Human Rights Day December 10, 2013
Human Rights Day this year came just a few days after Nelson Mandela freed his spiritual self from his mortal form. His work as leader, healer, teacher and voice of forgiveness was complete. His dignity was always free even when his human rights were figuratively and literally shackled while in prison in South Africa. The apartheid policies that denied him and so many other minorities work, education, equal living conditions, political participation, liberty and even life have now been eliminated legally. Even behind those walls he was free to forgive, and as he removed his soiled prison garb and left them folded on his bare bunk; he also discarded all hate, despair, and anger toward those that attempted to diminish his spirit.
His life is an enduring example of how one person can light a path to freedom. His life energy now is set free to enrich the universe. His freed spirit should be a spark in every heart to kindle our desire to complete his work worldwide.
On Saturday, December 7th, I was witness to another example of a rare voice for human rights and human dignity. Yungchen Lhamo is from Tibet. Her father is a priest imprisoned by Chinese authorities and her mother a nun, as is she. A spiritual soul offering song that inspires each ear with a blessed message, I would say what that message is, but after sitting and listening to her song blessings and song prayers, I know, I feel, that message is unique for each person in her audience.
My message was to understand that world peace is not just about the laying down of weapons. Peace is about elevating the human spirit to its full potential. It is about food for babies and our aging parents. Peace is about expression of thoughts that are each unique by those muzzled by oppression. It is about opening the gates of the prisons that still hold those that have a different political opinion of those in power.
Human rights are world rights for all world citizens; the right to clean water, clean air and soil that can grow rice or flowers. Human rights are the right to hold hands with any soul friend or lover joyously celebrating those infinitesimally small differences that you recognize across a room or the universe.
Peace is a human right that is the foundation. Take your energy, voice and vision and join it with ours so today is improved and tomorrow will be improved again.
I am so grateful to our living and enduring spiritual teachers.
Scotty Bruer, Founder of PeaceNow