Christmas 2023
Over the tumultuous past 24 months, a surge of armed conflicts has unfolded, weaving a complex tapestry of commencements, renewals, and escalations. Some conflicts, long ensnared in the stasis of avoiding direct combat, have thawed, while others, smoldering beneath the surface, intermittently burst into bouts of low-level fighting.
Yet, amid repeated stumbles and insurmountable challenges, be they significant or seemingly small and rarely straightforward, there are those who manage to carve moments of care and kindness from the falls.
Contemplating the word 'family,' can we extend its concept to encompass the world and its diverse inhabitants? Let us inquire if love, hate, or indifference permeates this extended family.
On a microcosmic scale, a loving family is built on unwavering love, genuine connection, and benevolence. It is a legacy bestowed upon our children that we must uphold fiercely and with completeness. In envisioning a macrocosmic world family, the foundation lies in cultivating caring attitudes, not only within ourselves and those in our immediate vicinity but world at large.
Deliberately adopting this paradigm shift of viewing the world as our family, rather than confining it to its nuclear subset, is an arduous yet monumental undertaking. It signifies a path forward for those earnestly seeking to manifest humanity's inherent goodness. As for oppressors, true change remains elusive until they confront the core aspects of their superiority complex, finding comfort and familiarity in distorted beliefs.
Admittedly, no family, be it global or personal, is flawless. Harmony may even seem unattainable, yet discovering the wisdom and clarity to navigate the depths of personal transformation is not a sprinkle of fairy dust, but rather a needed familial dust that must work its magic for humanity's healing.
Where does one start this transformative journey not only to sow the seeds of flourishing personal and global families, as well as to diminish negativity and stabilize the mind. Start with equanimity—reflecting on attachments and aversions, acknowledging their detrimental impact on the family. It helps to contemplate impermanence, recognizing the ever-changing nature of relationships, and to meditate on the equality of all beings in their pursuit of happiness.
An unbounded love connects personal wishes for happiness to the shared aspirations of all sentient beings. Compassion emerges from the intense suffering within oneself and then you can extend this wish for freedom to all beings. Authentic joy centers on celebrating others' happiness, desiring both worldly and lasting joy for them.
The profound benefit of diminishing self-attachment, nurturing a selfless and compassionate attitude, furthers the attainment of wholeness—wholeness of self, wholeness of family and wholeness of humanity.
Our challenge is to transform our beliefs. For each, this is a personal journey. However, you can only truly understand people if you see and feel them within yourself. If we possess the moral fortitude to believe that even the worst can be halted, then, and only then, can we burst the bubbles that shield us from the collective responsibility we bear for the greater good.
-Steven
Just say'n
