Beyond Spiritual Bypassing: Peace Activation in Palestine-Israel

In recent weeks, as I engaged with peace activators from Palestine, Israel and elsewhere, a paradoxical challenge became apparent.

A dilemma, illuminating the complexity surrounding the term "peace" and the pursuit of self-care amid an external environment characterized by persistent violence and discord.

When dialogue about the conflict is filtered through a spiritual lens that speaks only of "forgiveness" and "karma," it inadvertently glosses over the raw emotions of anger fear and the scars of history.

It simplifies a labyrinth of displacement, a chronicle of violence, and a chessboard of political manoeuvring into platitudes that cannot bear the weight of reality.

This dichotomy underscores the complexity of the term “peace activation”- a concept that, within this setting, demands a nuanced understanding. 

At the heart of human experience lies a complex interplay between the inner self and the external world. A dance between the tranquillity we seek within and the tumultuous reality we face without.

The landscape of the Palestinian-Israeli violence dynamics is a mosaic, nuanced and multi-hued, with each piece representing a story, a struggle, a dream. It is a historical tableau marked by the footprints of diverse cultures, faiths, and political ideologies, each asserting their collective identity and narrative amidst a cacophony of voices. This rich tapestry underscores the profound challenge of navigating personal and collective paths towards peace in a context fraught with conflict and diversity. Yet, this pursuit of inner peace must not become disentangled from the external complexities that give it shape and meaning.

In this quest for serenity, there lies a delicate balance that must be maintained to ensure that the pursuit of inner peace does not veer into the realm of spiritual bypassing.

Spiritual bypassing, a term coined by psychologist John Welwood in the 1980s, refers to the use of spiritual practices and beliefs to avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and societal problems.

The phenomenon of spiritual bypassing is particularly pertinent when considering the layers of complexity that define the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It represents a critical juncture where the pursuit of peace can inadvertently become a mechanism for disengagement from the pressing issues that fuel the conflict. This avoidance not only hampers the cultivation of deep empathy towards all parties involved, but also stalls collective efforts towards actionable solutions that could potentially lead to sustainable peace.

By privileging personal tranquillity over engagement with the external strife and the intricate realities of the conflict, individuals risk silencing the diverse voices and narratives that are crucial for understanding and addressing the roots of the violence.

Recognizing the pitfalls of spiritual bypassing is essential for activists, peacemakers, and individuals alike, as it calls for a more integrated approach to spirituality—one that encompasses both the inner journey of peace and the imperative to confront and transform the external realities of injustice, violence, and oppression.

In conflicts where historical grievances and ongoing suffering are prevalent, spiritual bypassing can lead to an oversimplified or superficial understanding of the issues at hand or a one-sided narrative that does not fully account for the complexity of the conflict or the diversity of perspectives within it.

Advocating for forgiveness, love, and peace without acknowledging the real and present injustices, pain, and suffering, can diminish the experiences of those who live with the consequences of the violence daily. This undermines the validity of their emotions and experiences and can hinder or delay the healing process by not addressing the root causes of pain and anger.

Spiritual bypassing represents a retreat into spirituality to circumvent the uncomfortable confrontations with emotional turmoil and social injustices.

Empathy requires us to genuinely understand and share the feelings of another, which in turn motivates action to alleviate their suffering. However, when spiritual bypassing is at play, suggesting that individuals or groups should move past their trauma without fully processing it or without seeing justice done can feel dismissive, alienating, volatile or re-traumatising, eroding trust and solidarity.

One of the more insidious effects of spiritual bypassing is the way it can lull individuals into inaction. The belief that spiritual practices alone—such as prayer, meditation, or affirmations—will resolve deeply entrenched socio-political injustices can prevent people from engaging in the necessary social, political, and economic advocacy.

Spiritual bypassing can give the illusion that a resolution has been reached when the underlying issues and triggers remain ignored, hidden, or untouched. Promoting a fake sense of harmony that is not yet a reality, it can contribute to the perpetuation of a status quo that is unjust and unequal. This false sense of resolution can hinder the pursuit of concrete changes that are essential for peace.

Yet, to dismiss spirituality as irrelevant would be an oversight, too. Spirituality can, and does, play a pivotal role in the lives of those ensnared in the conflict, offering solace, hope, and a beacon of purpose amidst the darkness of despair. It has the power to ignite the embers of compassion, empathy, and understanding that can surmount the divides of politics and religion.

However, when these practices are used to bypass the difficult work of dealing with conflict, the outcomes can become misaligned with the intentions. The pursuit of personal enlightenment or societal peace should not come at the expense of ignoring suffering or delaying justice.

To move beyond spiritual bypassing, it is essential to integrate spiritual insights and healing with a commitment to confront and address the full spectrum of the conflict. This involves acknowledging pain and suffering, advocating for justice and human rights, and taking tangible steps toward resolving the deep-seated issues that fuel the conflict. True peace activation requires a willingness to engage with the world in its complexity with all its painful contradictions, holding space for both spiritual growth and practical action in pursuit of lasting resolution.

The challenge, then, is to integrate spirituality with a grounded recognition of the real-world intricacies of the conflict. This means embracing spirituality not as a bypass but as one pathway that leads to a more comprehensive approach to peace— peace that is not just envisioned in meditation but enacted in the corridors of power and the streets of protest.

Embarking on this path means educating oneself about the complexities of the conflict, participating in activism that advocates for peaceful resolutions, and supporting organizations that work tirelessly on the ground. It involves a commitment to staying informed, offering safe(r) spaces, fostering deep listening and dialogue, and aligning one's actions with the principles of justice and humanity—while also nurturing the inner sanctuary of peace through meditation, reflection, and self-care.

At Peace Activation, we believe that the path to peace is not solely in the serenity of our inner worlds, but in the courage to confront and address the complexities of the outer world. This is the true awakening—a realization that our spirituality is most potent when it is lived out loud, standing in solidarity with those who seek justice, and actively working towards root-and-branch transformation resolution that upholds the humanity of all.

Our movement is Soul-Centred Peacebuilding because we believe in a Holistic Approach to Conflict Resolution. We aim to steer Peace Activation towards a model of spiritual activism that truly embodies the principles of inner peace leading to world peace, recognizing the challenges while embracing the opportunities for growth and impact.

Join us at peaceactivation.org, regardless of who you are and what you do. We all have a piece in this peace. Let’s activate peace together.