --of how quickly things can change once a "critical mass" is reached. In Doktor Zhivago Pasternak offers the metaphor of the forest in the spring: it appears to turn green over night but in actuality buds and bulbs under-cover have been getting primed for weeks. When something is about to happen, --it will happen. Now is the time to get involved in social action, because... something good is about to happen.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Friday I'm In Love


When it comes to sorting 'the haves' from the 'have nots' I am certianly among the former. Although my father brought home the rather unsubstantial salary of a parish minister and my mom the rather humble salary of an elementary school teacher, they were Harvard graduates who knew how live within their means. As children growing up my brother, sisters and myself, although we had our ups and downs, --benefitted from a stable and secure living situation.

My own family has had its ups and downs but my three daughters also grew up without much insecurity or instablity. Something I know most people raised in the arena of ecomomic injustice cannot say for themselves. One thing that that is special about my family: my wife is from the southern hemisphere (Venezuela) and I from from the northern (U.S.). So my family in a way is symbolic that the world can come together. Another benefit of economic security is I have had the opportunity of both dedicating my life to a mindfulness meditation practice and tending to the victims of poverty in my community. This is how I know Pasternak's 'we make the world,' statement is true. Of late I have been undergoing nuerological tests that have come up with evidence of a minor stroke enabling my care-providers to help me prevent a major one. This is another example of how I am a "have." Most people on the planet do not have access to the medical technology to prevent catastrophic medical episodes.

Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, before I started taking the neurological tests this week,  were days in which I had the opportunity to be side-by-side with people who could be considered "have-nots." These were days I took advantage of chances provided by my "membership/benefits" group, Eastern Service Workers Association, to benefit some of my fellow members. Wednesday was an optical benefit in which I advocated for a Cape Verdian member to get her prescription filled without cost for corrective lenses. Thurday was a dental benefit in which I advocated for an Afro-American member at no cost to him for dental work. Friday was a 'budget savings' benefit in which I accompanied a full-time volunteer for E.S.W.A. to the farmers' market to pick up donated fruits and vegetables for our weekly no cost food distribtion. These were all ways in which I could help the disadvantaged in my community materially, and in the process keep my own personal transformation on the front burner.
Posted by at

1 comment:

  1. ArtemisOctober 24, 2009 at 12:08 PM

    There are precious people in this world, the ones that makes us sure that humanity is still there and kicking. They are the reason I do not lose faith in human kind.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)