{"id":16698,"date":"2023-02-23T12:37:41","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T12:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/?p=16698"},"modified":"2023-02-23T12:44:45","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T12:44:45","slug":"choosing-our-battles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/choosing-our-battles\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing our Battles"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"16698\" class=\"elementor elementor-16698\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-62a80da7 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"62a80da7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-653a711b\" data-id=\"653a711b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20815b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"20815b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.3 - 28-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"877\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/77280860.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-16701\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/77280860.jpg 877w, https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/77280860-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/77280860-768x438.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 877px) 100vw, 877px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee084bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee084bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.3 - 28-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><strong>&#8220;If you are neutral in situations of injustice,<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>you are choosing the side of the oppressor&#8221; &#8211; Desmond Tutu<\/strong><\/p><p>Hello Groovers,<\/p><p>Hope you are all well and that your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/what-is-meditation\/vedic\">Vedic meditation<\/a> is going beautifully.<\/p><p>Before we go any further with this blog, I&#8217;d love you all to consider the words of the dear Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who of course recently passed away. Please take a moment to see how this statement lands with you.<\/p><p>I saw this quote posted recently by someone from our community, and it received widespread plaudits from their followers, but it left me wondering if it really is as self evident as they all seemed to agree? Because whilst I\u2019m sure we all feel called to take a position on things, I\u2019m not sure this statement is universally applicable, and feel it could be a great learning experience to unpack it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab62e86 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"ab62e86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/find-a-course\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-discourse\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Find an upcoming course<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-200ad3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"200ad3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Firstly, by taking a position we are playing the role of judge, which is not always wise, especially if we don\u2019t have access to the facts. Many people have been on the receiving end of people thinking they\u2019re standing up for justice, when they\u2019ve only got access to the headlines, and many people and organisations have been unfairly besmirched over the years because of uninformed judgementalism.<\/p><p>Secondly, its merits do somewhat depend on your spiritual experiences and\/or belief system. If you\u2019ve witnessed karma in action too many times to dismiss it, do we little humans need to interfere in the karmic workings of the universe? Maybe yes, maybe no. That\u2019s between you and the universe. I\u2019m not sure a black and white statement such as this necessarily acts as anything we can live by, and may actually distract us from what our true purpose really is.<\/p><p>Thirdly, lots of people are fighting injustice from a place of inner child wounding that may have nothing to do with the context of the situation they\u2019re feeling aggravated by. They&#8217;re feeling triggered, but they blame the proximate cause, rather than realising the true underlying cause of their discomfort has absolutely nothing to do with the situation at hand. I\u2019m not convinced that\u2019s a good basis from which to take a position either.<\/p><p>Fourthly, it tends to be more constructive if we can actually identify and promote a sustainable solution to the problem, rather than just getting in a huff about the issue. If you\u2019re sufficiently informed on the situation to feel you are justified in taking a position, then presumably you\u2019ve got the information and the intelligence to propose a solution that will lead to long term improvements, taking into account all of the varied dynamics and complexities of the situation and all of the actors involved. And of course, it\u2019s always worth remembering that we are wise to try and solve problems from a different state of consciousness than the one that created them, which is one of the many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/benefits-of-meditation\">benefits of meditation<\/a> that make it so utterly brilliant at helping us work our way through the thicket of seemingly intractable problems.<\/p><p>Lastly, I can&#8217;t see how this proposition is logically coherent. For if we all take a position on everything, how will we possibly have the bandwidth and the energy to actually focus our energies on the matters that we feel really called to respond to? How can we possibly be properly informed on every single issue? We can&#8217;t. That information gap is important, because things are rarely as clearcut as they seem. It&#8217;s not just agreeing on a general principle or direction, it&#8217;s what exact interpretation of that principle we are striving for and how we may get there that also count, as well as making sure it is coherent with the rest of our opinions, worldviews and philosophies, otherwise the inconsistencies will lead to confusion, as well as a lack of adoption, and ultimately, sustainability.<\/p><p>Now it\u2019s very interesting, because I have previously talked about the brilliance of Herschel&#8217;s quote The opposite of good is not evil; the opposite of good is indifference. And although this seems to convey a very similar sentiment, for me there is a stark difference between the universal applicability of this statement versus the one given to us by the legend that is Desmond Tutu. There can be, and often is, a huge difference between indifference and neutrality. Indifference represents a complete lack of engagement, nor care about what is going on, whereas one can be hugely engaged on a topic and still find themselves taking a neutral position on that particular matter, because they can see both sides of it. One can care deeply about achieving a positive outcome, but also not feel the need to take a definitive position on exactly what needs to be done to achieve that.<\/p><p>So with massive love and respect to our community member, and indeed the revered Archbishop, I challenge the universal applicability of this statement even though it sounds incredibly worthy. I still recommend we all get involved, when we feel genuinely called to, but as with most things, would advocate we do it from a place of love and understanding, rather than hostility, judgement and moral high groundedness.<\/p><p>Would be lovely to hear your points of view on this, and also if there are other aphorisms out there that you don&#8217;t feel sure about!<\/p><p>Will &amp; The Team, xxx<\/p><p>Download the Beeja app for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/what-is-meditation\/mindfulness\">mindful meditation for sleep<\/a>, meditations for anxiety, meditations for focus and more. Book one of our in-person meditation courses in London or a live online vedic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/courses\/beginners\">meditation course<\/a> and experience an elevated level of life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b033e56\" data-id=\"b033e56\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3521784 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3521784\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a60e31\" data-id=\"0a60e31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2fb739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f2fb739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/beeja-text-logo.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-723\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/beeja-text-logo.png 474w, https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/beeja-text-logo-300x134.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c980f46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c980f46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.3 - 28-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Benefits of Beeja Meditation<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66de76b elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"66de76b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/css\/widget-icon-list.min.css\">\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Reduce stress and anxiety<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Greater clarity and calm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Increase focus<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Enhance relationships<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Sleep better<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Feel energised<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa87740 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aa87740\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/blog-02.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-901\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/blog-02.jpg 512w, https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/blog-02-150x300.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you are choosing the side of the oppressor&#8221; &#8211; Desmond Tutu Hello Groovers, Hope you are all well and that your Vedic meditation is going beautifully. Before we go any further with this blog, I&#8217;d love you all to consider the words of the dear Archbishop Desmond [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vedic-meditation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16698"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16705,"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16698\/revisions\/16705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beejameditation.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}