Spiritual Activism
Spiritual Activism is a term used to describe the application of spiritual values and teachings to the suffering that exists in the world. We engage in this kind of activism every time we take our practice off our yoga mats or meditation cushions and into the world. It happens every time our thoughts, words and actions are rooted in love. In the yoga tradition this type of self-transcending action is called Karma Yoga. It is activism in the spirit of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer, and Thich Nhat Hanh to name a few. As spiritual activists, we are trying to be, to paraphrase Gandhi, ‘the change we wish to see in the world’.
In June 2010, Erin and I founded the non-profit organization Alliance for Greater Well-Being so that there would be a vehicle through which we and others in our community could practice spiritual activism. The organization’s mission is to transmit and integrate the vital practices and principles that inform and inspire healthy, mindful living into contemporary life. We accomplish this through teaching “Skills for Greater Well-Being” – which include yoga postures, breathing techniques, mindfulness meditation and the fundamentals of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Our efforts are currently focused in Spokane, Washington.
All of my kirtans are offered on a donation basis with the proceeds going to support the Alliance. To learn more and/or to get involved click here.
