By Laurie Stark
According to Swami Satchidananda, a real spiritual experience means to see the unity in diversity.
The practice of yoga teaches us to accept ourselves where we are, how we are and it’s then that we meet the truth of who we are.
We say “yes” to all our feelings, rather than turn away from what’s uncomfortable or frightening, we’re able to soften to our struggles and accept what comes and love ourselves as we move through life
So it is with the world around us. When we recognize and accept the experiences of others, we increase our capacity to connect with all humanity and the divinity in every person, no matter our differences or distance and we’re moved more and more to be of service. When we turn towards the pain being experienced globally, we’re called to connect and remain connected not to suffer alongside one another but to increase the amount of love and care in and for all life.
When the war in Ukraine began and as it’s continued, we’ve been given daily access to what’s occurring and to the plight of the people involved. This isn’t always the case. The other 21 countries currently classified as being at war are countries of color and they aren’t receiving or benefiting from the same coverage. There’s no difference in the pain they experience or the amount of need that exists, just the boundaries we create to keep ourselves separate.
No matter the region or the type of conflict each of these nations suffer similarly because war brings with it not only violence, terror and displacement, but food insecurity or famine, the need for clean water and hygienic supplies, the need for medical supplies, attention and facilities. It destroys the land that so many depend on for life and it separates people from their families and from their culture, from all sense of safety and from all that they’ve known. In this there is no difference between Ethiopia and Algeria, Ukraine and Colombia, Cameroon and Myanmar…it’s we who decide, not the news coverage, how aware we are of the circumstances of our human brothers and sisters. It’s our choice, our responsibility to stand with and for them.
When we avoid what’s happening, we detach from ourselves and everyone else. If we hope to serve the world, we must place ourselves squarely in it, allowing what exists to touch us. In order to serve our own tender hearts we cannot ignore the humanity in all people everywhere, we’re inextricably, blessedly, linked and we’re called to recognize ourselves in one another, always.
We lift our voices and call from the depths of our souls for peace for all who are in pain.
Afghanistan civil war, terrorist insurgency
Algeria terrorist insurgency
Burkina Faso terrorist insurgency
Cameroon terrorist insurgency
Chad terrorist insurgency
Colombia civil war and drug war
Democratic Republic of the Congo terrorist insurgency
Ethiopia/Eritrea civil war
Iraq terrorist insurgency and political unrest
Libya civil war and terrorist insurgency
Mali civil war and terrorist insurgency
Mexico drug war
Mozambique terrorist insurgency
Myanmar civil war
Niger terrorist insurgency
Nigeria terrorist insurgency
South Sudan ethnic violence/terrorism
Syria civil war
Tanzania terrorist insurgency
Tunisia terrorist insurgency
Ukraine war of aggression
United States racial and domestic terrorismYemen civil war
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