The world is a small place in which it is all too easy to be aware of countless examples of abuse of authority.
Governments, religious authorities, violent political groups, and powerful organizations impose their will on ordinary people, who struggle to stop the exploitation of their lives and their environment. It is hard to stand up to these various forces, which at times can seem so formidable. Yet spiritual awareness calls upon us to bring moral concern to these major arenas of life. We need to use all our strength and independence to examine the way the authoritarian shadow falls upon us. Like trying to see the lines of a hand very close to your face, it can be difficult to see the imposition of questionable authority on your life at home. You need to hold the hand away to see the lines properly.
The various ways in which authorities influence our lives are not always easy to pick out. But if, say, we felt that our government was manipulating public opinion to support its version of reality, what would be an appropriate way for us to respond? Sensing the misuse of power, we would either have to challenge the government's authority or remain passive.
If, however, we decided that we were not going to live as poor, downtrodden creatures, paying lip service to authority, we have the potential to express what is called in the spiritual tradition of the East the ‘original mind'. Instead of blindly repeating what we have been told to believe, we experience and acknowledge our doubts, even if this proves to be uncomfortable.
By doing this, we cultivate the original mind; and our moral authority is then revealed in our capacity to think for ourselves rather than acting like obedient children submitting to a powerful parent.
While our political leaders feed us selective information to communicate a certain position, the original mind is able to realize a deep intimacy with what lies behind all the slogans, labels, and images; and it feels a depth of love for all those who suffer and the need for commitment to constructive engagement to resolve great problems. Not surprisingly, this spiritually informed attitude is not something most heads of state care for in their concern to win over their citizens with their political rhetoric.
Yet, there is a place for wise authority in life. We need to be clear about its features so that we can distinguish it from an abusive form of authority driven by the need for power. A true authority expresses a wise and compassionate approach to human problems. It shows a genuinely sustainable, non-divisive view and it understands the deeper viewpoints of those who disagree violently with its position. A true authority is willing to be constructive with adversaries and speak openly about past and present misunderstandings, exploitation, and suffering; and it reveals a wise and mature response to events rather than a retaliatory one. If we can recognize those qualities in an authority, we have the grounds to place our faith in it. Wise leadership has the inner power to acknowledge mistakes of the past in matters of policy and perception as well as in the determination not to repeat history. In spiritual terms, this means ending the old ‘karma' and creating causes and conditions for healing and wholeness.
To bring a sense of moral concern to our lives we need to understand the use and abuse of authority and to explore the ways in which authority manifests itself, especially in the crucial arenas of religion, war, and politics, and also how abuse operates in us at a personal level. By increasing our awareness we can respond effectively to abusive authority from a spiritual perspective.
Countering oppression
Political oppression is widespread throughout the world, more obvious and brutal in some places, more subtle and insidious in others. As individuals, what can we do to combat oppression both at a national and at a personal level? The following points of this ‘People's Peace Treaty' may serve to bolster our thoughts and actions in a positive way against oppression or its threat.
People's Peace Treaty
1. I vow to dissociate myself completely from any destruction of life, including all acts of war, acts of terror, and executions. I will not support any declarations of war initiated by my country or any other that I support.
2. I vow not to attack or abuse other groups of people (nations, majorities, minorities, or individuals).
3. I vow to give support to organizations and groups working for peace, justice, political, economic, and environmental rights.
4. I vow to work to end suffering perpetuated through violence, fear, corruption, phobias, or greed.
5. I endeavour to persuade the military, arms manufacturers, and arms dealers to lay down their weapons and dissolve the hate inside themselves.
6. I vow to see people rather than the labels attached to people and to be aware of our common humanity.
7. I vow to work to end anger, aggression, or fear within myself as an expression of duty to humanity.
Meditation on compassion
Use this ‘Prayer of the Heart’ as a meditation to overcome negative thoughts towards others and to instil in yourself feelings of loving-kindness for family, friends, neighbours, strangers, and enemies, both at home and abroad. By doing so you can help loosen the bonds that hold unjust authority in place.
Prayer of the Heart
Let us keep our hearts focused.
Let me find kindness to negate resentment.
Let me show generosity to dissolve possessiveness.
Let me stand steady in the face of pain rather than live in fear.
Let me experience inquiry rather than reaction.
Let me be free from clinging and a narrow mind.
Let me express compassion rather than indifference.
So that my heart connects with the realities of others.
So that I stay true to an undying principle
Of treating others as I wish to be treated.
So awareness and respect pervade
My thoughts, words, and actions.
So that I live in a way that brings dignity and nobility to life
And reveals true freedom of being.
From Transforming our Terror, copyright 2002 by Christopher Titmuss, published in the UK by Godsfield Press.
|
Inspirational features 
