(Stillness in the Storm Editor) In our world of injustice, intolerance, egoism, enslavement, and tyranny, many of us can be tempted to act without kindness or compassion. But the principles of unselfish love and seeing all beings as our brothers and sisters is the best way to correct the foundational problem of separation consciousness that leads to all suffering within and without. Those who are sick with the mind virus of separation justify their violent actions, leading to personal hardship and collective harm. And when we know nothing else, it seems as though we must fight fire with fire. But as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
In our zeal and passion for ending oppression and tyranny, we must stay the hand of vengeance and wrath and turn the other cheek, offering healing and love as “weapons.” The golden rule is one way of describing the principle of interconnectedness. Ultimately, we are all of the same essence and consciousness, what divides us is only a temporary illusion, one that can be dispelled by the power and peace of universal consciousness.
Sovereigns in this sense, are those who recognize all beings are like themselves and maintain a consciousness of interconnectedness. Sovereigns bring peace to war and resolution to an unproductive conflict, while at the same time taking a stand against tyranny as a defensive measure. But the high ideal of righteous defense is to protect oneself without causing harm to another. And even more, offering to heal others even when they offer hatred to us.
The DAPL water protectors exemplified this high ideal of true sovereignty when they offered supplies to their oppressors. In doing so, they alchemized hate into love and did not let the darkness of their oppressors put out the healing love of their inner light. To a true sovereign, the ends never justify the means—it is never worthwhile to sacrifice principles of morality (inner resolve) for an external end.
We would all do well to contemplate this situation and learn how to become unselfishly loving in our lives and against our own oppressors, be they the Cabal or those around us who are lost in egoism and misery. People who are miserable and suffering, and lack the knowledge of how to heal themselves, push hate and suffering on to others because they don’t know better. They are trapped within the limits of their own misery, and often it takes an act of kindness from another to help them rise above.
Obviously, causing someone like this to feel more separation by acting out against them in hatred isn’t helpful. Love is the ultimate solution, which also means loving ourselves and them enough to say “no!” and stop their harmful actions. Unselfish love means finding the courage to give love and compassion to those who push hatred and intolerance, understanding that most people in this world have never known such compassion, and they need us to help show them a new and more harmonious way of being. This is why hate can’t drive out hate, and why love is the balancing force that stops the momentum of the wheel of contempt and bitterness.
In short, if our goal is to end the suffering in this world, for ourselves and others, we must take the opportunities given to us to be kind, loving and compassionately defensive when those around us, sickened by separation consciousness, act with violence towards others. The master acts to defend themselves and others against harm with a kind hand, offering wisdom and healing to oppressors when they cross their path. This is what is meant by Yoda’s warning not to choose the path of hate.
To be sure, it takes inner resolve and courage to resist the easier path of hatred and vengeance. If you have never done it before, it will feel like a weakness, as if you’re giving up. But the more you try and contemplate it fully, the easier it will be. Soon the wisdom of love and empathy will be recognized as the true path of least resistance. And the inner pain and hatred we bear for our oppressors will be transformed into a wellspring of love and compassion.
Source – The Free Thought Project
by Jay Syrmopoulos, December 4th 2016
In an amazing display of humanity and compassion, water protectors from the Oceti Sakowin camp, on Friday, donated various supplies to the Morton County Sheriff’s Department in Mandan after the department posted a request for donations late last month.
In spite of widespread brutality and violent actions directed at non-violent unarmed water protectors by law enforcement, the Oceti Sakowin headsman, joined by Leonard Crow Dog and a number of youth and women leaders, delivered the requested donations to their oppressors.
The interesting turn of events came after a public notice was released by the Morton County Sheriff’s Office on November 22, which requested donations of supplies from the public.
The Oceti Sakowin took this opportunity to teach law enforcement about compassion, love, and humanity.
“This is a humanitarian food drop on behalf of Oceti Sakowin,” said the tribal representative delivering the donations.
“So because Oceti Sakowin is a place of compassion and humanity, despite their police aggression, we’re gonna give them what they requested publicly. Oceti Sakowin is a self-sufficient community of indigenous people and Natives from this land built on compassion and love and humanity. And even though they’ve been shooting people and throwing grenades at people and trying to hose people down in freezing weather… Our goal is to teach.”
“This is a teaching as well, we’ll educate the police on what humanity and compassion and love is all about. Despite their aggression we’re giving them the supplies they requested from the public – because we are the public as well.”
The Indigenous Environmental Network and the Indigenous Peoples Power Project released a joint statement regarding the donation by the Standing Rock Sioux to law enforcement:
“North Dakota taxpayers have already bankrolled the Morton County Sheriff Department with approximately 10 million dollars for the suppression of peaceful water protectors. Despite this excessive financial support, Morton County officers are asking taxpayers to donate supplies.
The Oceti Sakowin camp is a prayer camp, and a resilient, self-sufficient community. The camp is full of abundance– in spirit, in humanity, and in resources. Oceti Sakowin has enough to share. Generosity is an original teaching for the Lakota.”
The fact that these people, under constant threat of violence and abuse at the hands of the militarized police at Standing Rock, can look beyond the actions of law enforcement and still treat them with humanity and dignity reveals a depth of compassion that the Morton County Sheriff’s Department, and all police participating in suppressing dissent at Standing Rock could certainly learn from.
Please share this amazing story of compassion, humanity, and love – as the Oceti Sakowin are truly being the change they wish to see in the world!
Source:
Image Source – https://stillnessinthestorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-012015.jpg
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