95 years ago, in August 1926 – The first International Peace month was declared during the Democratic Peace Conference in Germany. As a response to the devastating effects of WWI, it called for a moment to reflect and recognize the global tragedy as a result of that war. And then WWII added another horrific reminder and thankfully on that scale, we have learned some lessons, though at times, it feels like leaders are inches away from pressing the button. The observance of International Peace Month carries into current times as we understand the expanded wish for resolving worldwide conflict and moving towards peaceful relations. If we can name and recall the harms of the past, truly appreciate the lessons learned from them, we have a better chance at that vision of peace. But if we keep repeating things when they appear in different outfits, we will continue to see this world divided and more divided as nature adds to the mix with her secret agents of massive awakening.
Yes, we certainly have come a long way when we look at what life looked like in the first half of the 20th century. I am supremely grateful for all who have come before me in this country and around the globe, working hard to create the world we have today. It’s humbling and I want to always remember that I am only here because of those before me. We have made incredible advancements to save lives and increase longevity and support a growing, diverse global population. But it feels we’re moving at a snail’s pace when shifting the norms around the overall abuse of power and hunger for self-interests. When I see news of Cuomo and other recent allegations of sexual abuse in the news, it feels pandemically never-ending; it feels like a human condition. When I reflect on the notion that there are enough resources on this planet so that no one is hungry and no one is neglected or harmed, I wonder why we haven’t made more progress. It feels like a human condition – a condition of being human that has been here since the beginning. So do we keep working towards peace or do we say well, that’s just the way it is and why bother?
Like my relationship with enlightenment and liberation, I’m not sure those will happen for me any time soon. In fact, those are not even so much a goal these days as they once were. My goal is to live my life with the aspiration of staying on that journey, recognizing that every step, every action can lead me closer or further away from it. It may feel like a forever treck to get there and truly, I’m not even sure I’ll know whether I’m getting close or not. I just know from the Yogic teachings, that the path towards Samadhi (aka Higher consciousness. And note, there are developmental stages of Samadhi that lead to full attainment of eternal union. Read more from YogaInternational.com), will come not from pushing and straining to get there, but by following an intentional path. There will be tests and challenges where success and failure are only the trappings of mind. Maintaining the life movements, with all earnestness, for a long time and without break (Sutra 1:12) are what I have come to learn is the way.
So maybe peace is the same. Maybe we will not get to see this utopian view of everyone getting along and loving one another any time soon. But each of our actions towards that, could be the ripple of change that eventually shifts from a small voice to a celestial choir! Somehow, by having that vision versus we’re all going to hell in a hand basket, helps me live a life with more joy and possibility. It seems to be so with Murphy’s law, that obstacles and sources will threaten the life force energy of any effort. I still struggle with having been less than graceful in some of my relationships. Things will feel like they’re going wrong but maybe they are just going because that’s what movement does. It’s our mind that searches for a sort of meaning and our life experience has us create a dark or light version of the situation. Daily, I ponder and wrestle with acknowledging where I have acted poorly, where I’ve missed being loving and kind, and where I’ve been selfish versus selfless. It’s a struggle, even if sometimes just subtle, but I see glimpses of change.
I used to have a dark view of growing older, figuring I wouldn’t live past 40. I just didn’t know what it would look like as a Jewish, half Japanese, gay man. I grew up seeing only straight folks with kids in Cincinnati. Even if I did know of any older gay men, it seemed undesirable to be them (internalized homophobia). So I didn’t have a vision of life beyond the “fun” years that must end at 40. Life after that looked absent, or I fully removed myself from the story by having no other reference. Of course, now that I’ve made it well past 40, it’s amazing how alive and well I do feel! Like 51 is the new 31! 😀 Once, there was no vision – now there is clear vision and even greater capacity for love. What else is like that in our life? Where else are we turning the light off because we have no other reference? Or where we’re creating stories to try and fill in the void in order to feel comfortable and safe? What happens once we arrive at the actual experience and we can see life for whatever it is?
Living in the future, living in the past…that’s where the mind tends to shift. Seeking comfort, avoiding pain, closing our eyes tight with ignorance, opening our eyes wide with pride. The practice of mindfulness in every spiritual tradition I’m aware of, whether Yoga, Qigong, Taichi, Buddhist meditation, etc and every creative/artistic practice I’ve engaged in, points toward a practice of being in the present moment, being with what is. In this moment, how can I live with the intention of presence. How can I focus the mind away from distraction and toward truth? How can I manage this limited self with the best and most efficient tools while not becoming obsessed with them? That is the practice. That is where we can have a small view of peace before the big view – find the peace within in order to imagine the peace being anywhere else. And because the ancients already knew this wasn’t an easy thing to do, practices were created and continue to be shared to this day since well, we’ve grown in some ways, but still come equipped with pretty much the same mind as we did thousands of years ago. Humbly accepting, this is the human condition.
Let’s stay connected,
Marc
