What Can We Do?

what can we do? That's an important to question to ask these days, a time of turmoil in so many ways, across the world there's discord and violence, and here at home we're plagued by political infighting and a what feels like a cold civil world between those with different visions for our country. What can we personally do to help heal a nation, our neighbors, the world?

anything?

of course I don't have an answer, it's too large a problem for any solution I might offer - yet I know what I can do, for myself alone at least, and then I can offer the benefits gained within to others, in some subtle ways at first, perhaps a smile offered to a stranger, or sincerely listening to the concerns of others who see things quite differently than I do. Small things, moments really, adding up to a daily affair, a lifetime of offering peace to others. It's what I can do. 

it's what we can do.

let's start by being a bit selfish, in a certain way at least, and by this I mean let's focus on ourselves alone at first, bringing a sense of peace and well-being into our lives and then we turn this light towards others. For me this is done through meditation, it's a healing art, and more so it's an insightful practice that opens me to aspects of reality that I long ignored, or had no means of truly understanding. Meditation caused a deep relaxation of my concerns about myself, my creative potential, how I relate to others, there simply came an ease and lightness of being through no effort of my own. Simply sitting, twice a day for me, an ancient practice that felt new and refreshing. I've continues for over 30 years. But that's my practice and might not be yours. There are infinite ways of healing, meditation being only one, effective and personal, once learned it's continued on our own, a private affair that contributes to the healing of the world. The Transcendental Meditation movement (of which I'm not associated with) call this the Maharishi Effect, being that if a small percentage of people meditate they will raise their vibrations to the point of causing others to vibrate to a higher plane as well. Maybe, I'm not a skeptic on this but I also just don't know, it's above my meditation pay grade. I only concern myself with what I know for certain from my own experience and growing understanding, which is always changing and expanding. 

so here's what know, my own Maharishi Effect is real and certain, that I am more peaceful now, less reactive and more prone to listen and respond in ways that reflect a growing kindness. My selfish hour in the morning and another sitting later in the afternoon gives me a large reservoir of peace from which to draw from and it's what I offer to the world from the very moment I walk away from my meditation cushion. My meditation continues through the day, a vibration quality that truly affects my every relation, from casual encounters to long friends and family. I have a bit more to offer from myself now, a more sincere and reflective kindness, a deeper peace to give away. 

what can we do? Well meditation is my option, but it might not be yours, there may be another healing path for your to follow, or several maybe. What I do know is that the world won't heal without us, not without our direct participation of healing our own inner wounds that keep us involved in conflict. Could we really suppose that a person of peace would cause a harmful response to others? That wars would continue to exist if leaders were just a bit more enlightened? If we heal ourselves the healing of the world will follow. Our own enlightenment brings us the leaders that deserve to lead, and it begins with whatever healing path one decides to follow. 

it's what we can do. 

~

Peace, Eric