This is Duane Elgin’s contribution to a series of three interlocking conversations that took place with a small group of Evolutionary Leaders who met in 2010 and 2011 to grapple the what, why, and how of Conscious Evolution. What Conscious Evolution is may suggest why it is important and/or what actions can be taken. In these dialogues, the intention was to approach Conscious Evolution from several angles. In so doing, it is easier to see both divergences and synergies in the field, and in the process gain a clearer picture of the whole.
A first major step in conscious evolution, recognized in both meditative traditions and psychotherapeutic systems, is to develop our capacity for compassionate self-reflection or non-judgmental self-observation. Translating this into everyday life means every area of our lives is suitable for conscious reflection and choice—the work that we do, the food that we eat, the transportation we use, the housing in which we live, the public works we support (e.g., education and the arts as well as roads), and countless others. Out of these many areas, I would like to suggest these as powerful examples of putting conscious evolution into action:
- A “New Earth Story” Movement—The human family does not yet have a shared story for its extraordinary journey—from near extinction roughly 70,000 years ago to planetary domination today. Without consciously discovering our common stories of connection, we will likely fall back on old narratives of separation. If we are to pull together in cooperation, then it is vital that we discover simple and universal stories about our human journey that are emotionally compelling and draw out our higher potentials. We can discover new Earth stories that honor the diversity of our past and present promising visions of our collective future with questions like these: Are we growing up as a species? Are we on a heroic journey as a human community? How fully are we using our unique capacity for self-reflective consciousness, both personally and collectively? Are we discovering the universe is a unique kind of living system of which we are an integral part? Is the human family awakening to its role as a unique, self-aware expression of a living universe? These are core questions for the human journey and could be explored regularly and in depth in our diverse media.
- A “Conscious Media” Movement—Assuming we have many “new Earth stories,” the key question is whether the mass media will present stories with a promising view of life beyond consumerism. The most visible and pervasive change in consciousness at a social level could be in our use of the mass media; seeing it not simply as a tool to entertain consumers but, more importantly, as a vehicle to awaken the conversation of citizens to immense challenges and the stories of an exciting, new future. Our collective mind is visibly manifest in the mass media that dominate mass consciousness—and we can choose which concerns and conversations are most compelling to ourselves as a society. Just as the individual human mind can be a source of distraction or a source of deep insight depending on how we work with it, so too can the collective mind if the human family be a vehicle of either great distraction or a source of deep insight into the human journey—again, depending on how we work with it. Therefore, a movement for a more mature social mind and use of the mass media is integral to conscious evolution. A new “trans-partisan politics of consciousness” seeks to awaken the civic potentials for the mass media so they can assist us in communicating our way through this time of profound challenge and change with the tools of a more conscious democracy.
- A New Paradigm or “Living Universe” Movement—A “living universe” paradigm with profound implications is emerging rapidly from the convergence of deep insights from science and the world’s wisdom traditions. Simply stated, if we see the world around us as mostly inert matter and empty space, then it makes sense to regard “it” as resources to be exploited; however, if we see the world around us as deeply alive and infused with an ecology of consciousness, then it makes sense to regard the universe as a sacred creation to be revered. A paradigm of conscious evolution views consciousness as an integral property of the living universe and this transforms our understanding of who we are and the evolutionary journey we are on.
- A “New Lifestyle” Movement that recognizes the “American dream” of a consumer society is becoming the Earth’s nightmare as it produces climate disruption and energy shortages, and that new ways of living are required if we are to have lives of sustainable prosperity. Living more simply and sustainably is not about living with less but rather living with balance and meaning. Consumerism and materialism makes sense in a dead universe whereas simplicity makes sense in a living universe. Likewise, a focus on material success makes sense in a dead universe whereas a focus on soulful development makes sense in a living universe. When our understanding of the nature of reality shifts, so will our lifestyles make a corresponding shift.
- A “Global Truth and Reconciliation” Movement as evolutionary leaders come together to objectively witness and call for the healing of religious intolerance, needless poverty, over consumption, racial injustice, sexual discrimination, and other conditions that have divided the human community in the past. We have the tools of global communication to tell ourselves the truth about the overall human condition. Consciously recognizing the reality of our divided world is a first step toward reconciliation, restoration, and healing.
- A “New Communities” Movement that views the birth of eco-villages and co-housing as important innovations for developing sustainable alternatives to the isolating and inefficient housing patterns of the past. As larger systems break down, it is important to have local towns, communities, and neighborhoods that are resilient and can withstand the shocks, for example, of sustained energy shortages and climate disruption.
- A “Green Business” Movement that takes seriously triple-bottom line accounting and purpose-driven business will blossom in the transparent world of the Internet. Consumer-based feedback, visible to the world via the global internet, will bring a new level of accountability to business operations. Companies that are consciously seeking to serve a sustainable future will be recognized and rewarded in this new era.
These seven examples only begin to illustrate how conscious evolution is an actionable process.