What is Spiritual Activism?

Change is in the air. Potent change. Certainly some of it has to do with the election of Barack Obama, 1st black American as president of the United States. Celebration is happening around the world. More than ever, we have a global sense of ourselves. We have become global citizens and within us, a desire to help make a better world has been ignited.

It used to be easy to be a cynic – active or passive, letting others engage in the acts of change that we deemed too difficult, while we did other things. Now something else is emerging and it’s more than people shifting gears to pitch in. Perhaps for the first time in recorded history, we are united globally around hope and what’s possible.

This past November I had the privilege of going on a 5-day cruise (from San Diego to Mexico & back) with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS – noetic.org) and to facilitate a small group discussion that amazed me. The dozen or so of us sat on the bright red lounge chairs of what was at night, a loud dance club. The contrast between the plastic macho male mannequin’s and the sustained, honoring eye contact among group members was striking.

Most were retired and wanted to know how they could be part of something, some cause or project, bigger than themselves and make a difference. William Welsch offered the topic, “"How do we bring a noetic approach to social activism?” Harold and his wife talked about their “Elderfire Community” (elderfirecommunities.com) and their desire to do “spiritual activism.”

Sharif Abdullah Speaks

Sharif Abdullah, lawyer and noted peace worker in Sri-Lanka (plus author of ‘Creating a World that Works for All’ among others), inserted into a moment of silence the curious statement; “We build the road and the road builds us.” People waited for clarification. He told of a Sri-Lankan woman who came some distance to help build the road, despite her age. Before doing so, she went into the temple and prayed for all those who helped her get there.

She told Sharif she especially thanked and blessed her husband who pleaded with her to stay home, for fear of violence and harm to her. His actions, she said, let her know how important it was for her to participate. The road represented to the many hundreds of volunteers, progress and peace. She was grateful to offer what she could. She did it for her family and their future. She did is as a spiritual practice.

“The goal is deeper understanding of our selves, in the context of activism. Our social activism becomes our spiritual practice.” said Sharif. In other words, every action can be seen within the context of spiritual practice. As we step out into the world and engage, so we engage ourselves in a deeper experience of knowing.

Rather than the activity itself, what is most important is the meaning it has for us, or the context within which we hold that activity. I could assist a child to cross the street as a momentary act of kindness or I could acknowledge the power and possibility of our collective future from this most promising representative of future leaders, while imagining a safe and sustainable world, and feel great gratitude.

Taking it a step further, we could say that every external challenge – whether political or personal, is an opportunity for spiritual expression and expansion. Whatever expansion of awareness occurs benefits all.

Wisdom of the Ages

At the end of the session, the eldest participant, an 83-year-old woman named Virginia Fine, who sat erect with bright eyes and a mischievous smile, spoke. “Our spiritual ‘practice’ can be NOW, in this moment – appreciation for the all and every day of life. We can appreciate the glass for example (gesturing toward the huge ship windows) or the beauty and grace of the entire cruise line staff that so graciously serves. We can think of someone or something – any time – that we are grateful for. We can work with the flow of life, with love and grace. It’s all choice.”

“Yes,” said another woman, “rather than having our lives be compartmentalized and our spiritual practice be over here, we can bring that higher, centered awareness – be that awareness, in any situation! Others chimed in with co-discovered delight and spaciousness. “I believe we are doing our spiritual activism right now!”

So we are at choice, as always, in both what and with whom we engage and, more importantly, in how we do so. How do we go about our lives?

While I would like to urge you to get involved in community service as the Obama’s have inspired millions to do around the country, I urge instead for you to live in gratitude and possibility. Rather than categorize and largely dismiss life’s experience, or worse – to see mostly what isn’t working, instead to see the blessings to you personally, in expanded ways.

The apple I just ate is the culmination of a tiny seed being planted, a tree growing to maturity, many seasons and many hands, which caressed it into my corner of the world.

In a sense, spiritual activism is inspired action done now. We connect with the love and largeness of what we do and experience. We become that. Then our actions carry with them the blessings on high. In addition to expanded awareness, we are blessed with improved conditions on earth. In this way, through our moment-by-moment spiritual practice, we inherit the earth – a whole new earth.

Gayatri Erlandson, PhD, Psychologist, humorist, philosopher, social architect, spiritual activist and playful teacher. She counsels people (individuals, couples and groups), offers workshops related to conscious relationships and conscious language (language of fulfillment) and topics related to collaborative, new paradigm living. She also facilitates groups within organizations for enhanced co-creative, collaboration.

Gayatri lives at Lotus Lodge, a Learning Center and high-functioning, fun community of 10 where she rents out 2 large, private rooms by the night or week for people visiting the area. Lotus Lodge is on 2.5 acres with large trees, a pond, stream, organic gardens in a semi-rural area just 12 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC. See: for pictures and further information.