Unraveling the Mysteries of our Meta-crisis: Embracing the Power of Shambhala Warriors to Transform Our World
Meditations on Moloch”: The Fourth Horizon
Not long ago, I stumbled upon the Three Horizons framework by Bill Sharpe. At the time, it seemed to be the most insightful way to understand the changing tides of our world — the zeitgeist, the shift between paradigms.
The Three Horizons framework presents three distinct yet interconnected perspectives: Horizon One represents the present and the status quo; Horizon Two embodies the disruptive forces and transitions; and Horizon Three envisions the long-term future, where innovative ideas and solutions emerge.
Although profound and a great map to navigate our complex times, I felt the were to other underlying forces at play that are determining our future not detected by these horizons.
In parallel, I was also dwelling with Scott Alexander’s thought-provoking essay the “Meditations on Moloch”. In this essay Alexander delves into the concept of multi-polar traps and the meta-crisis. The essay uses the metaphor of Moloch, an ancient Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice, to represent the destructive force of these traps in modern society. Moloch symbolizes the inexorable force that drives societies and individuals to self-destructive actions. The essay uses this metaphor to highlight how the pursuit of self-interest, without regard for collective well-being, can lead to devastating consequences. In essence, Moloch represents the embodiment of coordination failures and the destructive power of multi-polar traps.
Multi-polar traps did not seemed to be accounted for in Sharpe’s Three Horizons. Multi-polar traps are situations where individual actors, driven by their own rational self-interest, engage in behaviors that are collectively detrimental. These traps can manifest in various forms, such as the tragedy of the commons, arms races, and first-mover advantages in technology. Multi-polar traps are a central element of the meta-crisis and contribute to the challenges we face today.
Alexander discusses two broad categories of solutions to the problem of Moloch — rationalist solutions and mystic solutions. Rationalist solutions involve designing systems and institutions that promote cooperation and align individual incentives with the common good. These solutions include mechanisms like carbon taxes, international agreements, and regulations to prevent resource depletion and environmental degradation. Mystic solutions, on the other hand, emphasize the importance of cultivating virtues, such as compassion and selflessness, that can motivate people to act in the best interests of the whole, rather than merely pursuing their own gain.
I decided to pursue further on the latter.
Elua, the counterforce to Moloch
As a foil to Moloch, Alexander introduces the concept of Elua, a force that represents cooperation, love, and the pursuit of the common good. Elua embodies the principles of altruism, empathy, and coordination that can help humanity overcome the destructive influence of Moloch. By nurturing and promoting the values associated with Elua, we can work towards a world where cooperation triumphs over competition, and collective well-being takes precedence over individual gain.
This essay encouraged me to explore “Mystic solutions” approaches, as solutions to overcome these challenges, always emphasizing the importance of cooperation, altruism, and collective action.
It was in this search that I came upon Joanna Macy’s video on a Tibetan prophesy:
In this eloquent story, Joanna describes that a time comes when Earth faces great danger due to barbarian powers armed with devastating weapons and destructive technologies.
Amidst this crisis, the kingdom of Shambhala emerges, not as a physical place, but within the hearts and minds of the Shambhala warriors.
The spiritual origin of the Shambhala warrior Tibetan prophecy comes from Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the Kalachakra tantra, which is a collection of esoteric teachings on cosmology, astrology, and spiritual practice. The prophecy of Shambhala is rooted in these teachings, and it has become a central theme in Tibetan Buddhist mythology.
According to the prophecy, in times of great darkness and turmoil, when the world is on the brink of destruction, the warriors of Shambhala will emerge to help restore balance and guide humanity toward a more enlightened state.
These Shambhala warriors are not warriors in the traditional sense; they do not engage in physical combat. Instead, they are spiritual warriors who embody wisdom, compassion, and skillful means. Their primary weapons are loving-kindness and insight into the true nature of reality, which allows them to dismantle the ignorance and confusion that perpetuate suffering and conflict in the world.
The spiritual origin of the Shambhala warrior prophecy is deeply connected to the core teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the principles of compassion, interdependence, and the cultivation of wisdom.
The prophecy serves as an inspiring vision of hope and transformation, reminding practitioners that even in the most challenging times, there is always the potential for positive change and spiritual growth.
These warriors, unrecognizable by appearance, courageously venture into the heart of the enemy’s power to dismantle the mind-made weapons that threaten life.
The Shambhala warriors know that the dangers that threaten life on Earth do not come from evil deities or extraterrestrial powers. They arise from our own choices and relationships.
They must go into the corridors of power where the decisions are made to dismantle the weapons of power. “The Shambhala warriors know they can do this because the weapons are “manomaya”, mind-made.” This is very important: “These weapons are made by the human mind. So they can be unmade by the human mind.”
To remove these weapons, in every sense of the word, they must prepare for their mission. The Shambhala warriors “must go into training”, wielding two weapons: compassion and insight- “into the radical interdependence of all phenomena”
Compassion fuels their actions on behalf of others, while insight helps them understand the interconnected nature of all things. Both weapons are essential for the Shambhala warrior, as they work together to balance the intensity of compassion with the clarity of insight, ultimately striving to save the world from destruction.
To me the Shambhala warriors of the Tibetan prophesy represent Alexander’s Elua.
I felt the need to combine these three perspectives into a story.
I realized that Moloch, a symbol of the inexorable force driving societies and individuals towards self-destructive actions, represents a Horizon in itself — It is the Horizon 4. Not properly accounted for by Sharpe’s three horizon’s framework. As it spirals out of control, it seems too big to be part of Horizon 2.
In the upcoming story, “The Unseen War: The Emergence of Light,” I bring a new wrestling dimension between two opposing paradigms of Horizon One and the transformative possibilities of Horizon Three. I pose that Moloch, a symbol of the inexorable force driving societies and individuals towards self-destructive actions, represents a Horizon itself — one that seems to spiral out of control.
Elua, a Shambalah warrior herself, represents the compassion and insights needed counterbalance the forces of Moloch.
The story delves into the interplay of light and shadow, hope and despair, and the transformative power of compassion and unity.
Coming up: The Radiant Dawn: Shambhala Warriors against the Shadow of Moloch
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