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Inner Peace: Curiosity and politics Manju Lyn Bazzell Friday Apr 27, 2018 at 12:12 PM Apr 27, 2018 at 12:12 PM By Manju Lyn Bazzell This article is perfectly timed to notice my own state of inner peace amidst the chaos, delight and differences during a family reunion to celebrate my step-father’s 94th birthday. The political landscape included eight conservatives and two progressives, thus the focus of this article. I am one of the two progressives. Buck Rogers, one of the most dynamic 20th century speakers in America, once said of his leadership team, if all of us agree, then all but one of us is unnecessary. That quote has had a profound impact on my life’s work. What follows are two specific examples that capture the essence of my experiences as I focused on the political diversity in my family during this trip. After an early dinner with my brother, mom and father, the television was turned on and stayed on Fox News programs for four straight hours. I excused myself and went into my room to read, though I often watch Special Report with Bret Baier. The thoughts started cycling as I stretched out on the coverlet, trying my darndest to focus on Ann Patchett’s latest offering. Cycling thoughts included: wow, this is kind of rude; they are together so often and this must be their evening routine; wish the TV volume weren’t so high; don’t they want to do something that includes me?; wish I could watch with them without getting my buttons pushed, but I don’t trust myself; ah, this is not an experience of inner peace; how can this be an experience of inner peace?; these individual thoughts are so diverse and unrelated for the most part; what if they are not a problem?; what if the problem is believing this thought to be true?; what will happen if I just let my thoughts be, without judging them, without trying to change them?; these are thoughts, too, they are just disguised as more conscious, rarified; Ann Patchett sure does know how to write a sentence .... You get the picture. And after some time I find myself immersed in the new book. Inner peace present through all of it, even though there were other emotions resting on top of this ever-present inner peace, disguising it and amplifying the opportunity to be still, regardless of appearances of thought and the accompanying feelings. The words of my teacher, Sri H.W.L. Poonja, come to mind: “If you touch it, it will bite you. Let your thoughts fly as birds appear and disappear in the sky.” Two weeks later five of us are out for dinner and I am curious about what my step-brother thinks about the current political situation, what he imagines could make a difference to bring us together as a country. Usually there are 10-12 of us at a table, with so many things happening simultaneously that there is little time for a real conversation, so I recognize this as a rare opportunity. And he does not disappoint. He talks about the power of vision and the need to focus on what we want, rather than rehashing issues that divide us. He mentioned the extreme obstructionism that he is seeing the Democrat’s exhibit and, when I mention that the Republicans behaved the same way during the Obama administration, he agrees. He talked about the power of framing and the importance of a bigger picture context. I am almost ecstatic, as I see real opportunities for future exploration with him and others that think as he does. How do we have these conversations in our community? How can we develop a deeper understanding of what is at the core of our differences? What if our diverse community can learn how to solve problems more effectively and wisely, so that our solutions have long-lasting, broad benefit? May the force of genuine curiosity be with us! — Manju Lyn Bazzell has been a leadership consultant and keynote speaker for organizations committed to improving and transforming democracy for more than a decade, applying her experience as a business consultant and commitment to inclusivity to governance. If you are interested in bringing diverse conversations to the Rogue Valley, email her at [email protected].