photo credit: db Photography | Demi-Brooke
In India, Anna Hazare is on his 9th day of hunger strike against the Indian government. According to the New York Times he refused a suggested glucose drip from doctors saying,
“My conscience told me, ‘Why are you scared of dying?…If you say that you can die for the nation, then why are you scared?”
Mr. Hazare is under criticism not only from those he is striking against, but also fellow anti-corruption leaders who say that his alternatives for government are too simplistic and undemocratic. He has a lot of followers. But will he have enough support to save his own life?
This act of hunger striking seems heroic.
But then I wonder why anyone would risk their life for an idea that no one can agree on. One man feels like he is dying for a nation, while that nation is split into too many opinions and factions to form a voice.
It is hard to know what to fight for when there is a fractured community (at best) to support it, and when the fight is as multi faceted and distorted as mirrors in a fun house. It seems that more and more in our personal lives and political domains we only fight the battles we already know we can win.
photo credit: AndYaDontStop
The yoga community worldwide has the power to leverage practices of discernment and compassion in more than just our private lives.
As the United States heads into an election year there is heightened potential for unity and action within the community of people who honor this practice. Like with any group of people, there is plenty of room for debate and alternate opinions, but it might benefit everyone to boil down what this community does believe, and how those beliefs and values line up with public policy and legislation that is being created and formed by local and national leaders.
As you hear the ads and the speeches over the next 15 months leading to the next U.S. presidential election, what are you listening for and what will sway your vote?
And what issues should we talk about here in the Global Beat Current on Yoga Modern to help you navigate the swamp of political rhetoric?
We do not have to hunger strike. We can vote. But we need to make our vote potent by aligning it with community and compassion.
Thanks for the discussion questions Lauren. I'm really striving to hear our leaders and candidates speak the truth and . Obviously. The truth these days seems recognizeable because it sucks, and the solutions to dealing with it are super uncomfortable and sacrificial. I am looking for those who will own that and speak straight up about the hardness, but necessity to stop piling what people "want to hear" on top of our problems as a nation. I'm interested in hearing how we are going to back up, back out, and back track…basically admit that we are at the top of the crap heap and its time to make our way down the mudslide, which means the truth is going to be really messy.
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Yoga is about personal transformation. It transforms the individual, one at a time. It is not a religion, with creeds and statements of belief. An individual's yoga experience is deeply personal, unique, and does notbelong to any party, policy or ballot box. I fail to see why ANY political rhetoric of the type you've posted should be included on a yoga site. The yoga community as I see it, is about sharing and supporting each practioner's individual experiences. It is not about voting, campaigns, elections or candidates. You are trying to take an individual practice and turn it into some kind of group belief. Sorry, not buying.