We Cannot Change What We Are Not Aware of

Dhamma Talk + Guided Meditation Session 023: June 10th, 2020, by Sophia Ojha Ensslin and Cristof Ensslin

Banner Photo by Linus Nylund on Unsplash

Meditation Helps Social Justice

What does mindfulness and meditation have to do with social change? There is no doubt that we need to come together to find ways to transform, change and heal our society and our institutions. But how can we change anything if we are not aware of what’s going on? How can we change the world if we do not also change ourselves?

And so, I want to say thank you. I thank you for putting in the effort of becoming aware of your thoughts. I thank you for taking the time to come to this meditation class each week.

I invite each one of us, regardless of our backgrounds to examine our unexamined thoughts, to reflect on our actions and how they affect others, to hold the space for people in our community with black heritage who are suffering and to support initiatives geared towards meaningful change. And to hold the space for our collective burden as a society so we can intentionally help social justice and support political and economic freedom.

This will look different for each one of us. But most importantly, we need to take the time to listen, to learn, and to become aware, both, about the systems of injustice in place and how we can transform them. Then, we need to learn about the nature of our mind and the unexamined, unconscious thoughts and actions.

We cannot all be activists but we can all work on our minds. It all begins within. Then we will know and be aware of much more of what’s going on in ourselves and around us. That’s the basis for the right kind of action that we can make in our circle of influence. 

Dhamma Talk by Sophia

Meditation Guided by Cristof

Handout

This week we have a 2-page handout. It is posted left/below as blog content for you. Plus, you can download it as PDF by clicking on the following button:

Once I am aware of what I am doing on an unconscious level, I can act consciously, say towards a white mailman and a black mailman for example. I can extend the same friendliness to both, and if he or she has a moment, have a little chat. 

Or it could be speaking up when there are racist conversations going on - even if it is benign joke, people don’t even know that that’s racist. There is so much subliminal going on that we are not aware of. We can influence change in our own circle.

Or, if I do want to join an activist cause, then I can do it with peace in my mind. Peace and determination are a powerful combination.

It begins with knowing our most intimate thoughts and inclinations. That’s one of the many benefits of learning to meditate and of practicing it regularly.

Let’s practice it now.