What is the crucial question facing the world today? Is it sociopolitical: government corruption, human rights, sexual inequality, overpopulation? Is it sociological: religious, racial, political divisions, immorality, violence, permissiveness, family breakdown? Is it economic: excessive consumerism, materialism, unemployment, a collapsing economy, globalization? Is it iteco-global: poverty, war, terrorism, natural resource management, global warming?

What if instead of choosing from this seemingly endless list, we view these issues as symptoms of a deeper malaise? What if we consider that the problems themselves may be less than how we choose to respond to them? Do we choose to respond to them out of fear, helplessness, and despair or out of empowerment, love, compassion, and empathetic commitment? Will not our future and the future of humanity depend on how we respond, where we respond, and what actions we take now?

Thousands of years ago humanity understood that being precedes doing. Our sense of presence, of being, aligns us with powerful forces. The state of the world today is a reflection of inner turmoil, violence, malaise and uncertainty. If human beings seriously look inward, as a collective act, and sincerely commit ourselves to a new intention of living together in harmony, intelligence and joy, the world would be transformed. But first we must understand the relationship between the inner and outer worlds. Being precedes doing: what we think, feel and understand within us is reflected in the outside world.

Therefore, the crucial question for humanity today is: will it wake up? Will we awaken to our true nature, to what is possible and inherently human, to a life of wisdom, compassion, empathy, and kindness? Will we choose to realize our higher nature, the True Self?

What can we do? Where should we start? How can we get started?

As always, we start slowly, firmly and resolutely with inner conviction and resolving to overcome obstacles, persevere, become … ourselves.

First, a little discipline. Not to continue being slaves of our desires and fears, choosing the best way to spend the day wisely, seeking balance in the activities, thoughts and feelings of our life, sometimes voluntarily doing what we do not want to do, persevering and enduring wisely and wisely . skillful paths and effortful effort toward the spiritual, the transcendent, and the divine.

These basic practices serve as the foundation for continued development.

Second, feel the world. This means letting in the experience and intuition of ordinary states and responding to people, events and phenomena in the outside world and allowing them to affect you, becoming emotional, not in the conditioned sense but in the deeper sense of abandonment to naturalness. and love. .

This commitment aligns you with the world in an authentic relationship.

Third, cultivate awareness what it means to stay awake, alive and receptive; See what’s happening at all levels of human experience and take nothing for granted, but stay smart in the true sense of the word, be a witness, not be critical, accept, not in a silly way, but in a way expansive and loving. that discerns when things are good and when they are not.

The separation of mind from judgment frees you from prejudice and intolerance to face the world with deep compassion.

Four, keep your eyes wide open and your heart more open. Combining your work of deepening awareness and non-criticism with your ability to feel the world ever deeper, deeper and deeper leads to an opening of the heart that transforms your inner world (and eventually your outer world).

When the heart becomes truly available and fully present, transformation must follow.

Fifth, let yourself be affected by the world, touched by people and events. Consciousness deepens into a deep response that is less sentimental and more loving, less conditioned, and more spontaneous.

In time you will have reached the threshold of spiritual surrender.

Finally, be present and breathe. The breath connects your energies and is itself the direct experience of enlightenment, the living truth.

These radical practices are central elements in the process of human awakening, concern of psychospiritual, healing and therapeutic practices. At some point you will surely need help, guidance and support in your personal and spiritual development. This is the time when you should seek out a therapist, counselor, or guide who is familiar and able to guide you wisely.