Over my first four blogs, we have touched on the relative lack of leadership and vision in this time of global crisis, widespread media distortion and manipulation by the power elite, the effect of the Free Market and monopolistic corporations, the impact of Technology, and the fact that all these dynamics and more combine to make us feel powerless, overwhelmed, confused and stressed, sometimes to the extent of physical and mental illness. Shockingly, nearly half the world’s population ( 3 billion people) have much more obvious and basic problems – the lack of power, accessible drinking water, the basic necessities of life including food and often on top of that, physical danger.

What can we do? There is a growing chorus of eminent spiritual and community leaders (notably the Dalai Lama), scientists, environmentalists etc urgently calling for more compassion and cooperation in order to meet our various global challenges and build a more equitable and sustainable society. Although this sounds fluffily idealistic, it is a fact that now, perhaps for the first time in history, we do have the technology and resources to do it, but what we lack is the Collective Will. Polls show that North Americans say they care about the planet, but they don’t want to make any real changes, especially if they cost money. As we have seen, the established powers do their best to confuse issues and keep consumers and voters preoccupied so that they can continue to increase their own profits and control.

I strongly feel that Humanity is in crisis. “Humanity”, however, is each and every one of us. The external crisis is not something apart from us. Our attitudes, words and actions contribute to society even as society impacts us. Indeed, if we have the courage to look, we will probably see that “external” social crises and dynamics are paralleled within ourselves. Is the supreme purpose of Humanity (and our individual lives) to buy and consume ever more goods and services at whatever the cost to ourselves, others and the planet? Will more possessions ever lead to happiness and fulfillment?

There will be no real change unless individuals at all levels of society undertake to transform or shift their consciousness… seeing themselves and their relationship to the world in a radically different way. At the same time, it is important to collect together and channel this new arising consciousness into practical and effective social action. I have spent the last 24 years on the first part, as a teacher of mind-body spirituality. Within the last 10 years, I have been increasingly drawn to help bring the spiritual insights and experience of individuals into the public arena. In addition to my personal initiatives, I have been working with fellow members of The Forge (www.TheForge.org), a trans-traditional spiritual organization, and especially on The Forge’s Call to Global Spiritual Citizenship project (www.globalspiritualcitizenship.com)

The spiritual transformation necessary is not merely a retreat into religious belief and dogma (a widespread reaction which is actually increasing conflict), but is rather an enlightenment process. As our innate Light grows, it illuminates the dark, showing the world as it is rather than as we hoped, feared or taught to believe. That same Light is present in each of us (though not necessarily recognized) and is the source of wisdom, love and oneness. It is not something our Ego can grasp or control.

Different traditions have different ways of trying to uncover this Light, which is far different from book or intellectual knowledge. Perhaps the simplest and most direct way is to pay attention (without any expectation or belief) to what is actually happening Now - coming to awareness of “what is” and who we really are, beyond names, labels and forms. As I have pointed out in my books, this way is simple, but not simplistic or easy, since it requires us to let go of our attachments. The Buddha identified “holding on” or “grasping” as the source of all our suffering. I am encouraged by the popularity of Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now”, which describes this spiritual approach.