Compassion pt.1 : Racism v. racism

Details have been changed and omitted to protect the innocent.  Or, perhaps, I should say to protect the guilty; insofar as we are all guilty to one extent or another.  

I was in the company of another person when they made a comment about an African-American individual and his sagging pants.

"The black community is far from the only one that wears their pants like that."

"Yeah, but we all know where it started," they replied.

It wasn't until weeks later, when reviewing the exchange again, that I realized something.  I gave this person an opportunity to amend their statement, and instead they doubled-down on it.  The odd thing is that I'm pretty sure this person doesn't consider themselves a racist.  

I separate this kind of prejudice in my head into two categories: racism and Racism.  We've seen the Racism coming out in full force since the 2016 election.  It waves NAZI or Confederate flags and sings lovesongs to Hitler.  It relies on theatrics and shock.  I won't say that there isn't a problem here, but honestly I consider it the lesser of the two evils.  Let them come forward and have their protests, and let the Sant-Sipahi (Saint-Soldiers) remind them that the world rejected their ideology and will continue to reject it - by force if necessary.  Give them their right to free speech so that we can remind them to shut-up.

racism is the much bigger problem.  I started that sentence with a lower-case letter for a reason. racism is far more insidious.  It affects everyone whether they realize it or not.  I'm certainly guilty of it.  I've caught myself grabbing my wallet and preparing for a fight when a group of young black men walk past me in New York.  I've called someone a rich, white, douche when they're driving unsafely in a high-end luxury vehicle or sports car.  I've made assumptions and cast judgement, and the only difference between me and the individual I referred to in the beginning is that when I catch myself doing it I stop myself.  I recognize the problem, and I quash it – if only at a later time.

What makes racism so much worse than Racism?  Most people don't recognize it when they're doing it.  I have another acquaintance that no matter how egregious the offense will always side with police.  Philando Castile?  "Well we just don't know what happened."  Eric Garner?  "We don't know the whole story."  Freddie Gray?  "Didn't you hear?  He did it himself," they say with something akin to smugness.  It shocks me because otherwise they're an incredibly kind person.  I don't know whether the officers involved in these cases were racists or Racists, but it's foolish to think that race didn't play a part; and it is absolutely racist to defend their actions or celebrate when they're let off the hook.

From my perspective the biggest cause of racism is a general lack of compassion.  The world has gotten smaller, and yet it seems like we're further apart than ever.  We see everyone through the lens of "the other".  It doesn't matter if it's the political-other, the racial-other, the socioeconomic-other, the religious-other, etc.  People are generally good, and yet when we view through the lens of the other we have a harder time living up to our potential.  I'm not saying anything new or profound here.  

"But everyone is a little bit racist, so what's the big deal?"  And just about everyone agrees that racism is bad; therefore it's our obligation, if not our duty, to defeat it - starting within ourselves.  So how do we combat it?  Start by recognizing when you do it.  Clean up your own house as best you can; then politely help others clean up theirs.  Use your compassion to help them find their compassion.  Find the little bit of God in yourself, and help them find theirs.  If we are part of God, and God is Nirbhau (without fear) and Nirvair (without hate), then by connecting with that piece of God inside us we too can be without fear or hate.

Compassion is one of the corner-stones of Sikhi.  Sri Guru Granth Sahib regularly talks about how we are all one:

ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਵਸੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਇ ॥

He is the One God, abiding within all.

ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਘਟਿ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ॥

Through the Guru's Teachings, He is revealed in the heart.

ਸਹਜੇ ਜਿਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਣਿ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ॥

One who intuitively knows and realizes God,

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੪॥੧॥

O Nanak, obtains the Naam; his mind is pleased and appeased. ||4||1||

  

[Sidenote: Some scholars translate Naam as meaning the name of God.  Others, however, interpret it more to mean the nature of God.  I prefer this perspective.  If I know someone’s name, I still no nothing about them.  If I understand their nature, then I can truly connect with them and truly know them.  I could try to describe the nature of God, but being as I have not obtained it, it would be pointless.  It’s in their somewhere, but I need to connect to my compassion first.]

ਸਹਸ ਤਵ ਨੈਨ ਨਨ ਨੈਨ ਹਹਿ ਤੋਹਿ ਕਉ ਸਹਸ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਨਨਾ ਏਕ ਤਦ਼ਹੀ ॥

You have thousands of eyes, and yet You have no eyes. You have thousands of forms, and yet You do not have even one.

ਸਹਸ ਪਦ ਬਿਮਲ ਨਨ ਏਕ ਪਦ ਗੰਧ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਹਸ ਤਵ ਗੰਧ ਇਵ ਚਲਤ ਮੋਹੀ ॥੨॥

You have thousands of Lotus Feet, and yet You do not have even one foot. You have no nose, but you have thousands of noses. This Play of Yours entrances me. ||2||

Compassion is the answer to dealing with lower-case r racists.  Live the example.  Show it to yourself when you find yourself in a situation where that stray thought enters your mind.  Show it to others when they make a less-than-kind comment.  If you respond to their shitty comment with your own shitty comment, then all you’ve done is doubled that pile of poop.  Show them you love them as you point out the problem inherent in their statement.  Be prepared to deal with their shame (and regardless of their reaction it will be fueled by shame) with patience and understanding.  Help them understand the beautiful uniqueness of the other, while also pointing out the similarities.  Don’t so much try to shatter then lens as to melt it with the warmth of love and kindness.

When we do our best to be compassionate and deal with racism, then Racism will largely disappear; but if we handle racists with hatred and vitriol, then they’re pushed one step closer to becoming Racists.  Not out of an actual hatred for other races; but out of resentment, rejection, and fear.  Nirbhau and Nirvair are the answer.  God is the answer.  We are the answer.

Conversion concerns; wherein I talk to a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses

Sikhs don’t believe in conversion.  If you find a Sikh trying to actively convert people, remind them what Guru Nanak said: There is no Hindu, there is no Musalmaan, there is only God.  Had any Christians been present at the moment, the Guru would likely have added them to the list.  The goal of a Sikh is not to make more Sikhs; rather to make a Christian a better Christian, a Muslim a better Muslim, an Atheist a better Atheist, etc.  Make an atheist a better atheist?  A lack of belief in God does not preclude one from doing God’s work; but that’s a subject for another day.

Today I had a lovely chat with two Jehovah’s Witnesses who wanted to read me two pieces of scripture; one from Micah and the other from Psalms (93, I believe).  Guru Nanak spent years traveling all over the world to visit other peoples, recognizing that all faiths have at least some kernel of truth in them; and so I figure I can spare five minutes with the JayDubs if they can tolerate my post-workout stank.  They were unfamiliar with Sikhi.  That’s more our fault than theirs.  Our PR department has been somewhat lacking for the past century or so; at least in the US.  I began explaining some of our basic philosophies so that we could meet on a something of a common ground and have a meaningful conversation.  

Now it needs to be stated that both of these women were very polite and very friendly (yes, I do draw a distinction between the two); so when I speak in somewhat negative tones about one of them, know that it isn’t intended to slander her but to point out a larger problem that has been bothering me for years; arguably decades.  As I was explaining some of Sikhi’s spiritual foundations, one of the women was attentive and interested and seemed to really enjoy the exchange.  The other one sort of glazed over, politely waiting for her turn so she could try and (again, politely) bring me to Jesus. 

To my thinking there are three types of converters; and they produce three types of conversions: power conversions, 2-point conversions, and currency conversions.  Now a power converter sounds exciting, but they are the least genuine and impressive of the bunch.  The woman with the glazed look in her eyes is the power converter.  I don’t mean power like phenomenal cosmic power.  I mean it like a plug going into a wall.  When the current needs to be changed you use a power converter.  Power converters are uninteresting and uninterested.  They don’t care about your beliefs or your background.  They’re there to perform a function; to do a job.  My feelings towards these people are as bland as their attempts to spread the gospel.  I’m not offended, impressed, opposed, or even interested.  Like the little black box you plug into the wall to power your electronics, they’re usually harmless unless you start tearing into them.

Two-point conversions are my favorite kind, and they very much follow the football analogy.  They could go around just handing out pamphlets (less chance for failure; like kicking a field goal) but instead they take the risky maneuver.  They realize that they might not only miss the points, but there’s a chance that they’ll lose the ball – some of their own faith.  But they go in with energy, and a willingness to fail.  With that willingness comes a more open mind, and with a more open mind comes the opportunity for something meaningful.  She took something positive away from our conversation.  I would like to think that she’s thought of the exchange since we parted ways.  I can’t read the power converter’s mind, but I hope she took something positive away too.

Now the third kind of converter, the currency converter, is where the real trouble begins.  These converters, whether they realize is or not, are predatory – like a pedophile grooming a victim with promises of eternal love.  I call them currency converters because they’re similar to those payday loan companies that charge outrageous interest rates to desperate people.  They swoop in during disasters or into areas that need help and take advantage of people.  They heal the wounds of children, all the while scaring them into conversion; and tell them to convert their parents so they won’t go to Hell, then tout it as a victory rather than the heinous act that it is.  There are many reasons that people today distrust religion, but I suspect this lands in most people’s top-five. 

“But don’t the ends justify the means?  If they would otherwise not have come to God isn’t it better that they come through this kind of method than not at all?”

Short answer: No, they don’t; and no, it isn’t.

The long answer is: why would God want that?  God isn’t a Kardashian searching for ways to boost followers on their twitter account.  God doesn’t need your conversion numbers.  God needs love, compassion, and peace.  “The Commander, by His Command, leads us to walk on the Path. Nanak, He blossoms forth, Carefree and Untroubled. || 3 || True is the Master, True is His Name - speak it with infinite love.” 

With infinite love.  If our main reason for turning to someone is fear of that person, then how can we infinitely love them?  Our every action done afterward isn’t motivated by love, but by fear of consequences and desire for favor.  Sounds more like the actions of a petty sycophant appealing to a tyrannical monarch.

The first section of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (called the Mool mantar, or root mantra) specifically says that God is without Fear and without Hatred.  If God is without hatred, then what do we have to fear in the first place? 

Converters:

Want people to turn to God?  Be the example of on Earth through your actions; because as we all know, words are meaningless.  If you show people God’s infinite love, that is what will bring them closer.  A boastful, fearmongering person may get more people to follow them, but a person who truly shows the light of God in their actions brings people closer to God than any amount of threatening damnation.

Forgive me for any mistakes, condescension, negativity, or thoughtlessness.

An ignorant manmukh tries to explain God through scientific analogy and regrets the attempt

I woke up this morning at about 3 o'clock.  It was the storm that did it.  Rain poured down in great torrents; accompanied by colossal thunder crashes.  Through the flicker of lightning illuminating the house I could see my wife asleep beside me; breathing slowly - unphased by the weather.  My children, as well, lay in their beds; seemingly unperturbed by the magnificent display going on just outside.

It's not uncommon for me to wake up early.  Typically it's around 5 am, but if I'm offered an unplanned excuse to wake up earlier I usually try to take it.  Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) refers to this time as the amrit vela - the ambrosial hours before the dawn.  Even with the storm bellowing outside, I can understand the sentiment.  Much of my world still sleeps.  Responsibilities lay ahead for the rest of the day, but for now I try to force them out of my thoughts.  This is my time to spend one-on-one with God.  Usually it's time spent reading from SGGS or listening to a katha (sermon) or a lecture on Sikh history.  Today though, I lie in bed and appreciate the storm.

Many people of a religious or spiritual nature see a thunderstorm as a great display of God's might and splendor; and occasionally I fit that mold as well.  This morning, however, I'm thinking from an academic and scientific perspective.  

SGGS says,

ਤਾ ਕੀਆ ਗਲਾ ਕਥੀਆ ਨਾ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ These things cannot be described.

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਇ ॥ One who tries to speak of these shall regret the attempt. We regret the attempt because we know enough to know that we don't really know anything, so any attempt to explain the divine can only lead to us falling woefully short of the truth. SGGS also says, ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ Wisdom cannot be found through mere words. To explain it is as hard as iron.

But trying to explain the divine through the limited understanding of the human experience is part-and-parcel of being a manmukh; and so I too fall into the trap of trying to put God in a neat, little, easy to understand box.

One of my favorite games since returning to school has been figuring out how I would teach a subject to someone else.  I've had a couple of opportunities in the past with my fellow students.  Sometimes it has helped and sometimes it's fallen flat.  As I watch the storm I'm reminded of one of these attempts.

"What is the fundamental guiding principal of the universe?"

::other student stares blankly::

"Balance.  We see it in every scientific discipline.  Electrons balance and space themselves out, each falling in its proper place.  Chemistry, geology, economics, mathematics; everything.  In the human body, it's homeostasis.  Your body recognizes that the amount of glucose in the blood has fallen too low, so glucagon is released to tell cells to convert glycogen to glucose and send it back to the blood.  Your blood sugar goes back to normal.  Our temperature gets too high, so we begin to perspire to cool ourselves off.  Our bodies are trying to maintain balance - always.  Same with thirst, breathing-rate, hunger, etc etc etc."

As I'm watching the storm I recognize this phenomenon again.  The water vapor in the clouds has condensed and gotten heavier.  Now the balance between weight and gravity is off and the water falls; balancing the scale once again.  The plants in the ground absorb the water, nourishing themselves while returning the earth to a dry state.  Balance restored again.  An electrostatic discharge balances the ions between clouds or with the ground: lightning.  This is where I see God.

I don't believe in Mr. God.  The very notion of a man sitting on a cloud being mad at everyone but Joel Osteen seems exactly counter to the nature of God as I've always understood it.  So does the idea that we get one chance to be good and if we don't meet some incredibly high standards we get tortured for all eternity.  Even as a child I rejected this as the most unGodlike notion conceivable; settling instead on reincarnation before I even knew the word for it.  I also rejected the notion of Satan.  An all-powerful, all-knowing force doesn't have, or need, competition.  I was not a wise or profound child; simply a logical one.

God is balance, and God is everywhere.  God is in the rain, and the lightning, and the atoms that make up my desk, and the carbohydrates in the chips and salsa I'll be eating tonight.  God is in every sound, and every person.  God is in gravity, and chemistry, and physiology.  God is in me, and God is in you.  God is action and reaction; cause and consequence.

God is also the little thing inside of you that encourages you to go out of your way to help a stranger.  It makes you give your leftovers to a homeless person on the way home from the restaurant, or give money to a worthy charity.  It's the thing that makes you do good deeds and be okay with not getting recognition for them.  God is a force for good, and the force of good.  

The more I write the more I recognize the  regret in the above-mentioned quote from Sri Guru Granth Sahib; so I'll end with the following thoughts.  The world is out of balance.  In my humble opinion, it's largely because we've spent too much time connecting to the flawed institutions of man, and not enough time connecting to the divine within ourselves.  You can be a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or Atheist, but if you're ignoring that piece of goodness and love that resides in each of us then it doesn't matter if you pray to Jesus, Shiva, Luke Skywalker, or Christopher Hitchens.  Be part of the solution.  Bring balance back.