An activist is someone who takes action. The intention behind the action is to raise awareness, and to effect change.Is it possible that a truly effective activist would be someone who takes action while at the same time challenging their own limiting habits, expectations, judgments, and fears? Could we not learn to free ourselves from rigid political views and expectations; so they we are not limited by notions of right and wrong? Rather, is it possible to be driven by a deeper (let’s say, innate) human integrity and capacity for compassionate action?
What I want to suggest is that our ongoing commitment to transform the world and our ongoing commitment to transform ourselves is, in reality, part of a single process. We can’t do either one effectively without the other. And there’s no more effective way of free ourselves than by letting go of rigidity, political correctness., competition. What are the alternatives? – clarity, openness, a systems-view and the corresponding ability to act both collaboratively and with individual authority.
A key word here is Leadership. Which is precisely the theme of our week-long Sanctuary Training for activists at Manzanita Village in July, facilitated by Michele Benzamin-Miki and myself Caitriona Reed.
You can learn more at Sanctuary Training
Photo of Arundhati Roy from The Hindu May 18
2 comments:
Wow, what a lovely surprise to find your writing here. I'm a human rights and social justice activist who has been learning for the past decade that there is no "big actions" only the small ones done with true compassion. I started studying Buddhism and practicing meditation about 18 months ago and I'm very interested in the relationship between action for social justice and spiritual practice. I'm happy to have found you and the Manzanita Village, I hope to be able to visit one day.
Thank you Frida. I so appreciate what you say about small actions - done with compassion AND done continuously. Cheers - Caitriona
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