Thought of the Day (12/16/2014) - Continuing Reflections on the Status Quo and Ones Own Helplessness Before Power [Note -- I originally posted a version of this on December 14th in a comments section below, but I thought I would publish it again in slightly altered form.] Periodically, I post my reminders that ones whole life has to become a revolutionary act, from its most personal (and transpersonal) aspects to its most social, cultural, and political. I dont however mean, however that one should take an ideological position on all of levels as, for example, a Marxist might do. Nor do I suggest that one should be a revolutionary in the violent sense. For me, to be a radical means to work from the roots up, from the core of who and what one is. That form of Work is never entirely inward but always reaches beyond itself. My own approach has been to work spiritually, philosophically, and psychologically and in concert with others who are similarly dedicated. Naturally, one should not become heedless of injustice, but the only thing left to most of us is an outcry, to disturb the awful silence, apathy, and complicity that surrounds and pervades us. There is a saying from the Prophet Muhammad, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — [but] that is the weakest of faith.” [narrated by Muslim] . I am an avid believer in authentic democracy, by which I mean governance by the people that is guided by a primary interest in preserving their commonwealth. I am in total agreement with a number of progressives (Chomsky, Zinn, Hedges, etc.) who believe that democratic change will only come through people organizing themselves to take effective action. But such organization is difficult to achieve accept in small instances, and the weight and force of those more powerful usually prevails. It is also difficult for even a small band of people to agree and work together effectively and ethically, and knowing this can drive one to become paralyzed by cynicism. At the root of all evils is a form of acquisitive egoism that compels most of us to live in a master-slave dynamic and it permeates all forms of relationship from the most intimate to the most public and political. Only through a deep and all-pervasive shift in perception or consciousness can one transcend the will to power. Without overcoming that will to power and shifting its direction nothing good of lasting value will come out of all attempts to revolutionize human society and politics, the art of living in the polis. In this respect, I have chosen to work, throughout my life as an educator, psychotherapist, and (sometimes, but only when applicable) an activist of sorts. In all of this, however, I have found that my primary place in life is as one who wishes to continuously inspire open inquiry, to stimulate dialogue and not just to stimulate mere discussion or argumentation. Social media enable us to do this if we are serious about it, but it is frustrating to see so few take advantage of it. Despite that frustration -- and while remaining realistic about the odds against it -- some of us are compelled to keep at it. One of the few freedoms left to us in liberal democracies is freedom of expression. Lets try to use it intelligently before it too is eradicated or diluted to such a degree that it no longer matters.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 09:53:54 +0000
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