| A Buddhist monk places his faith in the regular practice of
mindfulness. A Jesuit priest also places his faith in the regular practice of examining
consciousness. When one meets with a spiritual elder; in the east, the west, the modern
or the ancient world; for help in the making of a decision; that holy person helps the
retreatant to reach a balanced integration of the different and sometimes competing
dimensions of ones existence.
More richly aware; the retreatant more soulfully considers and makes their choice. From
the meeting with their retreat guide, the retreatant is able to practice a more real, more
critical and more human decision-making. Their interior reconciliation blossoms in wise
action (often courageous and unexpected) and a soulful peace (less subject to the ups and
downs of life).
It is the long practice of a certain ‘mindfulness’; common to the monk, the
priest and to the indigenous elder; that makes it possible for meetings with them, to
elicit the retreatants interior reconciliation.
If our retreatant is a group; trying to reach a decision/resolve a conflict; how much
more is that so?
Fortunately, the choices that most groups meet to make do not require the depth of
practice of a Master!
But soulful attributes are necessary in the person of the facilitator; and some
exercise in group mindfulness is necessary in the choice-making group; if wisdom and peace
is to emerge.
More collaborative groups and spiritually alive communities often do require the help
of a more skilled ‘guide’. For example; deeply spiritual and powerful Elders
assist whole communities to make decisions in many indigenous communities in contemporary
Australia.
Conflict resolution and decision-making facilitators are about the work of peace and
good governance; but they are largely trainees in peace practice. We have much practicing,
talking and reflection to do; if we are to articulate our helpful spiritual practices; if
we are to provide witness to a potential active reconciliation between different spiritual
and cultural dimensions of our collective existence. If we are to return soulful listening
into the choice -making meetings of our society; if we are to counter the naive denial of
soul in our public life; our conversation should demonstrate that spirituality has
everything to do with politics!
We have spiritual traditions more ancient than the written word to draw upon for
guidance in spiritual practice for peace.
‘Who is this coming up out of the wilderness leaning on her lover?’ asks the
Song of Songs.
Is it Buddha, Moses, Jesus or Che Guevara? Is it Lara Croft?
It may be Wisdom, it may be Peace and it maybe you!
The answer that we articulate should bear witness that the peace praxis in which we
engage is capable of a radical candour; and that it is capable of a courageous and genuine
cross-cultural/inter-faith collaborative reconciliation.
We might otherwise be governed by and aspire to become no more than cartoon characters;
ever the hero or the martyr; never the journeyed guide, upon whom soulful lovers lean.
Shalom? Peace be with you? Om! |
