My Reflections before the #WomensMarch

Developing the nectar of compassion in our own heart is the only effective spiritual response to hatred and violence. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I am off to the women’s march today. I am moved and touched to see the number of people coming together to march. I am moved and touched that women have made this happen, and that we all have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps.

A Gathering for Generations to Come

Truth be told, I hope this march occurs for generations to come — human beings standing together for the values we believe. I hope this march occurs in whatever political outcome, and I hope that future presidents and congresses will stand with the people — as if to yell that we will fight this fight together — the fight of living the values of compassion, justice, understanding, equality, women’s rights and more.

I believe the political outcomes of this time has brought us together — my sincere hope is this coming together is as repudiation of hate, violence, injustice, discrimination, inequity and all other forms of violence.

Know the True Enemy: Violence and Oppression

The election results is not a one-off event, and can and will happen again. The concerns must be broader, a figure-head cannot be the great enemy — the great enemy must be hatred, discrimination and systemic violence and oppression. We must stand together against this.

The Great Conversation

There is suffering, there is anger and there is fear. I am seeking to understand that suffering and anger — especially with those who agree and are happy with this new political reality.

To have a conversation, to understand what is hard for others to articulate is a form of civic action. To create deep relationships with one and other — across all spectrums and geographies — is the slow hard work of generations.

It is very important to counterbalance fear with calm and peace…. Our individual consciousness reflects the collective consciousness. Each of us can begin right now to practice calming our anger, looking deeply at the roots of the hatred and violence in our society and in our world. Each of us can practice listening deeply with compassion in order to hear and understand what we have not yet heard and understood. ~ Thich Naht Hanh

“What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb — but the darkness of the womb?” -Valarie Kaur

That is the question of the day.