"How can we recognize a spiritually based politics? Here are some key qualities:
· Courage in standing up to special interests
· Honesty and integrity—“walking the talk”
· Lack of ego-inflation and manipulation of others
· Fairness and justice
· Non-violence and peaceful means
· Compassion for the disadvantaged
· Serving the good of the whole, rather than personal interests
· Respect and civility for opponents
· Collaboration and partnership
· Whole systems thinking—understanding how everything is
interconnected
· Reliance on intuition and inner guidance
· Faith in a Higher Power—God, Spirit, the Universe, etc.
Spirituality in politics is most apparent where citizens altruistically engage in politics to help others, rather than just protect their own self-interests (e.g. lowering their taxes, providing healthcare they need, etc.) Although promoting self-interest may be necessary and certainly is not wrong, it is not motivated by unselfish concern for others. However, even when the public motive is to help others, one needs to also honestly assess whether the private motive might be increasing one’s own power or fame, as this would reduce its spiritual value. And ultimately the measurement of spirituality is integrity—whether someone embodies the spiritual principles they promote.
There are many ways in which spiritual values impact American politics today. (Of course, depending on your personal political leanings, it may be harder to see the spiritual motivation in the politics of your opponents.) Providing for the poor, the homeless, and the handicapped, as well as reducing violence and drug abuse have always been key arenas for spiritual activism. Liberals generally promote government-funded social programs as solutions, while conservatives promote private solutions, including faith-based organizations.
Another arena is fighting injustice and inequality by speaking truth to power. Liberals and reformers have generally taken more of this approach. Issues include human rights, racism, women’s rights, etc. Many spiritually oriented people have been increasingly concerned about the protection of wildlife and stewardship of the natural world. Environmental protection, endangered species protection, and energy conservation are key issues. The invocation of service and sacrifice for a higher ideal to activate political will is another major arena for spirituality.
One of the most contentious areas recently for spirituality and politics has been what one side calls “declining morals and family values” in schools and popular culture. Fundamentalist Christians have been the most vocal about this, but others have also expressed concern. The issues here are school prayer, censoring sexuality in movies and TV, banning abortion, etc."
Visionary Leadership" By Spiritual United Nations on Facebook
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Earth Prayer
"O Endless Creator, Force of Life, Seat of the Unconscious,
Dharma, Atman, Ra, Qalb, Dear Center of our Love,
Christlight, Yaweh, Allah, Mawu,
Mother of the Universe…
Let us, when swimming with the stream,
become the stream…
Let us, when moving with the music,
become the music…
Let us, when rocking the wounded,
become the suffering…
Let us live deep enough
till there is only one direction…
and slow enough till there is only
the beginning of time…
and loud enough in our hearts
till there is no need to speak…
Let us live for the grace beneath all we want,
let us see it in everything and everyone,
till we admit to the mystery
that when I look deep enough into you,
I find me, and when you dare to hear my fear
in the recess of your heart, you recognize it
as your secret which you thought
no one else knew…
O let us embrace
that unexpected moment of unity
as the atom of God…
Let us have the courage
to hold each other when we break
and worship what unfolds…
O nameless spirit that is not done with us,
let us love without a net
beyond the fear of death
until the speck of peace
we guard so well
becomes the world…"
(Mark Nepo) By Spiritual United Nations on Facebook
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