View Full Version : A simple way to create change in the world
I listen to a Ram Dass podcast episode almost every night. It lulls me to sleep and I usually learn something. Plus he's highly entertaining to listen to.
Last night I listened to an episode called "The True Revolution" which is about how internal change is the only true revolution.
He repeated this throughout:
Wherever you look, you see what you’re looking for.
When you’re looking for God, all you see is God.
The message overall was that no institution, no "God Squad," no bureaucracy can transform what's wrong with the world--it has to start with the human heart.
I know we have a mostly secular bunch here, but if you are interested in hearing the full episode (skip the long intro from the manager of the podcast--jump to about 13:30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heLFyN_HcvY
The message overall was that no institution, no "God Squad," no bureaucracy can transform what's wrong with the world--it has to start with the human heart.
I totally agree with this! While no longer Christian, there is a song with the line "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me". I hope I am actually being the change(s) I want to see in the world. I have a long way to go, but I'm still very hopeful and believe that good does prevail!
I totally agree with this! While no longer Christian, there is a song with the line "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me". I hope I am actually being the change(s) I want to see in the world. I have a long way to go, but I'm still very hopeful and believe that good does prevail!
happystuff, I knew I could rely on you to respond to this post! :). I agree with you. You have to try to walk the walk and plant the seed, even though we may fail time and time again.
Catherine, you are right about happystuff--a kind and loyal poster! I think the principle you talk about in your first post is so important. I am trying to be the person who is bringing peace because I want peace--kind of like happystuff's point. I am definitely having my struggles with this family stuff and treating people better than they are treating me--but I know that you and happystuff are right about this.
I just didn't comment because I felt I wasn't living up to what you guys were talkiing about! Or how to do it when you are confronted with situations that are wrong, and you don't want to be a doormat. Things like that.
I just didn't comment because I felt I wasn't living up to what you guys were talkiing about! Or how to do it when you are confronted with situations that are wrong, and you don't want to be a doormat. Things like that.
I really have a hard time with that--in particular being a doormat. I have to say that one thing I try to work into my daily habit is a basic practice, but I do like meditating, in order to create distance between me and my "false self" as Richard Rohr calls it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q_UlQ0eBb4
Just yesterday, I had meditated and everything, but it was a VERY trying day. We were moving the camper to a spot that was very difficult for DH to do, and he depended on me to support him, but I didn't always agree with him, which caused discord, and so I would give myself a C- for the way I hendled the situation. But there's always hope for improvement as long as you keep trying to hold your "false self" at bay!
I really have a hard time with that--in particular being a doormat. I have to say that one thing I try to work into my daily habit is a basic practice, but I do like meditating, in order to create distance between me and my "false self" as Richard Rohr calls it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q_UlQ0eBb4
Just yesterday, I had meditated and everything, but it was a VERY trying day. We were moving the camper to a spot that was very difficult for DH to do, and he depended on me to support him, but I didn't always agree with him, which caused discord, and so I would give myself a C- for the way I hendled the situation. But there's always hope for improvement as long as you keep trying to hold your "false self" at bay!
I will look at this today. That is intriguing, the idea of the false self. But right there, the idea that it is a false self--anyway, I have to check out the video!
I LOVE Richard Rohr.
I definitely have an ecumenical world view of religion and have learned from so many spiritual leaders:
Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day are the Catholics who inspire me most--but there are many more.
Thich Nhat Hahn (Zen Buddhist), has greatly inspired me. I've read most of his books and I try to practice his principles of living in the moment daily
Ram Dass is also pretty ecumenical, but his grounding is Hindu (also some Buddhist, and his heritage is Jewish)
But they all basically say the same thing...
Big Thomas Merton fan here. He wrote that he did not become a Quaker because it was down to two religions to convert to, Quaker or Roman Catholic, and he went to a Quaker meeting and a woman brought a slide show of pictures from her vacation and he thought it was dumb and boring. So he became a Catholic, but later, said maybe he should have become a Quaker.
Big Thomas Merton fan here. He wrote that he did not become a Quaker because it was down to two religions to convert to, Quaker or Roman Catholic, and he went to a Quaker meeting and a woman brought a slide show of pictures from her vacation and he thought it was dumb and boring. So he became a Catholic, but later, said maybe he should have become a Quaker.
And later still, he was deeply drawn to the Eastern religions...and as you probably know, he died accidentally in Bangkok (so they say). The fact that all religions say the same thing once you rise above the dogma is why I no longer have an urge to sign up for any one religion. If I did it would be Catholic, because that is my heritage. But I have too many issues with the patriarchy and the institution.
happystuff
8-10-23, 7:39pm
You are so sweet, catherine and Tybee. Thank you for the kind words.
But they all basically say the same thing...
Research seems to show that all major religions (if not simply all religions!) have the same concept of The Golden Rule. Imagine if we all practiced it!
I totally agree with this! While no longer Christian, there is a song with the line "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me". I hope I am actually being the change(s) I want to see in the world. I have a long way to go, but I'm still very hopeful and believe that good does prevail!
That’s not a Christian song. It was written for the UN in the 70s. I got totally sick of it as it was sung waaaayyy too often at the Catholic parish I attended growing up.
catherine
8-11-23, 12:07pm
My favorite hymn, and I have it written into my funeral wishes, is "Morning Has Broken." Many people may think Cat Stevens wrote it, but it was a Christian hymn written in 1931 by Eleanor Farjeon.
happystuff
8-11-23, 3:35pm
That’s not a Christian song. It was written for the UN in the 70s. I got totally sick of it as it was sung waaaayyy too often at the Catholic parish I attended growing up.
Wow! Good to know! I only ever heard it in church so made the wrong assumption it was religion-based. Thanks for the info!
I remember Eleanor Farjenon as a children's poet. I'll have to look her up now! And I love Let there be peace on earth...
I have two favorites that come to mind:
I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light - Bing video (https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=i+want+to+walk+as+a+child+of+the+light+&view=detail&mid=0C19F755172709F2A92C0C19F755172709F2A92C&FORM=VIRE)
and
the wonderful Calvin Hampton's There's a Wideness in God's Mercy:
Hymn: There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (Calvin Hampton) - Bing video (https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=theres+a+widenessin+gods+mercy+calvin+ham pton&&view=detail&mid=08745D3FE9D8FDB00A0108745D3FE9D8FDB00A01&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dtheres%2Ba%2Bwidenessi n%2Bgods%2Bmercy%2Bcalvin%2Bhampton%26qpvt%3Dthere s%2Ba%2Bwidenessin%2Bgods%2Bmercy%2Bcalvin%2Bhampt on%26FORM%3DVDRE)
We played that one at our wedding and at my mom's deathbed on the cellphone. So I guess it's on for my funeral, too.
iris lilies
8-12-23, 3:44pm
Do we have to seek to create change in the world? Who is issuing that imperative?
I think we all create change in the world, just by being. Like It's a Wonderful Life, George does not realize how many lives he has impacted.
happystuff
8-13-23, 7:24am
I think we all create change in the world, just by being. Like It's a Wonderful Life, George does not realize how many lives he has impacted.
Agree. Change happens all the time whether we are aware of it or not. I don't mind effort on my part to try to make my impacts positive rather than negative.
Do we have to seek to create change in the world? Who is issuing that imperative?
I don't think creating change is like "creating a dent in the universe" as Steve Jobs said it.. Like Tybee said, I think if people see an ill or a need somewhere, there's an impulse to want to better it, or fill the need. You see an ugly lot in an urban setting and you see fields of irises. You see French bulldogs that need homes, and you see a need to foster or adopt them. That's how you have created change.
As I get older, my view on this has shifted. I used to feel like I was not making a difference--I was not pursuing "right livelihood" because I'm a glorified drug dealer in my profession. Now that I have grandchildren, I reflect on how meaningful my aunts and mother were in my life, and I simply want to be part of my grandson's lives and hopefully be as great a loving support for them as my elders were for me. I can live my values and maybe they will learn something positive that they will use in their futures. That's how maybe I can change the world. I no longer wish I had been a doctor or a teacher or social worker or environmental activist.
Basically, from a spiritual perspective, and the reason that Ram Dass quote resonates with me, I just want to work on seeing God in all things, which will be change enough for me.
Teacher Terry
8-13-23, 11:09am
Whenever I help a person or animal I feel that I made a difference for them. It won’t change the world at large but it changes their individual world. I love some of the songs some of you mentioned.
Portuguese John Here
8-15-23, 4:06pm
I haven't read Ram Dass, I mean, I don't really read much, but I'm sure there are some videos, I prefer to read body language, and hear a voice, so maybe one day. J. Krishnamurti, somewhat similar in terms of objectives to Ram Dass, at least I believe, used to say that, psychologically, you are the rest of mankind, if you change, the whole humanity changes, because your conditioning, is the same for every single human being, loneliness, sorrow, anxiety; every human being represents humanity. There is a famous proverb, that in origin is actually Portuguese, we and the Russians have the most down-to-earth proverbs out there, that says: "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". This means, that you don't really know if what you believe to be good, will actually be good. Every generation is held responsible for actions that were considered to be right and plain common sense at the time.
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