Through bearing witness, love & service, Llewellyn shares how we can collectively heal the crisis of disconnection & ecological devastation.
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. Check out his new podcast Working With Oneness.
Our Connection to the Divine
Love exists within each one of us and is our most direct connection to the divine. We express love through acts of service. Simple acts of loving kindness, like helping a stranger carry groceries or delivering food to a lonely neighbor, brings an essence of love into our communities. Both love and service are necessary for human connection and for the health of the earth itself.
“Love and service are not far away, but belong in our daily life with friends and strangers.” – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
To learn more about how to offer compassionate service to the world, tune into Ep. 69 of the BHNN Guest Podcast with Spring Washam
Pivotal Change // Global Healing (4:08)
We must bear witness to what is happening in our inner and outer worlds. The current way we are living is not sustainable for humanity or for our natural world. We must also be open and feel the grief for all the destruction that humans have caused. In response to grief, we can find power in prayer and pray for the pain of the world. Finally, we should engage in small moments and interactions of love rather than focusing on grander schemes.
“My primary response is always to return our consciousness to an awareness of the sacred nature of creation, its essential unity and interdependence.” – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
The Cries of the Earth (13:30)
So much of the anxiety and disharmony we feel is brought on by the cries of the earth. As a part of our practice, we can personify earth as if it were a living, breathing being in need of our love, support, prayers, and recognition. Even gardening or cooking can be a prayer when we are mindfully touching soil or blessing the fruits we are about to consume for energy.
“What matters is what we bring to this intimate exchange, whether our prayers are heartfelt or just a mental exercise. It is always through the heart that our prayers are heard. – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
Check out another guest podcast with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee to hear environmental advice: A Letter To My Granddaughter: Wisdom For The Next Generation
Photo via BigDane