Marianne Williamson dropped out of the race to become the 2020 Democrat presidential nominee.  Williamson is a spiritual teacher who rose to prominence in the 1980s when she started giving talks on A Course in Miracles, which she calls spiritual psychotherapy.  

She has made a number of appearances on Oprah's Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday and written several best-selling books on spirituality.

In spite of her many accomplishments, however, I knew very little about Williamson when she first appeared on the Democrat debate stage.  In a field of nearly twenty candidates it was hard to keep everyone's names straight; much less know their backstories.  But a bolt of electricity shot through me every time she got the chance to speak.

When she spoke about the water crisis in Flint Michigan, she had the courage to admit that what happened in Flint, MI (a predominantly poor, black neighborhood) would never happen in Gross Pointe, MI (a predominantly rich, white neighborhood).  

She suggested that the driving force of our policies should be the health and happiness of our citizens as opposed to gross domestic product.  And she suggested American voters would be more impressed by a morality-driven campaign than a wonky, plan-driven one.

Of course, the DNC has pre-ordained the outcome of the race, and they'll do everything in their power to ensure the "right" person wins; just look at what they've done to Andrew Yang over the past few months.  So, while I'm sad that Williamson has suspended her campaign, I'm not surprised.

But her "politics of love" was a nice refrain in a culture that values winning over conscience.  Her promise to the PM of New Zealand, that America would be the best place in the world for children to grow up, was delightful in a world where children go hungry due to school lunch debt.  And the passion in her voice when she spoke about the "sickness care system" in the United States was a sharp contrast to candidates who discuss rising drug costs like their reading a grocery list.

Marianne believed in something when she was on stage, and she encouraged us to believe too.  She believed that politics could be about more than just winning; that the debate stage could be a place of openness and the telling of hard truths.  She believed that America is hungry for politicians rooted not in cynicism, but in hope.  And she believed that America can be better than what it has become.

I would expect nothing less from a spiritual teacher, and it's incumbent on all of us to follow her example.  Because there are lots of people with plans and strategies for winning the next election.  But there are dangerously few reminding people that they're worthy, that they're loved, that they're perfect exactly as they are.

Buddhism, with its teaching of original enlightenment and the interconnectedness of all things, is especially well suited for this work.  As the country succumbs to "collectivized hatred" we can counteract it with collectivized love.

As the news cycle works endlessly to make people afraid, we can offer teachings of compassion that make them feel safe.  And when they fall into feelings of despair, we can remind them it's okay to hope, to dream, to believe that everything will be okay.

Through her candidacy, Marianne acted as a light in our political process.  And through our practice, Buddhists can act as lights in the world.

Namu Amida Butsu

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The Dharma of Marianne Williamson