With various pronouncements about the circumstances we are now in as well as the judgments about the technologies at our disposal, I have been asked by a number of people where I stand on such things. Here I would like to briefly address some of these issues, so people know what lane I am traveling in.
Before I jump into this, let me say that these conclusions are solely based on my own perspective and seek to convey what I deem helpful vs. not so helpful for me and my actions.
First, let me say that, although I am fully cognizant of the dire economic repercussions to our staying physically distanced for the present time, I believe this strategy is based on sound science and saves lives. I will stay secluded in this way until such time as it is deemed safe by those who scientifically evaluate such dynamics. I stay at home not so much for my own safety, but because this protects the well-being of others, especially those most vulnerable. In this decision, I do not believe that I am swayed by fear, hysteria, or the media. I am guided by the science and by compassion for my fellow human beings.
Second, for a couple of years now I have used the technology of Zoom for virtual meetings, and I will continue. This technology has enabled me to meet and work with people from all over the world. More recently, I have used this technology for my virtual retreats. Not only have I heard from many others how powerfully important these experiences have been for them, but I also have experienced myself a profound sense of embodied relatedness.
Relating on Zoom is not a substitute for being with a person face-to-face, but it does allow us to connect when distance is a limiting factor. Zoom does allow for an encounter that can open a more energetic connection. Moreover, this platform has enabled me to work with others on a donation basis, permitting me to reduce the costs of those who cannot afford much. It is, in fact, the face-to-face encounters of a residential Wisdom School that end up being so expensive and accessed only by the privileged. And as far as its effect on the planet, I do not believe that using Zoom is any more harmful than any other use of the Internet, including Facebook.
Speaking of Facebook, third, I do not use it. Facebook too easily promotes false information and factitious conspiracy theories that have dangerously undermined our lives. There is no accountability for fact or veracity, and too much misinformation is promulgated. Additionally, even within spiritual groups/communities, I see how Facebook unconsciously promotes posturing, pretention, and excessive identification. Honestly, I can see these temptations rising in me. Like alcohol, I see Facebook as a toxin, at least for me, and so choose not to partake in either one. While others may not be drawn into this negativity as I am, my conclusions about the proliferation of misinformation stand.
Lastly, I sense it is my present calling to move Wisdom as a way of knowing to a way of loving. This to me seems to require a deeper integration of Wisdom from the head down into the body and being. This integrative work seems to require two foundational platforms. The first is embodied practice. While centering prayer and other forms of sitting meditation are great places to start, the integration of Wisdom requires more varied and directed practices. The second is community. Here I do not mean just being in the presence of others in a Wisdom School. I mean the sustained support and accountability that manifest over the commitment of extended time together.
None of the above are meant to be prescriptive for anyone else. These simply map out the lane I am currently running in.