But....as yogis we celebrate the calm, peaceful, compassionate beings our practice calls us to be and we hope to embody those qualities in the world at large. Doesn't it make sense, then, that those characteristics are those that we would hope our politicians also bring to the job?
I wrote a previous post about a trip to Washington DC where I saw a "Yoga for Lawyers" book in the Supreme Court Visitors Gift Shop. I've never seen one, though, entitled, "Yoga for Presidents" or "Yoga for Congress People". Maybe those would be useful in these contentious times! What would be the result of starting each new day in the White House or in the Halls of Congress with a bit of meditation and asana? Interesting to contemplate, right?
Really, it would be pretty great if any politician also embraced the principles of Yoga in their service to their constituents, wouldn't it?
WAIT! There is one! Yoga Circle's owner and lead teacher, Karen Guzak, does exactly that! We are so fortunate to have this model for compassionate, intentional, leadership in our midst. As you may know, Karen has been a Snohomish Council member and Snohomish Mayor and is currently running again for Mayor under the new system of strong mayor for the city. No, I'm not writing this as a campaign endorsement; I don't even live in Snohomish. But I do wish that politicians everywhere, in every municipality, state, and the entire nation would take a lesson from her devotion to both service and spirit.
Last fall Karen spoke at Snohomish County Arts Council forum called "Spark". Here is a link to her excellent five minute presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOabG9P9br0. Karen talks about her life as an artist, a yogi, and a politician. In politics she sees the "yoga of connection"; of pulling people together to make common vision, to create a more peaceful place. She also sees politics as an opportunity for spiritual growth. She asks, "How can I be more patient, more tolerant, to work for the greater good?"Aren't these the questions we bring to the mat every day? Aren't these the questions we bring to our lives no matter our profession or avocation?
One cannot avoid watching as conflicts, disconnections, and partisanship divide our nation at this time. There are arguments over policies and budgets. It has been said that a budget is a statement of values. I find that to be instructive analogy when evaluating a politician's proposed budget or the one I create for myself. We put our money in places that have meaning for us. Do we also put our energy there? Our intellect? Our spirit?
Karen shows us that the art of politics is indeed a spiritual practice and we are called to serve, either by running for office, supporting those who do and whose values statements we support, or even by opposing those who introduce policies which would do us harm with a values statement that lacks compassion -- the bedrock of Yogic philosophy.
Yoga and Politics: An unlikely pairing and yet, when you think about it -- perfectly aligned for good.
"Politics and spirituality are the two sides of the same coin. Politics is the driving force visible to the outside; spirituality is the internal force driving the consciousness to open up to the world and conjoin it. Politics bared of spiritual awareness always leads to violence and the abuse of power. Spirituality without political engagement resembles an escape from the world." Gundula Schatz, Waldzeil Institute, caring for the conscious progress of humanity.
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