The spiritual path leads one to a transformation from a focus on me and mine to an ongoing compassionate response to the suffering of the world. Here and now, we as a species are challenged to collectively experience a spiritual transformation from a focus on selfishness and the separation between us and others and Earth to an ongoing compassionate response to the suffering of the world now and in generations to come.
The mission of the TN Interfaith Power and Light is to respond to climate change through upholding the sacredness of all life, protection of vulnerable communities, and caring for the Earth. We witness our spiritual values by reducing our carbon emissions within our daily lives, releasing the spiritual power of our faith communities, and by advocating effective climate protection policies.
Through climate vigils, TIPL creates opportunities for people of faith to stand up for life. Together we are a moral force that will move our world toward the good – toward kindness, toward learning how to live on Earth so that others may simply live.
There is no other. There is no enemy. We here today are all part of the problem and part of the solution. We can model the changes we want to see in the world by how we relate to those who do not understand, by how we encourage those so bound to greed and yesterday to share our awe for life and Earth.
Hatred never ceases hatred, but by love alone is healed. That is the ancient and eternal way.
This climate protection transformation will be unlike any other social change movement because it will be the first time that as a species we have had to work together to solve a problem of our making.
Let us bring into life the wisdom of the ages. Let us turn the wheel of change with great care and kindness. Let us search deep into the garden of our hearts and remove the weeds of fear, ignorance, greed, and aversion. Let us cultivate the good within us so that it may blossom and transform what we experience.
If you want to change the world, we must change how we dream of how we experience the world.