Talkin' About a Revolution

Talkin' About a Revolution
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The proof is all over the news. If I said it once, I'll say it again: We have the power to change everything.

In the Middle East, where an individual's power was formerly oppressed, people are now rising up and calling for reform of their governments. Libya, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Egypt. Although not all of these changes are occurring without violence, to a great extent the paths toward change are peacefully paved.

All over the world, people are just not accepting the status quo any longer. In the U.S., citizens have successfully demanded that big businesses, institutions and even our government be more accountable. The result of the people's demands has been the toppling or reformation of these mega-authorities.

In the past, many of the same efforts have been futile. But something in the cosmic frame has shifted. Individuals are becoming more aware of their own power--and the power they can tap in their communities and in their social networks. But when it comes down to it, the revolutions are reflective of a shift in our global consciousness that begins in our individual minds. Within the word revolution is the word evolution.

Kabbalah doesn't advocate war or violent revolution, but it does advocate a revolution within. It's a revolution in our consciousness; revolution being defined as a fundamental change that takes place in a relatively short period of time.

The Beatles' song "Revolution" gets it exactly right with these lines:

". . . You said you'll change the constitution
Well you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free your mind instead
. . ."

What I think John Lennon was referring to in this lyric is that we cannot blame others for our personal or our global condition: we have to take responsibility for everything.

It's worth noting that Lennon wrote this song while studying meditation in India. He was training his mind, expanding his consciousness. This is the seed level where change takes place.

The whole point of all of this--why we are here, why the world is here, and why we have the political system and leaders that we do--is to achieve change. This is the purpose of life. So why then, does change seem so difficult? Because ego gets in the way.

Ninety-five percent of the fuel and energy required to launch a rocket is expended in lift-off. The remaining five percent is used for the rest of the mission. The process of change works much the same way. Ninety-five percent of our energy is required just to overcome the ego. This is the hardest part. The ego will try to stop us before we even start. It doesn't want us to change, but once we get past this first obstacle, change begins to create its own momentum. We may not see any results of our decision to change today, but as we go from first gear to second gear and finally to overdrive, change gathers speed.

According to Rav Ashlag, the founder of The Kabbalah Centre, we were born to do this sort of spiritual work. And that's why the world wasn't created perfect. This is the only way to co-create a world of peace, harmony and bliss. First we have to believe we deserve this good; it is our birth right. Then we need to do all it takes to break free of the small-minded notion that one person doesn't or can't have an impact on the whole picture. Every little action creates an effect: We are all interconnected.

It's great that people from all walks of life are waking up to realize this. People are coming together to express solidarity on behalf of democracy and reform.

The New York Times reported that an Egyptian cleric said, "The revolution is not against a single person but against oppression itself."

Oppression by outside forces is what he meant. But it's our own small voice within that is our oppressor; it says we are not worthy and not powerful enough. Our limited beliefs are the real foes we need to fight and conquer.

It is time for a revolution; a revolution in our personal consciousness.

Then we can go out and change the world. It's a big idea that can only be achieved in small steps. What will your action be today?

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