Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee offers a short reflection on how we can maintain community in uncertain times and hold onto the light that is left.
Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Ph.D. is a Sufi teacher in the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Sufi Order. He is the author of Sufism, the Transformation of the Heart, and the founder of The Golden Sufi Center.
Dark Times
Llewellyn begins by discussing the darkness of our current times. He spends some time reflecting on the traumatic events occurring in Ukraine. Llewellyn believes that this moment in history symbolizes the crossing of a threshold and speaks to our greater human story. In dark times, we must remember our interconnectedness and our need for kinship and community.
“How we make this transition to a living future depends on how we hold the light that is left and let it guide us through this present darkening.” – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
For another reading from Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee about the crisis of our times, check out: A Letter To My Granddaughter: Wisdom For The Next Generation
Online Community
Recently, the Coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult to forge a sense of community. We spent a long time away from our loved ones. We did not expereince socialization and day-to-day interactions. Social media was created with the intent to bring us together in new ways. However, it has been a vault of misinformation, conspiracy, and tension. The internet has caused a deeper fragmentation instead of creating genuine connectivity.
“While online communities provided some support, can pixels pretending to be people really replace the warmth of a touch or the friendship of sharing a cup of tea? We have wandered into a world of alienation without fully understanding the road we are traveling. We will have to find our way back to a place of belonging.” – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
Belonging (5:51)
We are all a part of the broader community of planet earth. Llewellyn shares a few stories from his life that remind him of interconnectedness. It is important to recall all of the small acts that can bring us together. Something simple like bringing banana bread to a neighbor or laughing with a friend can be monumental in developing a sense of community. We are all kindred spirits walking the same journey of being alive.
“The primal knowing that one is part of a living community founded on love and service, true companionship, is like a caravan traveling the desert of our increasingly soulless world.” – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
Spiritual Communities (11:30)
In the present time of darkness and disarray, spiritual communities will be a guiding force of light. In a landscape of war, climate change, pandemics, and social atrocities, we need to see values that support our shared humanity. Llewellyn says that we need to hold onto the threads that connect us and walk together back into the light of love and sustainability.
To hear more about connecting and community tune into Ep. 24 of ReRooted: Community and Connection with Héctor Sánchez-Flores
