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Climate Change and The Tao

Do you take care of your body because you're afraid of illness and aging or because nurturing your body gives you joy? It matters.

Do you participate in politics and change in the world because you're afraid that if you don't awful things will happen or because you want to contribute your positive energy to the planet? It matters.

Do you teach your children so they won't suffer the way you have or to equip them with tools to navigate the journey that is their life? It matters.

Do you create a lifestyle for yourself to prevent something or to build something? It matters.

Sometimes it is easy to answer the questions above and sometimes the subtle energy we bring to an action is more difficult to discern.

There is ample evidence to support the idea that every thought you have is reflected in the complex biological system that is your body. Frustration, fear, anger, irritation all make an indelible mark on your spiritual and physical well being. As do love and joy.

And how does your energy affect the state of the world?

How does forgiveness play a role?

What keeps people locked into a system of beliefs that are based in fear is a fundamental view of the world as a dangerous place. It's a belief that if you aren't afraid or worried or suspicious about something, it probably means you aren't paying attention.

And then something happens that you never expected--maybe you have a health issue, or your home was swept away in one of the many spring floods, or you know someone killed in a gun accident. And you scream, "I knew it! All my worst fears have come true." And you are enraged. Partly because of the burden now on your shoulders and partly at yourself because you know in your heart of hearts that if you had just been a little more fearful--I mean, alert--that you could have avoided this. And in your righteous anger you stand up to make your voice heard.

There's nothing wrong with that. Making your voice heard feels good and is good. The rub lies in that most of us remain silent until we are so angry we can't hold it in anymore. And most of us have a voice that was not always angry. What prevented us from speaking with that voice?

Is anger required for change to occur? And what are the personal consequences of action taken from that pedestal of rage? And is there a paradigm that is not only conducive to enduring change but also fosters the kind of world that you'd really like to create. A world that feels safe because you know that whatever happens, happens for the purpose of teaching you the lessons you need to learn while you are here.

Does that mean there won't be pain? Or loss? No. Does that mean there won't be grieving? No. Does that mean there won't be suffering. Yes, it might. Here's a favorite quote of mine:

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

Suffering is a resistance to the present moment. It is a denial and rejection of what is. And isn't this what fear is about--the avoidance of suffering. We think that if we are careful (cautious, fearful, anxious, etc. etc.) enough, then we can avoid suffering. But approaching the world from that perspective, guarantees the very suffering you are trying to avoid. Because things will change. People will die. Jobs will be lost. Nothing is permanent. Nothing. Suffering can only be avoided by embracing life with all its joys and sorrows and knowing that this too will pass.

Let's look at climate change. It's at a critical point. And in spite of the growing awareness, action is a long time coming. It's enough to make you--furious? Exactly how does that help? When you talk to people about the issue, if they support your view, they will cheer you on and may even contribute with a rant of their own. But those people aren't the ones you'd like to reach. You'd like to think that you could take your anger and flash it in the face of some non-believer or some SUV-driver and make them see the light. I mean, how dare they destroy your planet!

However, anger is usually a reflection of your pain body and your ego. Your activated pain body will only activate someone else's pain body making it impossible for a meaningful dialogue to ensue. Angry dialog serves to polarize and nothing else.

But the most common thing is to sit in front of your television or in your car listening to some news report that reinforces your view of the world as a dangerous place--a world of idiots who will surely be responsible for the destruction of the plant. And you swallow down your rage or slap the steering wheel or come home and rant to your family about "guess what these idiots have done now!"

Who is really helped by this? Pretty obvious when you look at it this way, isn't it. No one. Who is really hurt? Mainly, you are. That rage can increase your heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure. It negatively affects your ability to process food and for your body tissue to regenerate itself. Not to mention that a flood of negative, unexpressed emotions are stored in the body and can result in multiple types of future illnesses. And to those people who surround you, you become a toxic pariah.

So what can you do if you want to make a difference?

If you can, participate in action groups that focus on doing positive things--green building, energy conservation, planting trees. In short, take care of the planet that you feel so passionate about with the loving energy of putting your hands into her glorious earth.

Politically support with your time, money and vote the people who you believe see the importance of this issue. And then continue to let them know about changes you'd like to see. Being in the political arena can really be a challenge if you are trying to avoid "anger" pollution. So a special level of awareness may be need to continue activism without becoming "poisoned". This is not for everyone.

But most of all, see yourself and your home as a microcosm of the planet. Take care of yourself and those around you in the same way that you'd like others to care for the planet. In doing that you begin a chain of energy that grows exponentially.

Here's a really great exercise. When you recognize a particular human frailty that has contributed to the current state of the world or planet, focus your energy on manifesting the counter balance to this frailty in your own life. For example, if you notice that the planet suffers from lack of "attention" or is a consequence of human greed, let yourself be a factor in manifesting a solution. Bring the precious gift of your generous loving attention to your own family. This can foster an environment where the young and old can feel safe and begin a change in awareness that will reach far into the future.

Use your growing awareness to make changes to your "carbon footprint" and share the information with those you love so that they can benefit from your learning. Start a blog! Keep learning and keep listening--listening to your body, your family, your planet. You cannot hear them if you are too busy shouting about injustice or stupidity. You can only hear the echo of your own anger.

Kathy Smith
Creating Harmony LLC
January 27, 2009

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