Imagine a World of Truth, Justice and Dignity For All People: Can you?

Imagine what life would be like if every one of us human tenants on earth chose to grow beyond our small self’s demands that we dedicate our lives to insuring our personal security, safety, esteem, power and control? What if we pause to listen to the “inner voice” of truth coursing through our veins then, grounded in reality greater than our self interest, patiently and practically tend to the care of others, even to the point of sacrifice?

What do Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Oscar Romero, Dietrick Bonhoeffer, John Lennon and Jesus of Nazareth have in common? The first and obvious answer is, they are all dead. Adding a bit of nuance to that answer, they are all dead because they put their lives on the line for the good of humanity, not as soldiers in a governments army but rather as spiritual warriors.

Touched by an inscrutable truth coursing through their veins, each of the six men embodies the in-spired dream of the kingdom of God made flesh. Each of these men sings the tune of an inner drummer and dares to unapologetically broadcast the song of truth, justice and dignity for all people. Which, of course, is what gets them killed.

Many social, political and religious officials, in whatever era or country, will not tolerate the discontent such rebel rousers stir. The very notion that every human tenant on earth deserves dignity, justice and truth does not comport with the rapacious desires of those in the business of hoarding power and control.

The final time Jesus enters Jerusalem for the Passover celebration he knows what is waiting for him. (See text from the Gospel according to John below.) Jesus is a rebel rouser, a political and religious activist in a territory occupied by the Romans who used crucifixion and threat of crucifixion to exert power and control over troublemakers like him. Many social activists precede and follow Jesus; passionate men and women who gather bevies of followers and spark unrest among the oppressed and impoverished people which of course raises the ire of the officials bent on preserving their pocket and the status quo. Sound familiar?

For the most part, in the face of civil dissent one of two things happens. Either the populist movement disbands under pressure from authorities (threat of harm, arrest or death) or the movement’s leaders are taken out; arrested, imprisoned or killed, and their followers disperse.

Here is the thing. Jesus’ decision to enter Jerusalem, host a farewell supper with his closest friends, and allow one of them to betray his whereabouts to his persecutors is not a personal decision. Clearly he is not acting to insure his security, safety, esteem, power or control. Jesus’ action is not personal. It is transpersonal.

An individual who operates with a transpersonal perspective is one “in which the sense of identity or self extends beyond the individual or personal to encompass wider aspects of humankind…..” * The transpersonal mindset is integral and undivided, it recognizes and honors all of humankind as interconnected and interdependent. This inclusive view challenges our self limiting beliefs (ie, “I am only human.”) and invites us to grow beyond our ordinary narrow state of consciousness.

Standing surely on the ground of reality, Jesus is operating from a transpersonal perspective. He claims his non dual birthright, the son of humanity and the son of God, as one who listens and responds to the direction of the “inner voice” of truth coursing through his veins. Jesus refers to this “inner voice” as Father and describes it this way. “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.” (John 12.40) And again, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” (John 14.10)

Feeling their authority threatened, the political and religious officials call Jesus’ words treason and blasphemy. Jesus calls them truth. He is willing to give up his life rather than give up truth.

Right about now you may be thinking, “This is great for Jesus but what does it have to do with me? His capacity to speak truth and seek justice and the dignity of all people by putting his life on the line for others is unparalleled. I cannot stand up to that. After all, I am only human.” Oops. Do you hear that self limiting belief? Have you forgotten that you too are born in the image and likeness of God, with the living word of God coursing through your veins? Are you ready to claim your non dual birthright?

I believe we humans have set the bar far too low. As it is with every generation, we are meant to exceed the good done by those who have gone before us. “How,” you ask? Fortunately we have several twentieth century folks who show us the way.

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today… Aha-ah…
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

Lyrics from John Lennon’s song Imagine

Lennon shares Gandhi, King, Romero, Bonhoeffer and Jesus’ transpersonal point of view that sees every person and all of creation as sacred, interconnected and interdependent. Furthermore, infused with this transcending wisdom each of these men is compelled to action aimed at what is right, even at their own expense.

Imagine what life would be like if every one of us human tenants on earth chose to grow beyond our small self’s demands that we dedicate our lives to insuring our personal security, safety, esteem, power and control? What if we pause to listen to the “inner voice” of truth coursing through our veins then, grounded in reality greater than our self interest, sing the song of truth, justice and dignity for all, then patiently and practically tend to the care of others, even to the point of sacrifice?

Which brings us to a perplexing paradox. When we sacrifice, or give of our selves for the good of others, we lose nothing. We are not debased or shamed. Rather, we are stretched beyond the ordinary bounds of human understanding and action, we are raised into the transpersonal realm of glory, honor and transformed life. Like Lennon, Gandhi, King, Romero, Bonhoeffer and Jesus, we are infused with the inner spark of something greater than we are.

This is the mystifying paradox of the central symbol of Christianity, the cross. When Jesus allows himself to be bound, nailed and raised up on the cross he is not raised to shame, humiliation and death. He is raised to glory, honor and transformed life because he offers a way of hope in the midst of suffering.

Most of us humans have set the bar far too low, allowing our limiting beliefs to make us small. What if we planted our feet in the ground with Lennon, Gandhi, King, Romero, Bonhoeffer and Jesus, and claimed our non dual birthright as children of humanity and children of God? What if we raised our voices and unapologetically sang the song of spiritual warriors, speaking truth and demanding justice and dignity for all people? What if we did not stop with the song, but marched our song into action aimed at what is right? What if we dared to imagine a world manifesting truth, justice and dignity for all people? And yes, it will come with a cost.

* Walsh, R. and F. Vaughan. “On transpersonal definitions”. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. Vol. 25, No2, pp. 199–207, 1993.

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Learn more about me at https://www.debraasis.org/ All words are generated by grace and the grit of a real human being. Debra Asis

John 12:31–36a

Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”