The Cure for Incivility

According to the traditional wisdom texts of yoga, we’re living in Kali Yuga, the iron age of quarrel and hypocrisy. It’s a season of time when people are likely to be misguided, prone to pointless argument, and, above all, always disturbed.
And one of the most disturbing things about it is that the loudest voices belong to people who are unhinged, obstinate, deceitful, and adept at insulting others.
Excessively confrontational speech has become so normalized and pervasive that it’s almost impossible to keep it from affecting our consciousness.
Taking steps to limit our exposure to it is smart self-care, but turning away won’t fix it and all the meditation in the world won’t make it go away.
The question we should be asking ourselves isn’t “how can I get off this battlefield?” it’s, “how can I help to raise the level of the conversation?”
Speaking from a position of higher consciousness means using language that conveys love and respect, especially when we’re speaking to people we have significant disagreements with.
It’s not easy; it requires a fair amount of self-discipline and emotional control. That’s why the Bhagavad Gita refers to speaking in a way that’s truthful, pleasing, and beneficial, as an “austerity.” It’s a form of self-mastery that requires both compassion and detachment in equal measure.
But if we can follow the Gita’s advice, we’ll elevate the conversation. . . and ourselves along with it.
Do you think participating in social discourse from a position of higher consciousness is the cure for incivility? Let me know in the comments.
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Hari-kirtana das is a yoga teacher, spiritual mentor, and author. He’s lived in yoga ashrams and intentional spiritual communities, worked for Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley start-ups, and brings a wide range of spiritual knowledge and life experience to his classes, workshops, and presentations.
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