Wokefulness=Oneness

ONENESS—and the GRAND DILEMMA

All bodies of knowledge and inspiration—whether secular, religious or scientific—point to the reality that we and all living things are essentially ONE, interconnected on many essential levels.  With that realization (and “wokefulness”)—a reality which has dawned on many in this  information age interconnected through global communications, transportation and technologies that have shrunk our world into a neighborhood, as well as our interactions with and research into all species of living things—comes a great responsibility. That is, to honor our ONENESS, in all its diversity, as we learn more about it and each other, and protect it (i.e. our very existence) from those who have not yet awakened to it nor truly entered this age of enlightenment and “coming of age”, still stuck in the childish adolescence of  extreme isolationism, self-centeredness, greed and division. In fact, the solution to all of our world’s pressing problems—poverty, war, famine, climate disaster, violence, pestilence, inequities—lies in the recognition of this reality of our ONENESS and policies enacted by our leaders based on this reality. THERE IS NO OTHER EQUITABLE AND  SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION!

What do we mean by ONENESS?  Though we celebrate our diversity,  respecting and savoring our essential oneness is paramount ; there is no superior race, group, religion, nation, sexual orientation, or gender among human beings, and we live in harmony with all living things—the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms. Anything which harms one, harms all. Summed up in this quote from MLK: “In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be…
This is the inter-related structure of reality.”

The Grand Dilemma: Pathways to ONENESS

MLK also said that in order to get to this ultimate goal of ONENESS and “network of mutuality”, “we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values.” All of the great visionary Prophets throughout the ages have voiced that same call. Herein lies the “grand dilemma”:  Few, if any, of our leaders, at all levels of society, have a realization of the true nature of our ONENESS and these essential principles and values, hence are powerless to enact policies to bring about the necessary changes. In fact, most are stuck in the childish adolescence of division and “otherness” rather than ONENESS. So, the only way to accomplish this “revolution of values” is a revolution—whether man, God (or Higher Power, as you understand it), or nature made. Either way, it is bound to be a series of catastrophic  and violent upheavals (which we are already beginning to see, via climate change events, mounting violence, and social strife)—with the necessary force to jolt awake the leaders and multitudes who are asleep. And this I pray for—however, another part of the “grand dilemma” is that I have children and grandchildren who will suffer the consequences of these upheavals—so what to do? Go back to a deep sleep? No, can’t do that once awoke—so, I can only teach them, and others in our intentional communities beyond family members,  survival skills and help provide an escape plan, and pray for the best—with the knowledge and faith that once this purge and purification is over the world will be better, for all. (Note: these are the skills and preparations which will be taught in our Global Woke Institute )

In the meantime, and while awaiting this great purge and “correction”, the other great dilemma in this “inter-related structure of reality”  is that many of my actions, like those of every American, may directly or indirectly adversely affect people in developing countries, keeping them enslaved and in poverty. If you recall in the movie “The Box”, when its recipients press the button they will receive large sums of money, however in exchange an unknown person will die. That is almost exactly how our capitalist, materialist system works—in order for us to have even the smallest luxuries beyond basic needs fulfilled, countless others have to suffer in backbreaking labor and poverty, not even able to feed themselves and their families, with innocent children dying from malnutrition and other preventable maladies. Our military enforces these conditions wreaking havoc worldwide at the behest of our corporations motivated only by profits. Our carbon footprint per capita is among the highest in the world, causing once lush lands to become deserts and their inhabitants refugees. Many of the products we import and buy are produced by child slave labor. What can one who is awokening to these facts and pursuing ONENESS do? First awareness, then action. Besides pushing policies and reforming systems which address and reverse these gross global inequities, including defunding the military industrial complex,  in one’s personal life become a relative minimalist—that is, using material means to fulfill basic needs only, and reducing our individual and family carbon footprint and waste output. This will also help us prepare to survive the coming upheavals. As Gandhi said: “Live simply so that others may simply live.” (Note: these are the skills and practices which will be taught in our Global Woke Institute )