evil rules the landWe come into being
Age after age
And take visible shape
And move
A man among men
For the protection of good
Thrusting back evil
And setting virtue
On her seat again.
Fischer writes,
Chanting along with Glass, whose music had been the soundtrack to my childhood, I melted into the crowd, my body vibrating to the shared voice, deeply encouraged by this ancient text. When I looked up, the opera audience had joined us. The buffer zone was gone. We were one big crowd—the 100%! The physical NYPD barricades still stood among us, but they were no longer barriers, absorbed now into our big warm body. Until late into the night we held our general assembly. The police stood offstage, now relaxed. Two separate spaces had flowed into one, protesters had become people again, and the police could then be people too.8
For those who think that justice means injuring those who injure us, error can be corrected by error, or evil can be vanquished by evil, spiritual activism and non-resistance help us join in common aims. We thrust back evil, set virtue aright, and claim our ability to tear down the barricades that keep us from one another, as Jesus, Gandhi, Martin, and so many others began and continue to do.
For Conversation
Spiritual activists can feel frightened by the magnitude of people, events, and systems that threaten our well-being. Non-violence does not mean that we remain indifferent to the problems. Non-violence also fosters a sense of compassion and caring. However, what happens when it all becomes too much? We may shut down due to compassion fatigue — making too much emotional connection. Constantly serving the needs of others can exhaust us. One antidote is to cultivate an open heart. We can develop open-heartedness by allowing ourselves to fully experience the emotions rocking around inside. We focus goodwill toward ourselves with the following phrases:
May I be safe
May I be peaceful
May I be kind to myself
May I accept myself just as I am.
We can also ask some questions:
In what ways does my activism and contemplation foster fatigue or anger in my life?
In what ways does my contemplation and activism promote self-care, goodwill, energy, and compassion in my life?
For Active Contemplation
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield suggests an exercise in which activists see themselves in line with the traditions of mentors and champions.9 Find pictures of spiritual activists you admire. Fasten their photos on a wall — along with a mirror. As you look at those pictures, can you see yourself as a spiritual activist in the making, ready to be on the wall alongside those other images? If a mirror on the wall next to the photos is too public, get a small mirror, look into your own eyes, and ask yourself some simple questions before you get into bed at night or when you wake in the morning: “In what ways was I the person I most longed to be today? What helped me to get there? In what ways did I fall short? What do I need in my life to do better?” Instead of being a symbol for narcissism, the mirror becomes a sacred object. If we do this practice long enough and regularly enough, we will not only see ourselves in the mirror. We will see the image of God. We will begin making choices to benefit that person.
For Contemplative Action:
Get to know your Conflict Style
Spiritual activists will, no doubt, encounter conflict along the way. It is helpful to know how you handle conflict, and how members of your faith community deal with differences. Read each of the following statements and rate each response according to your most probable action or choice in each case. (1) will be your first choice, (2) will be your second choice, (3) will be your third choice, etc. Rank all five answers.
1. You are about to go into a public meeting in which a new policy will be offered where there is much disagreement. Your perspective to this policy is quite different than the rest of the community. Resistance to the majority will likely annoy many of the people there. You are most likely to:
1 Stand fast for your position.
2 Look for some middle ground.
3 Go along with the wishes of the majority.
4 Remain silent during the meeting.
5 Try to re-frame the issue so that all sides can be included in the solution.
2. I would say the following about differences:
1 Differences are to be expected and reflect the natural order: some have resources and others have none, some are correct, and some are wrong.
2 Differences should be considered with the common good in mind. At times parties are obliged to lay aside their own views in the interest of the majority.
3 Differences serve only to drive people apart and their personal implications cannot be ignored.
4 Differences reflect the basic attributes of people and are largely beyond influence.
5 Differences are a natural part of the human condition and are neither good nor bad.
3. I would say the following regarding the nature of conflict
1 Ultimately, right prevails. This is the central issue in conflict.
2 Everyone should have an opportunity to air feelings so long as they do not block progress.
3 Conflict requires self-sacrifice, the placing of the importance of continued relationships above one’s own needs and desires.
4 Conflict is one of the evils in human affairs and should be accepted.
5 Conflict is a symptom of tension in relationships, and when accurately interpreted, may be used to strengthen relationships.
4. I would say the following regarding the handling of conflict:
1 Persuasion, power, and force are all acceptable tools for achieving resolution and most expect them to be used.
2 It is never possible for all people to be satisfied. Resolving conflict means persuasion combined with flexibility.
3 It is better to ignore differences than to risk open conflict. It is better to maintain the basis of relationship than to risk it.
4 Impersonal tolerance is the best way to handle conflict.
5 Conflict resolution requires confrontation and problem solving, often going beyond the apparent needs and opinions of the parties involved.
Based on your answers, how would you identify your dominant conflict resolution strategies? Each of the lettered answers for questions 1-4 point to a common conflict resolution style:
1 Control or Competition (using power to win your position)
