As we see in America and the world there is a lot of racial injustice embedded in the system. So how can we practice Mindfulness Compassion for equality? How can we hold ourselves accountable?
Individually we all have a role to play in Justice for all Races. Is it right to sit back and say, “Well it’s nothing to do with me, it’ll sort itself out and there’s nothing I can do anyway.”
Have you explored your feelings around people from different ethnic backgrounds? Have you a set bias or viewpoint that you inherited or that came from some life situation in your past that you’re stuck in?
Can you accept that:
“Just like me” all people feel fear; just like me all people feel unsafe at times; just like me all people feel anger; just like me all people feel unworthy; just like me all people feel sad. This is a practice for mindfulness compassion for equality, you can authentically repeat these phrases many times.
The “Just like me” phrases may allow you to feel empathy for others and to act compassionately to help them when you see there is an injustice. Perhaps to speak out or take action of some kind or maybe you realise that it’s time to change your perspective, to review your judgements.
Look inside yourself and recognise the feelings that are arising within you as you read this. What are they? Anger, doubt, shame, guilt, resistance, judgement? Maybe something else?
Then can you allow the feelings to remain (without judgement) and to sit there with them as you go into your body and notice the sensations. Feelings of tightness, contraction, squeezing, tension. What needs your attention right now? Where are the feelings strongest? What are they saying to you?
Perhaps place a caring hand on the vulnerable spot. Then can you visualise or imagine someone from a different ethnic background in front of you and breathe in their pain, their suffering, their fear, their feelings of being unsafe, their anger, their feelings of unworthiness and their grief and breathe out mindfulness compassion for equality towards them. ( Perhaps as formless light.)
Now notice how you feel? Have you created some room in your heart for others of different ethnic backgrounds?Have you shifted? This will be an ongoing practice depending on your biases.
We need to realise that we are all interconnected if we are to come through this impass we find ourselves in. The rich and powerful will want us to segregate and “hate” on each other. That’s what keeps them rich and powerful, or we can come together into a loving community and help each other out.
Common Humanity evolves through being compassionately aware of our Sameness not our differences.
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