A Conversation with Robert Gass & Nina Utne

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About Spiritual Activism

Nina Utne: Our cover says "Calm in the Chaos." What does this suggest to you?

Robert Gass: These are times of great change. Work, families, community life, the social and political landscape, even our physical environment and climate are in flux. Technological changes are affecting almost every aspect of our lives. In the face of all this change, we understandably feel anxious and overwhelmed. But change is inevitable. It's the way of things. Those who want to help create a positive future for coming generations have no choice but to embrace uncertainty, to ride the turbulent waters of change. We must indeed learn how to stay calm in the chaos.

Those working for social change often operate in a state of high stress, driven by the sheer magnitude of the problems we face, the suffering in our communities, and declining social and environmental indicators. We may be angry at those with power whose greed and unconsciousness continue to create injustice, wars, and environmental destruction.

Yet increasingly, activists are coming to appreciate that fear and anger, while they are often an important part of awakening political consciousness, are not ultimately the best fuel for making change. Many of us have responded to the words of Gandhi: "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." To really become part of the solution rather than part of the problem, we must, even in the midst of chaos and struggle, go beyond railing against what we don't like. We must learn to keep our hearts open, and to dream the positive future we want to create.

NU: So, in that context, what does activism mean?

RG: It means that we choose to engage with life. We choose to take an active role in creating a better future for our children, for all children. That we say, "Okay, I am part of this wildly imperfect species called humanity. In the face of it all, I choose to do what I can, to give what I can, to make a difference." We respond to our collective suffering and challenges with some form of action.

NU: How do we know what to do? How do we know what matters?

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