Seasons change, systems change

Happy fathers day!

The seasons change, and so do we

The seasons change and so do we. Or at least we should. Nature is constantly growing and shifting, changing and transforming, renewing and being renewed ... within bounds, within limits ... without ceasing, without end.

We are part of nature, aren’t we? Are we constantly growing, renewing, and being renewed? In some ways, sure. In the most important ways, maybe not.

Assuming that we need to change — to survive, to grow, to flourish — what do we need to change, beyond the surface-level of life? In a word, the divided life, in personal life, but in public life also.

First things first, the job to be done

Part of my job here is to imagine, together with you, new systems that can heal the divided life by loving god and loving neighbor in a new way, a way rooted in The Way with a Thousand Names. In short, we can call it prophetic imagination. We talked about that earlier this season. In essence, we have to co-create new systems of healing and justice, then co-operate with those new systems more than we co-operate with unjust systems.

In the very first post, back in February, I named the ailments of our society. Most human societies at one time or another are overwhelmed by delusion (aka ignorance), hatred (aka ill-will), and greed (aka selfishness). These toxic energies are part of human nature, existing and operating at the individual level; when concentrated in groups of people, they operate at the collective level of society as well.

Today our predominant forms of delusion, hatred, and greed are individualism, casteism, and capitalism. There are other ills to be sure: idolatry (delusion), authoritarianism (hatred), consumerism (greed). But those are really subsets of the larger systems already identified. They all do harm — subsystems and main systems. We cooperate with them because they have been institutionalized in our society and in our souls, and we have not organized ourselves to overcome them in us and around us.

In general, the way to heal delusion, hatred, and greed is through their antidotes, what many wisdom traditions call virtues: wisdom, courage, and kindness. Like the toxic energies, these virtues take different forms, according to time, place, and circumstance. Lovers of god have to imagine virtues as central to new systems, new ways of living.

That’s the purpose of this endeavor: to imagine together how to organize ourselves for virtuous systems that can heal the harms of individualism, casteism, and capitalism — overcoming those systems in us and around us.

We’ve named the ailments. What are the cures? Oneness is the cure to individualism. Friendship is the cure for casteism. Commonwealth is the cure for capitalism. There is a lot to unpack in each one of these, not to mention the toxic systems that have captivated us.

Season change #1: systems focus

That’s the focus of this new season: systems thinking. Systems as solutions. Systems as problems.

In these weekly essays so far, I’ve chosen to breeze through vital topics and major issues. This season I intend to slow down, unpack, and analyze our divided lives, our divisive systems, their causes and effects, and potential replacements for them. I also want to share present day examples of groups living different systems, mostly free from capitalism, casteism, and individualism. And I want to highlight people promoting alternatives to these systems, people searching for ways to unite us in different arrangements.

The divided life

We are divided in many ways — by an economic system (capitalism), by a mindset (individualism), and by a spirit (casteism). Of course these systems also unite us. They are the glue of our society. That’s what makes them so successful. Yet, they are also insidious, invisible to the mind that has absorbed them, blinding us on the inside, dividing us from our true intentions.

I don’t know anyone who’d recommend living “a divided life” — a life in which our words and actions conceal or even contradict truths we hold dear inwardly. And yet our culture counsels us to do exactly that: “Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve.” “Play your cards close to your vest.”

Sadly, most of us learn early on that it’s not safe to be in the world as who we really are with what we truly value and believe.

... We try to play a role that’s acceptable but then there comes a point in life when that divided life — the gap between who we really are and the face we put on for the larger world — becomes painful. It doesn't happen for everybody. Some people adjust to it, some people live their whole lives that way. But for a lot of people, the divided life becomes a source of pain, and we have to find some way to try to close that gap, to build a bridge between our own identity and integrity as adults, and the work that we do in the world. ~Parker Palmer, “Living an Undivided Life”

Season change #2: publishing schedule

Last Sunday was my first attempt to really analyze capitalism, one of the divisive systems that unites us, and at least hint at part of a solution — all in 800 to 1,200 words. I wasn’t able to complete it in the time I normally have for each essay. So far, that’s been about a day, or half a day.

That’s another change for the coming new season: a different publishing rhythm for three reasons: (1) there is more natural daylight — more time to be outside and with friends and neighbors; (2) with more time for activity, less time reading and writing is a natural adjustment; and (3) analyzing these big systems and proposing solutions to them requires a little more time.

So for this summer — June 19 to September 20/21 — god willing, I will publish on new moon and full moon days (rather than every Sunday).

summer: intended publishing schedule

Season change #3: what’s on your mind?

Lastly I want to explore topics, questions, and issues on your mind. What’s important to you on your personal journey of collective liberation? What burning questions do you have about loving god, loving neighbor, or freedom from suffering and oppression? What exercises, knowledge, or wisdom help you grow closer to love, closer to god? I’ll be contacting friends this season to understand their thinking and how we can grow together in the love of god and love of neighbor. Of course you are welcome to message me or share in the comments.

Conclusion and wishes for well-being this summer

To summarize, in a word, what causes these divisive systems is that most of all we are divided by our love of god. If we could agree on how to love god, we would overcome these systems. Future essays will show current examples of people embodying oneness, friendship, and commonwealth. : )

May your kind attention be rewarded with much kindness in return. May we be in closer touch this season. May you be well. May you be healthy and safe. May we be whole.

Thanks, and happy summer !