Five Principles, Three Gates

A couple of years ago, I created a set of rules for Social Justice Warriors. Frankly, I think they are rules for awakened adults, or enlightened citizens of any political orientation, so long as the core philosophies of human existence embrace equality.

Here are the steps, at a time it might be useful to remember them.

1. Love yourself. You have to start here. That means being the source of your own joy, so that you are not co-dependent with others. It means self-care and self-respect, as well as a commitment to protecting yourself. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT YOURSELF. Bullies and tyrants love you to believe you don’t, or that they are all-powerful. They are not. They are as afraid of injury, loss, and death as anyone. And…they have to turn their backs, and have to sleep. If you know what I mean. When you are as committed to protecting yourself as you would to protect your own helpless child, you have achieved this state.
2. Love One Other Person. Once we feel safe, and lovable, the natural tendency is for the ego, the “sense of self” to expand to include others. The primary bond with another human being is the doorway to this expansion. Learning to love and care for another human being fully and completely is one of the most powerful human growth experiences.
3. Understand History Without Guilt, Blame, or Shame. Humans are part of the natural world, and everything in the human world is an emergent quality of those basic animal drives. We are beasts who aspire to being angels. And it is as…