There was a time when spiritual seekers withdrew from the world to find stillness. In caves, forests, deserts, and monasteries, they turned inward, not out of fear, but to discover truth untainted by the noise of the world. That silence was sacred. It was chosen.
But today, a different kind of silence has taken hold, one not born of wisdom, but of paralysis. A silence that cloaks itself in “not wanting to be political,” in “staying above the noise,” or “letting things unfold as they’re meant to.” It sounds peaceful, even virtuous. But it’s often fear, avoidance, or overwhelm in disguise.
The Spiritual Vacuum
When conscious people step back, unconscious forces step in.
While mystics meditate, politicians legislate. While healers retreat, corporations exploit. While lovers of truth keep quiet, fear-mongers speak loud. The result is a spiritual vacuum in the public square—one being filled by those who use religion as a weapon, not a doorway.
And make no mistake: the world is being reshaped right now by those who have no interest in inner awakening. From Project 2025 to climate denial, from book bans to attacks on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, a rigid, fearful vision is on the rise—one that seeks to control rather than liberate, to impose rather than invite.
What happens when awakened souls choose silence in the face of that?
We give our consent.
The Misuse of “Non-Attachment”
Some quote the Buddha, “Be detached from outcomes.” Others recall Jesus saying “My kingdom is not of this world.” But detachment doesn’t mean disengagement. It means acting with love, not ego. It means being rooted in truth, even when the world wavers.
Neither Jesus nor Buddha turned away from suffering. They walked into it. They spoke clearly. They disrupted norms. They challenged systems. Not from hatred, but from presence, from compassion, from conscience.
If your practice leads you to passivity in the face of injustice, it’s time to reexamine the practice.
Fear, Dressed in Robes
Let’s name it plainly: many are afraid. Afraid to speak out. Afraid of conflict. Afraid of being labeled. Afraid of getting it wrong. But fear wrapped in spiritual language is still fear. And it holds the same consequence, it keeps good people quiet while the world burns.
We don’t need all seekers to become activists. But we do need truth-tellers. We need artists, teachers, storytellers, and mystics who refuse to sanitize their voice for comfort. We need those who embody love in the world, not just behind closed doors or yoga mats.
A New Sacred Responsibility
The old model of spirituality, escape, transcend, detac, is being redefined. The new sacred task is integration: to be both grounded and divine, both contemplative and courageous. To meet the world not with outrage, but with unshakable clarity.
This is not about politics. It’s about consciousness.
It’s about the soul of humanity being pulled in two directions, and the urgent need for the awake to show up and tilt the balance.
What Would Jesus or Buddha Do?
Not in a monastery, but on Facebook today?
Would they stay silent while the vulnerable are scapegoated? Would they scroll past cruelty to avoid “being political”? Would they prioritize peace over truth?
Or would they speak, clearly, compassionately, and bravely?
The world doesn’t just need your silence. It needs your presence.
And it needs it now.