{"id":772,"date":"2015-03-18T03:47:27","date_gmt":"2015-03-18T03:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/?p=772"},"modified":"2015-03-18T03:47:27","modified_gmt":"2015-03-18T03:47:27","slug":"americas-prison-system-our-responsibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/2015\/03\/americas-prison-system-our-responsibility.html","title":{"rendered":"America’s Prison System & Our Responsibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"prison\"<\/a>The United States\u00a0has the highest numbers of people (per capita) in prison in the world! It\u00a0has nearly\u00a05 percent of the world\u2019s population yet currently imprisons nearly 25 percent of the world’s prisoners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1 in every 31 adults in the USA (7.3 million) is behind bars, or on probation or parole (2009). 743 adults per 100,000 population are currently locked up in a small cell the size of a cupboard. Each costs\u00a0over\u00a0$24 000 per year. The yearly expenditure for\u00a0building new prisons is also in excess of $5 billion.\u00a0Keeping\u00a0people in prisons costs over $60 billion per year!<\/p>\n

What does that say about the nation? What does that say about the individuals?<\/p>\n

Locking people up in metal blocks and throwing away the keys! How is this a solution? A shocking statistic.<\/p>\n

There’s an ancient Hawaiian Ho\u2019oponopono practice of healing oneself via mental cleansing. When addressing any pain, sorrow, lack of balance or area needing healing, one simply says the words –\u00a0\u201cI’m sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. I love you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

This practice involves taking responsibility not only for oneself, but for the whole world. How easily do we blame, hate, and label others \u2013 those we know and the complete strangers we are so quick to denigrate.<\/p>\n

What would happen if we saw what is outside of us, as relating to us, as connected to who we are?<\/p>\n

Further, what would happen if we were to decide to change it?<\/p>\n

All violence stems from fear. Fear is not to be fought or opposed. It is to be forgiven, so peace is the way to peace, love is the way to love. Did we abandon those who were struggling, or could we have done more to help those in need?
\n\"avaaz\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If one person is abandoned, aren’t we all abandoned at least in some way? There is an essence that connects all of us together.<\/p>\n

Instead of casting aside those who fail or get lost, as a society let’s take personal responsibility for each other. Yet this idea goes far deeper. When we can take responsibility for the whole world, we shift the possibility and take seriously the idea that WE MAKE THE WORLD.<\/p>\n

I believe this is the missing link and way to free ourselves from karma. It requires a different way of \u201cseeing\u201d our lives – as intrinsic to creation (as well as being creation itself!). Thus it becomes self-evident that all life is sacred.<\/p>\n

The days of following gurus have ended \u2013 it is the teaching that is important, the wisdom that lasts beyond the life of the teacher. Find every kernel of truth and then most important, follow it, teach it, live it. And don’t keep the wisdom to yourself – a candle does not lose its fire by lighting other candles.<\/p>\n

Man maketh the world. This does not negate taking responsibility for yourself. As Buddha taught, \u201cYou, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Taking responsibility for yourself is taking responsibility for the whole world. Taking responsibility for the world is taking responsibility for yourself.<\/p>\n

The true profession of man is to realize that his responsibility is the world.<\/p>\n

This is the way to freedom from karma. This is the way to creating a future we all can be proud of.<\/p>\n

Practice:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Using a picture of the globe, imagine the world and all the people in it whilst saying these words…\u201cI’m sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. I love you.\u201d\u00a0If there is any area of your life requiring healing, or any person you know requiring healing, add this to your list. It’s easier if you have an image \u2013 otherwise just write the person’s name down with their birth date.<\/p>\n

For instance:<\/p>\n

Myself (my life)
\nThose who I’ve hurt or wronged (intentionally and unintentionally)
\nMy sister Ellen (06 March 1975)
\nJohn Doe (14 April 1980)
\nMy career abundance.
\nGetting paid on time.
\nMy job.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Emotionally connect to these statements, so they are heartfelt. Keep saying these words as you read the list, visualize and feel the healing as if it’s already done…
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. I love you.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When we can take responsibility for the whole world, we shift the possibility and take seriously the idea that we make the world.\u00a0Even the worst criminals hold a sacred flame within. To all those incarcerated in prisons, \u201cI’m sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"daviey\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you ready to take the next step?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Work with me! Interested in being coached by\u00a0David<\/em>…<\/p>\n

I am looking for BOLD and INTREPID souls for whom NO is never ENOUGH,\u00a0for whom success is something beyond any material achievement (however WONDERFUL\u00a0they are), for whom spiritual growth is a priority and NECESSITY.<\/p>\n

Please\u00a0email<\/em>\u00a0–\u00a0davidgarenson@gmail.com
\n<\/a>Please follow me on FACEBOOK\/davidarenson
\n<\/a><\/span>___________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Photo Credits: \u00a0Main Image\u00a0Credit: istockphoto (by allanswart) via\u00a0http:\/\/www.prisonlawblog.com\/blog\/americas-prison-system#.VQjyjCj8820=
\nSecond Image: Via Avaaz.org<\/p>\n

No Copyright Infringements Intended.<\/p>\n

What do you think? Feel free to comment down below!
You are awesome as you are, and I love you!<\/em><\/p>\n

And if you love me back, please click \u2018share\u2019 up at the top!
\n
Facebook:\u00a0davidarenson<\/a><\/p>\n

David G. Arenson (Starlight)\u00a0– World Teacher, Transformational Healer and Speaker.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The United States\u00a0has the highest numbers of people (per capita) in prison in the world! It\u00a0has nearly\u00a05 percent of the world\u2019s population yet currently imprisons nearly 25 percent of the world’s prisoners.\u00a0 1 in every 31 adults in the USA (7.3 million) is behind bars, or on probation or parole (2009). 743 adults per 100,000…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":570,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[209,560,11,52,49,253,17,12],"tags":[361,33,582,569,231,580,581,471,579,583,584],"class_list":["post-772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awakening","category-buddhism","category-healing","category-responsibility","category-shadow","category-soul-coaching","category-suffering","category-transformation","tag-buddha","tag-fear","tag-hawaii","tag-hooponopono","tag-imprisonment","tag-incarceration","tag-justice","tag-karma","tag-prison","tag-sacred-flame","tag-war-on-drugs"],"yoast_head":"\nAmerica's Prison System & Our Responsibility - Healing and Transformation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/2015\/03\/americas-prison-system-our-responsibility.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"America's Prison System & Our Responsibility - Healing and Transformation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The United States\u00a0has the highest numbers of people (per capita) in prison in the world! It\u00a0has nearly\u00a05 percent of the world\u2019s population yet currently imprisons nearly 25 percent of the world’s prisoners.\u00a0 1 in every 31 adults in the USA (7.3 million) is behind bars, or on probation or parole (2009). 743 adults per 100,000…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/2015\/03\/americas-prison-system-our-responsibility.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Healing and Transformation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/starmentalhealth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-03-18T03:47:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/files\/2015\/03\/prison1.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Starlyte\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@davidstarlyte\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"America's Prison System & Our Responsibility - Healing and Transformation","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/2015\/03\/americas-prison-system-our-responsibility.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"America's Prison System & Our Responsibility - Healing and Transformation","og_description":"The United States\u00a0has the highest numbers of people (per capita) in prison in the world! 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