Peace in troubled times

 If you're like me, you spend an awful lot of your quarantine/stay-safe-at-home time working to stay calm, escape depression and trying to find peace in these troubled times. In truth, my series of essays on peace and essays like this one are a sharing of what I learn in my own personal search for peace.  Perhaps this is my personal CBT.  

     One thing I'm sure we all agree upon; viz. that these are troubled times. Government of, by and for the people (i) is gone from the USA. We are now owned and operated by the richest one-percent thanks to Citizens United v FEC. (ii) Capitalism, which is unsustainable under any circumstances, could collapse at any time, and there is a pandemic threatening all our lives which is made worse by a sizable group who think it's a hoax, refuse to cooperate in fighting it, and are going to keep spreading it. Yes, we live in troubled times. 

     I know places that are so far off the grid that the world could end and it would be days before I got the news. I would gladly live out my remaining days there. The vast majority of people, however, have neither the desire nor the skills to live like me.  Further, the vast majority, currently including myself, do not have that as an option.  So we need to move on to explore peace in troubled times. 

     If you read my essay "Peace is not lost" you will remember that the premise was that peace is not hidden somewhere in the future for us to find, but is right with us. We must find ways of putting off the worry, anxiety and depression of our troubled times and grasp peace.  

     Again referring back to my previous essay, we realize that to put off worry, anxiety and depression first requires that we get our Chatty Kathy brains, that are constantly talking to us and usually keeping life in turmoil, to be quiet. Actually, you can't make Chatty Kathy stop. You can only get your mind so focused that you don't give Chatty Kathy a chance to dominate your thoughts. 

     Perhaps one of the biggest problems is that to have peace we must also find some way to deal with the chaos and violence in the society around us. Ignoring or shutting it out isn't going to work long-term. People like Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama seem to be able to function calmly in the thick of the anger, chaos and violence without sacrificing peace. Both of them have suffered horrendous prejudice, violence, war, forced expatriation and personal threats and danger. I'm sure their answer to 'how do you do it?' would be practice.  I'm sure that that is a big part of it. However, I can't help but believe that there is something else, which I'm sure they would gladly share if they were aware of it. (iii)  I must admit to a strong inclination to believe that their innate personalities play a significant role, but are all Buddhist monks of the same personality types?  

     Truthfully, Buddhist meditation is probably the best at helping us keep calm. There is no "religion" involved in their meditation so, if you're religious, you don't have to worry.  

     Meditation is an on-going activity with growing benefits. To stop reading or listening to the news first thing in the morning gives immediate relief. Actually I avoid all news media and FaceBook, skimming headlines, etc., once a day. In 99.9% of the situations you can do absolutely nothing except get upset. I will check out a news site that has a bullet format and check on Face Book friends until I notice my stress level going up. I quit immediately and do something designed to reduce stress.  That something might be walking meditation, exercise, writing or working in the hollow. (iv) 

     What helps us avoid worrying about what might happen tomorrow or get angry about something that has already happened is to have some project or activity that keeps you totally focused on the project and the present moment. Trying to identify plants takes lots of concentration. You might be a bird watcher. Some people find that physical labor helps. 

     I have found that chanting Om mani peme hung as I walk the hollow trail helps me control Chatty Kathy. I also talk to the plants and animals as I go.  Some people might think they would feel silly.  Look at it this way. Which would you prefer; feeling depressed, anxious, and stressed or happy and a wee bit foolish? 

     Of course, we can't deny that we should address those things which are appropriate. Even as reclusive as I am, I will be sure to vote and will speak out on issues. I cannot complain if I do not participate. Neverthless, only you can decide upon what those things should be. I find myself writing essays like this. I might occasionally directly address a political issue but I find that I try to share facts with lots of footnotes and references without any expectation of changing anyone's mind. I accept the fact that the United States has always been an arrogant, destructive, violent, racist, anti-intellectual society. There is good reason for the old label "Ugly American" (v)  I have lived overseas and have personally observed the ugly Americans, making me very embarrassed, and heard people talk about Americans. After Trump was elected and started his infamous behavior I had friends from three foreign counties write me and ask if it was really true. They were appauled. I still have many friends around the world, and spend time with foreign visitors. Sadly, we are still the ugly Americans. How we accept this reality and maintain our personal peace while doing our part to rebuild a just, equitable and non-violent society is the challenge which faces us.   

FOOTNOTES

(i) Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863 concluded "and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

(ii) Citizens United v Fed Election Comm. Jan 21, 2010.    https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained

(iii) They might actually address this in one of their many books, but I haven't read all of them so I'm sorry that I cannot be of further assistance. 

(iv) At our place in Kentucky we have a hollow that is almost 1.5 acres. We have worked to return it to its original state. I have cataloged 90 trees, plants and flowers. We have 55 trees, 29 edible plants (nuts, berries, flowers, leaves, roots) and 9 medicinal plants, all indigenous to the area. We call it Black Fox Hollow after the man who was the Cherokee chief here in the late 18th century. 

(v)  Lederer, William and Eugene Burdick (1958)  Ugly American.  Norton. NYC.