I sometimes wonder how much personal and global suffering stems from a sense of not belonging. Its impact is vast, as we see when narratives of not belonging extend to entire groups. But I wonder if we can trace these movements of xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, misandry and more, to the much more subtle and hidden narratives which we apply to ourselves?
The story of not belonging arises from the illusion of separation. Feeling separate from the body and heart, from each other, this planet and even the universe itself, the mind scrambles to find belonging in identities instead, continually jostling with other minds to be the one who comes out on top.
But the truth of reality is actually radically inclusive and connected: mystics and scientists agree that everything exists as a relational field. And whenever we come close to experiencing this field directly, we experience it as love. And so it is that everything belongs to love. But we forget this of course. And the more we lose ourselves in our stories of separation, the more we inflict suffering on others, which only perpetuates the cycles of further separation and suffering.
As stories of right and wrong escalate, how do we remain connected to our shared humanity and belonging? As activist Mariame Kaba reminds us, “no one enters violence for the first time by committing it.” We’re all in this together. We all have a part to play in this dance of moving further apart or coming closing together. How do we remember that we and all things belong?
The Buddha suggested we ground ourselves in the truth of belonging by taking refuge each day. Traditionally, Buddhists take refuge in the Buddha (awakened beings), Dharma (their teachings) and Sangha (awakening community). But we can also take refuge in a more immediate way, right here, right now. By recognising that this moment is awake; by acknowledging how life is a teacher; by opening to receive the many ways in which we are held, right now, as we embrace suffering with love, again and again.
We can’t do this alone, but no-one can do it for us either. What we can do is continue to rise up in devotion to the love already here behind the noise, in dedication to all the things which brings us home, and in wholehearted support of each other. Because the truth that we belong is the most beautiful truth there is. And when we embody that truth, it’s just the beginning of something new.
If you would like support, below are two ways you can practise with me this month. I’ve also shared two events that I’ll be attending in the next few days in case you’re inspired to come along too.
December 9th: You Belong Here
We will practice yoga and meditation to intentionally connect with the web of love and remember that we belong.
We will begin with some yin yoga poses to stimulate the kidney meridian and connect us to universal energy within and around us; move into some standing poses to connect with our breath and with the steadiness and support of Earth below, sky above and each other all around; and expand into some gentle backbends to open the heart. We will arrive in meditation and deep relaxation with a deeper and more embodied experience of belonging.
This workshop is at Love Supreme Projects on December 9th from 1.30-4.30pm and it may be our last one at this beautiful venue! Next year I’ll be offering day retreats in Wasing Estate to allow more time and space for the rejuvenative and transformative gifts of a day immersed in yoga, meditation, nature and community.
So come and celebrate the beautiful year of workshops we’ve had together at Love Supreme Projects - followed by their special chai and cookies downstairs! Book your place here.
December 11-15: Embracing Challenging Emotions
We will come together online each morning with 15 mins of dharma teaching, 30 mins of meditation and 15 mins of interactive Q&A.
We will explore how to come into a more harmonious and beneficial relationship with the often challenging - but always sacred - emotions of anxiety, anger, grief and fear.
The core of these meditations will be connecting to love, safety and belonging, so that any turbulence you feel (and may come to feel over the festive season) has a home to be felt and responded to with wisdom and compassion.
The sessions are offered from December 11-15 at 7-8am GMT on the Sangha Live online dharma platform with recordings available afterwards. Reserve your place here.
Additionally, on Sunday December 3rd there is a vigil for hope, peace and a shared space for grief organised by Together for Humanity, meeting (without flags or placards) at 3pm opposite Downing Street. A few of us will be meeting beforehand so we can be there together, email me if you would like to join us.
And on Wednesday December 6th at 6.30pm GMT there is an online interdisciplinary, interfaith conversation called True Justice, True Peace on the practice of nonviolence, both internally and externally, as it relates to the current violence in Israel and Palestine, organised by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.
I’ll leave you with this reflection from the great theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein. May it be so…
“A human being is part of the whole, called by us, ‘Universe’, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and a few persons nearest to us. Our task is to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Albert Einstein, letter, 1950