What? Innocent? No Way!

When I teach or talk about inherent innocence, invariably it agitates some folks so much that they get snarky, or even attack. “Oh yeah! Well what about Hitler? Or pedophiles? Or rapists? You’re telling me they are innocent? Bullshit.”

That’s not exactly what I’ve heard, but the expressions run the gamut with those kinds of words and tones. Sometimes it really does become verbally violent. Often it is followed by a comment and a question or two. “So they’re innocent. You mean we do nothing? Turn the other cheek and be violated ourselves?”

Let’s be clear: Inherent innocence does not mean acts of commission or omission have not occurred. It doesn’t mean it is right, or even justified. It certainly does not mean we are not to take action. (Here’s another blog that explores this idea more deeply.)

We are looking for an entirely new point of view … to be profoundly changed intellectually, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually…the Greeks called this metanoia, a profound change of heart.

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”

~Maya Angelou

Maya is not referring to knowing at a surface level. Rather, she’s pointing us toward understanding deep in our heart of hearts.

Kathy’s Story

Sometimes these challenging ways of inner, transformational understanding are best seen through the lens of a story. The following is a recent e-conversation with Kathy, who has been working her way down this path with great diligence and commitment for some time. The timing seemed perfect for us both as well as for these ideas about innocence.

Kathy was deep in a messy situation involving people acting quite badly in ways that were going to harm others. She asked me how in the world she could navigate it without contributing harm.

“Our starting point, Kathy, has to be ‘equipoise,’ to be neither drawn nor repelled. Unless we can stay centered, and maintain some detachment, our egos will find their way to fear, indignation, righteousness, or a whole host of challenging attitudes. Unless we can get deeply into our own shadow selves, we will always project those feelings or perspectives onto others and cause harm.

This brings up that great Buddhist notion of “attachment,” which is largely about who or how I think I am. Am I attached to my own righteousness? My judgment of others? My victimhood, or heroism? That’s the stuff within us that causes the mischief. We have to bring some light to those dark corners in ourselves.

Now, having cleaned up our insides, what action is there to be taken? First and foremost, what is likely to be effective? Second to ask more deeply, what’s the real outcome we seek that brings us to some kind of harmony? Third, and most importantly, what is the best path for my highest self to proceed?”

“That’s it!” Kathy replied enthusiastically. “Finding the positive ways to fight for what is needed. And to be a better person for it. My metta is may we be healthy, may we be happy, may we follow the Path. On another note, this yin and yang on attachment and detachment is really interesting.”.

“LOL … we cling, we let go, we cling, we let go, we cling, we let go.”