Crossing Nebraska

I began this Power, Practice, and Peace series by thinking of power as physicists do, as work done per unit of time. Unfortunately, this technical definition fails us much of the time when talking about power. Perhaps this already occurred to you while reading my recent posts about the power of our voice. We also speak of the powers of concentration, will, forgiveness, and gratitude. And, of course, we speak of the power of love.  But what about spiritual power? I suspect we all know some who are more spiritual than most. Perhaps they have a felt (and lived) connection to a deeper truth than this mundane reality that most of us attach to. Perhaps they seem to have tapped into a wellspring of energy, creativity, or meaning, for instance, that keeps them focused, uplifted, and resolute. Unbloomed Tulip To be sure, even avowed atheists can have great spiritual power. After all, the word spiritual derives from the Latin, spiritus , which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as...

  There is much at stake at the present time. Each passing day seems to bring to the fore yet another threat to something we once took for granted. Speaking out can be daunting, exhausting, and even scary. Which is why it’s so uplifting when voices of wisdom and goodness join together. There is power in unity. It also doesn’t hurt if we can find someone rich, famous, and powerful to speak out along with us. The rich, famous, and powerful seem to have whatever je ne sais quoi it takes to influence large numbers of people. They amplify our message, and we vicariously enjoy the benefit of their power. Do you recall Taylor Swift being criticized for not taking a stand this past election season? We apparently couldn’t bear to see such power go unused! The Left wanted the power of her voice, and so did the Right, even though nobody really knew which way she was leaning for quite some time. No doubt many of her fans were hugely disappointed once she finally did endorse her candidate. Bu...

  Our recent U.S. election has some questioning whether, when, and how to use their voice. Being vocal and standing up for what’s right and just can be dangerous when those who hold the reins of power call for retribution against rivals alleged to have illegally wronged them. During times such as these, remaining silent may seem the safest option.   Putting our own hands over our mouth But it’s not merely a question of whether to speak or not speak, the election results also have some questioning the efficacy of their speech, its timeliness, and its audience. Clearly something is going wrong between the speaker and listener these days. If, in fact, there is a listener. Perhaps silence is good for a time—to listen, learn, reflect, and consider how to speak from a place of deeper wisdom. We all know we have a right to remain silent—under certain circumstances at least. In many cases, though, it’s not so much a right as a privilege. Those of us who can blend into the domina...

  Can we find lasting peace all by ourselves? Can we be like the earliest Buddhist disciples and retreat into the forest or into our own carefully constructed corners of the world and find the unconditioned peace that we crave? My response to that question is a provisional one: “yes, and…” Yes, and the world has a way of finding us. We arise from it, so this should really come as no surprise. Whatever is happening “out there” will have an impact on our ability to find peace “in here.” Thus, we must cultivate a healthy relationship with the so-called outside world. Power, Practice, and Peace logo background On December 4, 2024, United Healthcare’s CEO was walking from his Manhattan hotel to a shareholder meeting just down the street when he was shot dead by a gunman lying in wait. It appears the killer was motivated by a hatred of corporate greed, and the fact that UnitedHealthcare “dismissed about one in every three claims in 2023…. twice the industry average of 16% ” may have fo...

  This blog within a blog focuses on power; and how can we talk about power without considering the most awesome power of all—that which Nature unleashes. Even the strongest are rendered impotent in the face of its fury. Even the most arrogant are humbled by its power. So, when Taoists speak reverently of the Way—the natural order of things—and strive to live in accord with its workings, they must have something more subtle and nurturing in mind. Certainly, we don’t want to emulate Nature’s violence and indifference to its victims. But what lessons are we to uncover from our observance of its way? Orange lichens growing on felled tree Some years ago, one of my Zen practitioner friends was troubled by a situation in her life. She visited with her teacher, hoping that he might impart some wisdom that would guide her. Unfortunately, she left feeling dejected. “He told me to go outside and look at the morning glories,” she said. Indeed, Nature is a wonderful teacher, but sometimes we...

In a previous post, The Fundamental Nature of Power , I used our leaf blower as a simple example of the inherently dangerous and potentially violent nature of power . But those are not its only negative aspects. Power has a seductive and addictive nature as well. It lures us into wielding it with the promise that we can be more and more and have more and more. Then, after getting used to our new way of being, we’re loathe to give up the power that allows us to be that way. For instance, once I learned how to start the big leaf blower and keep it from doing most of the damage it’s capable of, I began to rely on it. Back when I only had a rake for getting the job done, I’d stay on top of the task as the leaves fell. With the big machine on hand, though, I can let the leaves pile up for weeks knowing that I have the power at hand to complete the task in short order. No, it’s not a quiet and meditative communion with nature, in tune with the natural order of things. It’s loud and annoying,...

In the natural world, all living things are content with the power they are born with. The tree grows just large enough and converts just enough sunlight into usable energy that it might produce its seed and fulfill its reproductive calling. The squirrel possesses only what power it needs to gather its winter store and evade its most likely predators. The lion is endowed with just what power she needs to hunt the prey that will satisfy the immediate hunger of her and her cubs. In some species there are battles for exclusive reproductive rights within a herd or group. But whatever contest might be won is simply the outcome of what is. Those vying for such status are not off in the forest running laps and lifting stones in preparation for the big day. They fight, or they don’t. They prevail, or they don’t.  We humans, however, have lost track of what is enough. Having lost track of what is enough, our usual inclination is to want more and more, to want to be more and more. Simply sur...