A Dolphin in Turbulent Seas

Many people of conscience in the U.S. are finding themselves exhausted after the last 4+ years, during which greed, hatred, and delusion, lack of moral compass, white supremacy, and sometimes just plain bad behavior have been put on a pedestal for all to see. I for one have felt a nearly constant stream of stress, anxiety, anger, despair, and fear. Often it’s only when we have a chance to exhale and take a step back that the impact of long-term stress becomes apparent.

The turbulence we’ve been experiencing can feel like ocean waves crashing over us.  Waves of the words and actions of others, waves of our own strong emotional reactions.  Trying to get our bearings, a feeling of solid ground, from the surface of the water is simply not possible: the waves are going to knock us down. How do we find our stability, our rooting then?

Finding refuge in turbulent times requires being like a sea mammal - a whale, a dolphin, a seal. When we come up we can take stock of what’s going on at the surface, but we then dive deep and dwell in that which is more stable, more reliable, below. The path of practice helps us to inhabit the depths, to find peace that is not dependent on external factors, love that is unwavering, and wisdom and guidance that is clear. 

Next time you experience a big wave on the surface like this, take the opportunity to sit with that feeling, the sensations arising inside of you. As you breathe with those uncomfortable sensations, can you detect other emotions beneath the anger, or fear, or whatever difficult emotion is stirred up? Underneath righteous anger, fear, and reactivity on the turbulent surface, there is usually a deep well of love - a care about the wellbeing of people and the planet. If we make a habit of connecting to the love that lies beneath our waves of reactivity, these times of external difficulty can actually help grow our loving kindness, compassion, and care, and our commitment to justice and the wellbeing of all.

Dwelling in these depths becomes not only a refuge in turbulent times, but a way to orient towards goodness, and a source of right action. I believe that only from these depths can emerge the healing and social transformation we need.