IN A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH YOU ~ 2012 IS HERE!

OUR COLLECTIVE EXISTENCE

At this very moment, I have a strong feeling within my inner self that provides the provocation to share some fundamental dimensions of our present human reality.

In fact, most of what I am going to tell you now, you have already heard it from me during the past 30 years.  This very transcendental moment represents yet another instance when a new synthesis may be handy.

To say that our life is multi-dimensional in nature is to say very little.  However, to attempt to live the multidimensional aspects of life is to open ourselves to our true infinite nature.  This is to recognize our ‘container consciousness’.  Also, to declare the multi-dimensionality of any aspect of our lives is the simplest thing we may do.  However, to self-realize this multi-dimensionality in its entirety is, sometimes, an almost impossible task.

There is no doubt in my mind that one of these dimensions is related to the interplay that exists between our material and spiritual realities.  Furthermore, another dimension is related to our outer and inner self.

In this personal message to you, I would like to pay more attention to one crucial aspect, which has to do with the interactive and dialectic nature of our “individual self” and our “collective self” –i.e., being part and parcel of a “sentient beings collective reality” (this is not only a “human collective”).  Yes, we belong.   Yes, we are not independent and separate entities.

As I have stated in my book, “Another Meaning of Enlightenment”, our Dharma –or, our contract, mission, obligations in this life time—has a dual character or nature: on the one hand, this Dharma is tailored towards us being recognized as unique entities; and on the other hand, this Dharma is also tailored in relationship to every Dharma or mission on this Planet Earth.  All our missions are interrelated.

The interplay between our individual and collective nature provides the foundation, and the essence, of our infinite forms of ‘interconnectedness’ and/or ‘interdependence’.  As stated many times in the past, our “individual nature” has its own character, temperament, and personality.  Similarly, our “collective nature” also has a character, temperament and personality.  One goes with the other and both are essential dimensions of human life.

Somehow, our form of livelihood today has emphasized more of our individualistic self.  This is very much embodied in most political parties, human organizations, religions and spiritual paths, with particular emphasis on a value system and a package of practices which demonstrate this fact.

We are embedded in the values of competition, hoarding, exclusion, and materialism.  These are all ego-centric values, which exalt our individualistic nature.  In fact, most education systems are built on this premise: compete, compete, and compete.  The ‘me’, ‘me’, ‘me’ type of syndrome is tremendously powerful and has led us to live within the realm of an incoherent and imbalanced life, with internal and external impacts of great proportions.

Where we fail is in our understanding, behavior, and self realization within the collective.  The external signs of this failure are self evident: war, conflict, insecurity, inequities, injustices, environmental destruction, hunger, poverty, and more.  These realities represent the naked truth that we do not know, and often reject, to become a part of, and contribute to, the collective.

In a very recent poll conducted in my country, people revealed that they are not really willing to contribute much to the environmental enhancement of our country.  Despite the fact that we do recognize the great environmental degradation which is taking place here, there is no willingness to do something concrete about it.

During my last visit to one of the most beautiful national parks I have ever visited in the USA, I approached a young couple and asked them about their feelings for that park.  They said that it was wonderful and felt close to paradise.  So, I then asked them what are they willing to pay or contribute so that this paradise is kept as such.  The answer came immediately: “well, I do not know”.  This moment was accompanied by a face of “Why are you asking me this question?”

The world economic crisis is a collective crisis of great proportions.  In fact, it may be the “do or die” of our human collective as we know it now.  There is no one country that will resolve the world problems on its own.  Equally, there is no country that will resolve any of their problems without the interaction and willingness to cooperate with/from other countries.  Think about the perils of nuclear weapons, and the need to attain world peace and environmental conservation, and the evils of global warming, ozone layer depletion, and human insecurity.  They are all collective concerns in need of collective solutions.

Globalization is not just an economic phenomenon, notwithstanding the fact that economics and finances have played a crucial role and have been the main accelerator.

From the reincarnation angle, the value-based angle, globalization angle, technology angle, and human reality angle, our collective existence is now the essential platform to attain our collective mission, as we walk in life from origin to destination.

The great subtle energies that are now here, at this very moment, which will dictate what will happen in 2012, are all embodied in humanity as a collective.  What the Mayan Calendar is crying for is A NEW FORM OF LIVING, A NEW FORM OF LIVELIHOOD.

The first step is a deep-rooted change in our habits, and values and beliefs, and in our spiritual life (see below).

It is imperative that you open-up to this collective reality by

• changing the type of human interactions you are engaged in and move to collective interactions,
• changing the individualistic forms of leadership and behavior to ground basic collective forms of leadership,
• restructuring all the key world organizations into a true assembly of people and individuals from all walks of life,
• entering into new ways of conducting life, work, and family relations, and
• contributing to a vision and horizon that are bigger and more encompassing than any of your individual objectives.

EXPERIENTIAL SPIRITUALITY

The only reason for our spirituality is to understand, self realize, and embrace our “human reality”, and the reality of all “sentient beings”.  Spirituality is immersed in that reality.  Spirituality is to operate deeply in such reality.  Spirituality cannot and must not be separated from that reality.

Detaching your spirituality from our human reality, and that of all sentient beings, it is simply to live in an ivory tower.

This is why I teach “experiential spirituality” of both individual and collective human transformation.

This is not easy for those who enjoy spirituality as some logic that calms our inner self and it makes us feel like being someone else or being somewhere else.  Nothing is farther from the truth.

Spirituality is a human experience because we live in this material world.  This material world is it!  It is here where we have to advance to progress in our spiritual evolution later on.   Spirituality is a real experience of the inner and the outer worlds or realities.

To pronounce the word “love” is calming.  But being love itself in the world represents the true form of inner peace.  To proclaim the term “compassion” is also unique.  But, to be compassion in all its expressions is the true test of being ‘the other’ without losing your own identity.

For many decades, I have said that spirituality without the right understanding of human reality, including yours, is not a true spirituality.

Furthermore, I have said that individual enlightenment or individual salvation does not really exist.  Both, enlightenment and salvation are collective in nature.  No one can live within a spiritual silo or separated bubble.

In a recent exchange within the Buddhist Community, I postulated that enlightenment is at the same time an individual and a collective process.  And, as a figure of speech, I said that today’s spirituality may be similar to an upside down “funnel”.  You do your individual spiritual practices to transform yourself and to enter into the world of human and other sentient beings’ realities, and you are transformed by the collective.  Once transformed by the collective, you go back to your individual reality as a modifier or transformer, and get transformed again!  This is a dialectic and interactive reality.

You should also know that each profession has this spiritual seed, which is individual and collective at the same time.  In medicine it is life.  In architecture it is space.  In law it is justice.  In economics it is trust and compassion.  In agriculture it is the law of nature.  In engineering it is time.  And so on.  All have this collective nature in their spiritual seeds.

This is why I have proposed recently that if one is to teach environmental sciences, the real teaching must take place NOT in the classroom but in the waste dumps, sewerage water tanks, etc.  This experience will be the key to learning and practicing within our collective reality.

But be aware of the following fact!!! It must be said that NOT all the spiritual practices lead (i) to create sensitivity to all forms of interdependence and, at the same time, (ii) to create the conditions for organized action and self-realization.  If our spirituality does not possess these two ingredients together –the sensitivity to all forms of interdependence and the inner will to organize and act — then those practices are not leading to a life in the collective realm.

Many forms of spirituality are neither effective in creating one nor the other.

My personal experience tells me that most spiritual practices today do increase sensitivity, but little or nothing of this “inner will power” to organize and act as a result of that sensitivity.  Many people move away from human reality as a consequence of their spirituality (a subject matter I have recently explored in my last visit to the USA).

To say that we should live a collective reality and, at the same time, to teach the people a form of spirituality that will move them away from that human collective, it is not acceptable any longer.  Some coherence needs to be found on this matter.

This implies a fundamental proposition that I have been making for years now, and that it is the fundamental element of my foundation: “The Zambuling Institute for Human Transformation”; i.e., that we must mainstream spirituality in every activity of humanity, with particular emphasis on public policy, economics, corporate development, and NGO participation.

Nothing is void of spirituality.  But not all forms of spirituality will yield the expected results in public policy, for example.

One of my elders told me that I should never get involved in an activity that does not have a spiritual seed.  I fully endorse and recommend such words of wisdom.  Practice them!

In a recent debate, I stated that we must move into the total union of politics and spirituality.  It came as a shock into the system.  How can there be politics void of spirituality, morals, ethics…  This is why we are where we are!!

The above principle applies to every aspect of public life.

THE NINE KEY STEPS

Herewith nine key steps:

1. Recognize at all times the collective dimension in all you do.

2. Create an architectural foundation within your life that is always united to the human collective reality.

3. Meditate and dwell in your inner collective nature.

4. Participate in collective forms of interactions.

5. Create and become part of collective forms of wealth creation and welfare enhancements.

6. Found in your neighborhood a truly collective organization

7. Get engage in food production, silviculture, and other food security based activities that are truly collective.

8. Change the educational and health system in your country to bring practices that will augment the sensitivity to interdependence.

9. Mainstream spirituality into public policy and all forms of human interactions within the public domain.

DO IT NOW!

The time to change the world is now.  Let us join hands and truly become instruments of a collective form of life that will benefit all the people on this Planet.

With Love and in service to humanity~

Cho Tab Khen Zambuling

(Alfredo Sfeir-Younis)