“Without inner change there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.”
―angel Kyodo williams
Meditation is typically thought of as an individual practice, often falling in the “self-help” category in people’s minds. It does involve going within yourself and has all kinds of benefits to the individual, so it’s clear where this idea came from. However, our individual self-realization is dependent on uplifting those around us. And the changes we all want to see in the world can only happen by going within. One of the ways in which many of us bind ourselves and prevent our own spiritual growth is white privilege. Our meditation and spiritual organizations are dominated by it. Disentangling white privilege within ourselves and our spiritual communities is a necessary step if we are invested in our own personal evolution. Coincidentally, it is meditation itself that can help get us there.
I have wrestled with whether or not to write about this as topics around social injustice and inequality are often told from the point of view of white people. I decided to go forward with it as it is the responsibility of those who have privilege to dismantle it and this is one way I can contribute to that cause. I encourage you to read and listen to the Black and brown people within the wellness community who are leading…
