I’m overwhelmed with emotion as I connect with my friends in Los Angeles and see the devastation being caused by the fires.
My heart breaks for all the animals in harm’s way… humans included (we are animals too!).
If you are one of those people personally affected by the fires, my heart and prayers are with you.
In last week’s newsletter I wrote about the idea of “fierce compassion” (in case you missed it, I turned it into a blog post here), and I’m so glad I did, because given the current situation in L.A. I’m called to continue the conversation this week.
The Balance Between Being and Doing
I’ve talked a lot about being vs. doing over the last few years following going through severe burn-out, which landed me in Peru, working with Ayahuasca for 12 days. (I have yet to write a follow-up to my pre-aya post, because my experience was something very challenging to put into words.)
I returned with the understanding that my whole life, my focus has been on DOING everything I possibly can to help relieve the suffering of animals, what I’ve considered my life’s purpose since the age of seven.
I realized I was ignoring the importance of valuing my inherent worth as a human BEING, and it set me on the path of placing more of a focus on nurturing inner peace by making practices like meditation and yoga more of a priority.
That said, what I’ve come to understand, in my ever-evolving perspective, is that the most powerful way to be impactful, is to absolutely ACT (do), when action is called for, but to act with intention and present-moment awareness, and, to the best of our ability, to act from a place of inner-peace, grounded in pure compassion (for other people, animals, ourselves, and the planet).
And of course this is no small feat!
In order to act in such a way, we must get intentional with developing daily practices to cultivate inner-peace, and to move through the world intentionally, and with awareness.
Practicing Tonglen: Expanding Our Circle of Compassion
One of the most relevant practices I know of is an ancient form of meditation called Tonglen, that is all about helping us widen our circle of compassion and relieve the suffering of ourselves and others.
Tonglen is a Tibetan word that translates to “sending and taking” and the practice involves visualizing taking in the pain of others with our in-breath and sending out whatever will benefit them on the out-breath.
And this is of course somewhat effortless when we’re practicing on behalf of people and animals we love deeply… those in our current circle of compassion. And it gets more challenging as we start to practice on behalf of beings we feel neutral toward or dislike.
So instead of turning our attention away from suffering, Tonglen teaches us how to lean into it and use it as a way to connect with others and create a sense of peace even in the midst of suffering.
I love how Buddhist monk Pema Chodron teaches about Tonglen, in case you’re interested enough to check out this 10-minute video of hers.
Outward Action: How We Can Help
Of course, if you are able to take outward action that will benefit those in need right now, like donating to rescue and relief organizations, that is very much needed right now. Best Friends Animal Society, for example, is doing incredible work on the front lines.
The Bigger Picture: Crises Beyond the Fires
I’ll end with this…
Let’s keep in mind that although the fires in LA are getting tons of media attention (rightfully so), there are similar crises occurring all the time, all over the globe—some less visible but equally devastating.
From the destruction of rainforests for animal agriculture to the suffering of billions of sentient beings in factory farms, the choices we make
every day have the power to either perpetuate harm or foster healing.
Everyday Acts of Fierce Compassion
We may not be able to stop a wildfire with our bare hands, but we can make a profound impact by starting with what’s on our plates.
Choosing vegan meals is one of the most powerful actions we can take to reduce deforestation, conserve water, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and spare countless animals from suffering. It’s an act of fierce compassion that ripples out to protect the earth, its inhabitants, and future generations.
So, as we reflect on the crises unfolding around us, let’s channel our sorrow and outrage into meaningful action.
Let’s honor our connection to all life by choosing foods that nourish not just our bodies, but also our planet and its beings.
Together, through mindful choices, we can be part of the solution—every single day.
