Ethan Nichtern – The Road Home – Ep. 52 – The Dharma of Fascism

Through the lenses of dharma & collective karma, Ethan Nichtern explores the polarizing political climate & right-wing wing extremism that stoked the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Through the lenses of dharma & collective karma, Ethan Nichtern explores the polarizing political climate & extremism that stoked the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Reconciling Buddhism with Fascism

With the attacks on the U.S. Capital being such an egregious breach of truth, morals, and humanity, Ethan posits the question of how we can reconcile the ‘equanimity-for-both-sides’ teachings of Buddhism within the context of the modern rise of white supremacist fascism.

“This is where the dharma starts to come in, and I think our reading of classic Buddhist or yogic ways of dealing with a world in turmoil need to evolve and need to get a lot more precise quite quickly.” – Ethan Nichtern

 Explore this heightened state of political polarization further, on Un-lightened Shadows: A Powderkeg of Polarization from our BHNN Awakened Heart Blog
Spiritual Bypass: Hovering Above the World (13:33)

Rather than “hovering above the world” in total equanimity for all sides–as contemporary yogic teachings have prescribed at times–Ethan invites revivifying an engagement, discernment, and action to our spiritual practices and daily lives. Recognizing that non-action is still a form of action, how can we reengage with the world in a dharmic way, but one that has zero tolerance for hatred, white supremacy, and fascism?

“Make sure when you say you’re ‘in it, but not of it,’ you’re not helping to turn this into the place sometimes called Hell.” – Sri Stevie Wonder (from his song “As”)

 For Ethan diving into the nuances of interconnection and engagement within the context of dharma, tune into Ep. 49 of The Road Home
Compassion & Interdependence (28:50)

Speaking to the individual and collective traumas inflicted due to the rampant death and fear at the hands of both the coronavirus pandemic and the violent insurrection at the U.S. capital, Ethan illuminates the potential for opportunity hidden beneath the muck of suffering. As we are invited to peer through this intense bardo, Ethan describes how what we are each starting to feel has the potential to transform our relationships, policies, and systems.

“I think us havingfrom the events of 2020 and 2021a closeness with death; perhaps it will just traumatize us, but perhaps also it will give us more of a sense of the preciousness of human life, and a desire to create policies, systems, and relationships that take that preciousness to heart.” – Ethan Nichtern

 Uncover the notion of ‘dangerous opportunity;’ that there is a potent chance for positive transformation within chaos, on Ep. 343 of Mindrolling

Images via @insightwetrust and @aliceteeple on Twenty20