The Eternal Flame, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

Dear Friends of Active Peace,

As always, whether it’s the celebration of his birthday or the commemoration of his death, I like to spend some extra time reflecting on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy. These are occasions to tap into his spirit and go a little deeper—I think he would approve.

It’s clear to me that the best way to honor Dr. King is to put nonviolence into practice and continue to evolve it. I call this Transformational Activism.

Gandhi and King left us many principles that remain as relevant as ever. However, in our contemporary context, there is still much to learn and explore. We have access to tools and resources that were not available in their time. Restorative justice is one example.

Merging the principles and practices of nonviolence and restorative justice helps us remember that nonviolent social change is inherently relational and requires respect and healthy communication. The marriage of nonviolence and restorative justice is a core aspect of Active Peace.

I wrote up some the key differences between “old paradigm” activism and transformational activism. Here is some further elaboration:

 

The Eternal Flame, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

Transformational Activism:

Has a Spiritual Context. It asks the question, What is the most fundamental energy that leads to social change? Looking deeply, you may find the answer to be God, spirit, source, grace (whatever words you choose). It then asks the practitioner to align both “being” and “doing” with that energy.

Cultivates and Requires Clarity of Mind and Heart. When you put activism in the context of spiritual growth and consistent nonviolence, you relax and see reality more clearly. A natural humility also arises.

Attends to Healing. With more clarity and relaxation you can see all the way to the root cause of violence and suffering: the illusion of separateness (the illusion that we as humans are separate from each other, from other species and the earth, and from source). The transformational activist maintains a consistent focus on healing that root cause. This becomes more important than any short-term victory.

Is Fueled by Life Energy and Love. Holding the big picture and putting all the above into practice, your basic orientation shifts.  Your action arises from the life energy and love flowing through you. You become a force of nature and spirit.

Take a few moments to reflect on these themes. Notice how consistent they are with the teachings of Gandhi and King.  Notice how they cover concepts related to spiritual or sacred activism and how they bring those concepts down to earth.

Does this kind of approach to activism feel transformative to you? If so, how and why? What holds you back from practicing it? What support do you need? Feel free to get in touch with questions and comments.

Scott Brown