Awakening to the truth of who we are and what we can become together
About two-thousand years ago a radical idea was born, presaged by a star that guided some wise men to a cave in Bethlehem. That idea, “Love they neighbor,” is a simple admonition admired by many but so challenging that, after all these years, humanity is still having trouble putting it into practice.
The evolution of human consciousness (values, beliefs, perspectives) is a slow process, punctuated by crises that lead to relatively sudden leaps forward, largely due to shifts in perception introduced by great thinkers, visionaries, mystics and prophets. In the current era, the rapid development of communication technologies, ideological differences and the widening gap between the wealthy “haves” and “have nots” has precipitated a compounding of crises worldwide in nearly every sphere of activity. The commonplace impression is that humanity appears to be taking a step backward rather than forward.
Systemically, because crisis precedes and gives rise to transformation, breakdowns can be regarded as “evolutionary drivers,” nudging us to grow in consciousness individually and collectively. By this I mean we must actualize the injunction to love our neighbors and expand our circle of caring to include everyone, including the planet.
It’s been said that humanity’s greatest challenge has always been and continues to be ignorance—we don’t know who we are. Overall, we haven’t yet connected to the animating spark within that is our essence. We don’t realize that all matter, including bodies and spirits, originated in and are extensions of the One, the Source or Infinite Intelligence, whatever name we prefer. We are one human family, interconnected and interdependent, struggling to coordinate, to learn the purpose and right use of our personal and collective power.
“Me first!” “Let somebody else clean it up.” “If it’s legal it’s alright, even if it’s immoral.” “If it can be done, we’ll do it regardless of consequences.” “We’re better than…” “We know better than…” “Our way is the right way.” “I’m not my brother’s keeper.” “Wealth at the top trickles down.” “Grab & run!” These are among the attitudes currently choking civilization.
Ultimately, the healing of ignorance at every level requires the activation of wisdom, balance, whole system understanding and respectful engagement, qualities that are largely developed in the context of a humanizing education. Beyond “subjects” and “skills,” education of the whole person informs, encourages and empowers a life of meaning and grace, ethics and integrity, right-relationship, lifelong learning, contribution and fulfillment. While training for jobs is important and necessary, without whole person development jobs get done but the virtues that contribute to our being more fully human get little or no attention. What’s under construction in human evolution are the qualities of love, compassion, kindness, appreciation and gratitude.
Arguably the most significant consequence of ignorance is intolerance. It’s human nature to notice and respond negatively to differences because they present a potential threat. But taken to extremes in acts of violence, whether personal, social or political, the bulk of humanity is learning that in order to not live in a world where violence is commonplace, each and every child has to be loved, respected and valued for who they are, as they are—and empowered to become the best version of themselves.
As I’ve often noted, the way to maintain the viability and vitality of a social system (business, community, nation, world) is to ensure that the needs of each member are being met and their unique gifts are developed and expressed. Only then can a person be in right-relationship with the other members of the system. Ultimately then, the healing of intolerance is love they neighbor.
Another consequence of ignorance is the illusion of separation. Because living systems at all levels are constituted of lower-level beings and unite to form higher levels systems, they are both social and interdependent, unable to survive for very long on their own as individuals. To the extent that any member is isolated, his work and worth to the systems above him is diminished. Seeing ourselves separate fosters fear and promotes greed. And the compounding of acts that advantage self without regard to others can carry devastating consequences for the whole—as when legislators turn a blind eye or vote favorably for companies that are abusing the environment. The stresses brought on by the perception of separation are teaching us that life, throughout the universe, is one whole, interconnected and interdependent system. Ultimately then, the healing of separation is the perception that all is one and we all have skin in the game. No matter one’s status or wealth, we rise and fall together.
Fear is the force that sustains separation and promotes division. Human beings can’t or won’t come together to collaborate, create or celebrate in a climate of fear. Of the drivers mentioned above, fear is perhaps the most widespread, difficult to overcome and trending, particularly when the mass media feed unhealthy and daily doses of breakdowns and possible threats into the social body. While I wouldn’t say that the commercial mass media systems are purposefully fostering ignorance and fear, they are the inadvertent consequences of a competitive system designed to maximize profits. As a consequence, what’s largely missing are programs and services that uplift, inspire, encourage and empower. On the consumer side, both in media and politics we cast a vote for more of the same when we spend our attention capital on the status quo.
Ultimately, the healing of fear is love. And that, at the very least, requires the perception that human beings, even those that appear and think differently, are good and intend to do good. This perception appears to be taking a long time to occur, but for those who understand that we are the architects of our lives, a change of heart and mind can be lived immediately.
While Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus for a variety of religious reasons, persons of all persuasions can rejoice in the birth of the paradigms he established—universal unconditional love and forgiveness. Indeed, at this time of year we celebrate His birth, teachings and example. And observe that our story is also a birth, an awakening to and realization of our higher potentials as individuals, nations and species.
May the leaders and wise ones of our time, perhaps by looking at images from space telescopes, gain a sense of the vastness and beauty of the universe beyond, and perhaps by encountering the right person at the right time and being guided by spirit, see the spark of goodness and higher potentials that reside within us all.
When human society practices agape, the promotion of the wellbeing of one another, the cosmos will be performing, on this very complexly organized level itself, a divine act. By its consciousness and its caring the cosmos will become ecstatic—transcend itself and its investment in individual or group ‘self-interest’—and its ecstasy will give birth to divine life.
Beatrice Bruteau, American contemplative, philosopher, author
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