Commitment to Action ~ Two Hours a Week?! ~ Discernment: What Action Should I Take?
Commitment to Action
What is "action?" We choose to define it as "being active for what you hope for in the world," as suggested by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone in the book Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy.
Members of a Buddhist Mobilization Project (BuMP) Sangha commit to at least an average of eight hours a month to action dedicated to a cause of their choosing, and to being held mutually accountable for this commitment with other Sangha members.
Eight Hours a Month?!
For most of us, two hours a week seems like alot. Our lives are already full of responsibilities and activities. Adding one more thing can seem like an additional source of stress.
However, humankind is facing crises on a global scale. How we respond to those crises will determine whether our children, grandchildren, and all future beings will have a livable future. Who else will respond if not us? What activities do we spend two hours a week doing that are not in alignment with our deepest aspirations and our compassion - activities we could convert into service that helps us feel empowered, involved, and connected?
Discernment: What Action Should I Take?
What does it mean to be "active for what you hope for in the world?" For some, the kind of action they want to take is obvious. For others, it takes considerable discernment - and often, discernment must be an ongoing process. BuMP Sangha members can help each other discern what action to take.
What is "action?" We choose to define it as "being active for what you hope for in the world," as suggested by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone in the book Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy.
Members of a Buddhist Mobilization Project (BuMP) Sangha commit to at least an average of eight hours a month to action dedicated to a cause of their choosing, and to being held mutually accountable for this commitment with other Sangha members.
- Each individual decides where and how to dedicate their action hours.
- Members track their hours and activities online in a way that is visible to all Sangha members.
- Action hours don't have to be spread evenly over time (e.g. instead of 8 hours every month, someone might dedicate 40 hours to a big event all in one month and then take some time to rest afterwards) but the idea is to maintain the minimum average of 8 hours a month and not go more than a month with no action.
- All or some members of a BuMP Sangha may organize to take action together, but this is not required. Any actions proposed by group members to the group should be approached as a "coalition of the willing," where those who are interested in the action can meet separately to coordinate, and no one is required to participate or endorse the action.
- Members commit to this action and accountability for six months at a time.
Eight Hours a Month?!
For most of us, two hours a week seems like alot. Our lives are already full of responsibilities and activities. Adding one more thing can seem like an additional source of stress.
However, humankind is facing crises on a global scale. How we respond to those crises will determine whether our children, grandchildren, and all future beings will have a livable future. Who else will respond if not us? What activities do we spend two hours a week doing that are not in alignment with our deepest aspirations and our compassion - activities we could convert into service that helps us feel empowered, involved, and connected?
Discernment: What Action Should I Take?
What does it mean to be "active for what you hope for in the world?" For some, the kind of action they want to take is obvious. For others, it takes considerable discernment - and often, discernment must be an ongoing process. BuMP Sangha members can help each other discern what action to take.
- Discernment about what action to take is an important process but ideally will not take too more than a month. It is too easy to get trapped in indecision, feeling disempowered, or waiting for the perfect opportunity. Tangible activity is empowering and energizing, and to some extent it doesn't matter what action we take as long as it is beneficial.
- Creative thinking about "action" is encouraged, based on Joanna Macy's vision of three kinds of action (click here for more on these):
- Holding Actions in Defense of Life
- Transforming the Foundations of our Common Life
- Shift in Perception and Values
- The "good enough" principle: In practice, no action, cause, or associated groups of people will be perfect, and any action we take will only be a small contribution. At some point we simply need to pick something that seems good enough and begin.
- Part of the value of a BuMP Sangha is being able to feel part of the actions of all the members, helping us feel less isolated in our efforts and more like we're part of a larger, impactful effort.
- Members already involved in actions are welcome to inform others about it and/or invite them to participate, but a BuMP Sangha should not be a venue for recruitment.
