It’s been a puzzlement for a while now about how the countries that are the origin of the world’s most influential philosophies relating to equality, equanimity, communication, compassion, mindfulness, self-realization, ascendence and transcendence have developed the world’s cruelest, most sadistic, zenophobic and nationalist govenments in history. This may not be actually true as I haven’t done the research (I’m not even sure it’s possible to check this and wouldn’t know where to start), but it sure feels true.
Western countries, including the US (which is my home country so I’ll stick to what I’ve observed first hand) systematically oppress minorities, most espcially Blacks and women, and has denied the basic rights of equal opportunity in all circumstances since the country was founded. It’s only been in the last century that women have achieved some fundamental rights and only in the last 50 years that Blacks have been recognized by legislation as somewhat ‘less than’ rather than subhuman. There still exists the lack of respect and recognition of dignity, intelligence, and insistance on social and ecomonic equality for Blacks in the country. Women of all races follow as a close second. Recently, this disregard has been extended to those in the LGBTQ community. Hate crimes, gender-based violence, glass ceilings and now, in this new nationalistic/fascist rising culture, legislation is being implemented which is removing decades of progress. Is this the country founded on the principles of Christianity? Is this REALLY what Jesus would do? Is this what His philosophy would support?
China is known for human rights abuses, the practice (halted in 2015) of one-child families which resulted in the forced abortion of fetuses, forced contraception/sterilization of women, the murder of female babies or abandonment of those babies to orphanages. This policy could also have been responsible for gender-based violence. In addition, there is no freedom of religion, no freedom of expression, there exists harassment of minorities and state-sponsored forced labor. How can this be the same country from which Daoism/Taoism originated? Taoism emphasizes that humans and animals should live in harmony with Tao, the source and substance of the universe. Passivity, calmness and non-strife (wu wei) are key to achieving this balance. The practices include meditation, self-discipline in diet, exercise and sex and rituals to promote harmoney with the higher forces of the cosmos. When were these teachings left behind as China’s leaders created policies?
India is known for a brutal caste system, denial of fair public trials, extrajudicial killings by members or agents of the goverment, restrictions on freedom of expression and media, lack of investigation for gender-based violence (including domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence, workplace violence, child and early forced marriage, femicide) and crimes involving violence targeting members of racial/ethnic and minority groups. Is this the same country from which we have received the gift of Yoga? Yoga has it’s roots in ancient (over 5000 years old) Hindu texts called the Vedas which were used by priests and developed by sages. Yoga is one of the schools of philosphy in Hinduism and is a large part of Buddhist culture and meditation practices. The meaning of the word yoga is UNION and it is a practice that unites the body, mind and spirit. Through practice, this unity can be achieved through postures, by working to attain control of one’s breathing and through meditation. Where is this philosphy in the polices and practices of the governing of India?
My understanding is that through this UNION of one’s body, mind and spirit and continual practice to achieve this (and in this world, it’s got to be a daily practice!) each individual will be able to find UNION with the world around them, with those to whom they come in contact either in the family, in a circle of friends, in the workplace or in any situation in life.
UNION, HARMONY, CONTROL, SELF-AWARENESS, COMPASSION, TRANSCENDENCE, EQUALITY, COMMUNICATION
These are all words that come to mind when I think of Yoga, Tao and Christianity. So many people are involved in the practice of each of these philosophies, but do they really understand how to take that practice and move it into the wide spanse of their lives, beyond the yoga class, the temple or the church?
Is it any wonder that there has been a increase in the number of political leaders who are being elected or whose parties are gaining power who reject unity, treat the ‘other’ (and it’s odd that the ‘other’ has a different face depending on which country you’re in) as deserving of mistrust and hatred, propogate the need for the separation of races and the need for one ‘true’ definition of marriage and of family? Men and women in positions of status and power stir up fear with falsehoods, influencing those who are easily manipulated into thinking that all they hold ‘sacred’ will be lost unless the country is rid of anyone who doesn’t look, think or act as they do.
Do they really not understand we have all come from the same source? Is that really so difficult to digest, to really know? Is it so easy to reject the people around us as anything less than our equals?
As with most religions or philosphies, politics (by which I mean greed, lust for power and control, love of money and possesions for that’s what politics has become) has perverted all that is good, just and laudable in the teachings of great prophets. This has been part of history since before the Ten Commandments were handed down to Moses! We really need no more than those Ten Commandments and Christ’s admonition that there are only two great commandments: love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. Do we need to know more than that? Is any other philosophy (including Tao, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam) so far different from those simple rules for life? I really think not.
The ideas and practices that can and should be simple, easily taught and practiced daily have been lost and relegated to the realms of alternative thought, new age mysticism, woke culture and even fanaticism. Thankfully, lately there has been a resurgence of the true teachings of great prophets and many are becoming more aware of what is true and what has been corrupted. Even so, we must keep pushing for the practices to extend beyond the studio, the app on our phone, the class at the gym or the yoga mat in our living rooms and we really need to bring them back into our churches and Sunday schools.
We must make these ideas, these principles, these practices part of how we live each minute of each day. If we can do that, what in the world can stop us from creating the world, a beautiful world, that will be harmonious, calm, compassionate and accepting of all? What in the world can stop us from getting to a place where governments actually govern rather than spend time, money, effort and resources on maintaining power to the exclusion of all else?
I’m hopeful but more have to join the throng of those of us who KNOW that each individual plays a part and each kindness can and will create ripples that can have enormous and lasting impact on our beautiful world, our lovely blue planet.
Can you be hopefull with me and start rippling with kindness and compassion?
sorrowful/empathetic/introvert 