Spiritual transformation

In order to make the transition to a better society (here on the Island or anywhere), we need good information about what's happening and what's possible. But even more than that, we need some inspiration. Living into a better world is a spiritual enterprise.

Recently we've come across two DVDs that work very well for stimulating conversation on the spiritual side of things. One (that's the title!) was discovered by Heather and Paul of Loonsong Garden. Here a small group of first-time filmmakers embark on a quest for the meaning of life, taking a set of 20 questions to a wide variety of people and capturing the best responses with their video camera. The central idea that comes across is (as the title suggests) the unity of the human race; but the diversity is also celebrated here.

The same goes for Beyond Our Differences, though this is a more professional, beautifully shot and tightly edited film (bigger budget, no doubt). It was first shown on PBS at the end of 2008. Here the focus is more specifically on religion, sharply criticizing the fundamentalist versions of it, but mostly showing how the major religious traditions can and do motivate people to amazing works of service to their fellow humans. Core values of love, compassion and social justice are found in sacred Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist writings, and we see activists from all these traditions working toward a better world in their various ways.

There's also spiritual motivation beyond religion. Another DVD now in our resource library shows how the arts can be a means of salvation. Born into Brothels chronicles the work of photographer Zana Briski, who met the children of prostitutes in Calcutta and knew she had to do something to help them escape the situation they were born into. Taking her cue from their interest in her camera, she gave them all cameras and taught them the basics of photography. The results are amazing and incredibly moving. This film won an Oscar for best documentary of 2004, and the DVD we have is loaded with extras following up what happened to the kids later. (The title above links to Kids with Cameras, the foundation set up by Briski to continue the work.)