One of the greater offerings that Anusara Yoga and John Friend have contributed, is the building of a culture that communicates in the highest possible way. It’s an easy concept but certainly harder to apply. And of course the beauty is it can apply in just about every situation you can think of where there’s communication between us humans.

I’m focusing on it this morning since so many are still talking about the shooting of Rep. Giffords this weekend and the reactions of all the different sides. In yoga, we mainly use this communication method to offer critiques to each other in order to facilitate growth … but it really can be used pretty much all the time.

Here’s how it works: When you notice something and prepare to comment, start your words with the value you see in the thing you observe (we call this “see the good” but in a wider social context, I like to say, “see the value” since the word “good” can be a bit of a rabbit hole).

Then … and this is important … use the word “and.” There’s something inherently disruptive about the word “but.” This may sound simple … but try going a whole day using only “and” … and no “buts!”

Lastly, offer your perspective. This is of course the part that normally dominates communication. Most of us walk around all day spouting our opinions about things. Yet, with the simple injection of a mindful perspective or spaciousness or the awareness to discern the value of something … you’ll be amazed at the power of your speech.

Watching all the coverage of the assassination attempt in Arizona, I’m fascinated as always by the anthropological, energetic reaction. One of my fundamental yoga practices is to use the Tantric concept of “Spanda (pulsation)” as a lens in order to understand more fully and react more optimally to a given situation. The concept is that the universe is pulsing … constantly expanding and contracting and the forces of contraction and expansion intelligently organize in order to find balance.

In this horrific case, the reaction is sensible, even predictable. The NY times editorial this morning: Gail Collins (smartly) pointing out that gun control, specifically of automatic weapons should be revisited/reenacted … making the point that had the assailant used a single action gun, the tragedy would have been limited to fewer victims … not an ideal situation yet better than the multiple homicides. Paul Krugman (who I like to read in spite of his invariably dark perspective) focused on the difference between insults and incitement, railing on the tendency of conservatives to use the latter more than the former. And most of the press reports and commentary followed a similar reaction.

The “spanda lens” sees these reactions as contracting. When viewed from a human value perspective … a positive contraction. Essentially, contractions occurring in the form of unity, clarity, greater control.

Why is this?

Violence on this public scale catapults us into a mindset of fear. It’s why one of the most common observations is that the “temperature” of the country is too high. In other words, fear and heat are used to describe the precipitating environment being too out of control … the world in a moment of disconnected or uncontrolled expansion. And it’s perceived and even felt as so far out of balance that it caused great suffering. So it makes total sense that the common energetic reaction would be to contract or to “cool” things down.

Also, we see the pervasive, almost unified reaction as evidence that it’s probably highly organic, deeper than reason and therefore probably healthy in terms of moving toward a balanced middle state. But as with all energetic reactions, the potential for overreaction is strong.

I think you could argue that on a large scale, that even overreaction might be good, or at least appropriate. It can create a space for people to feel connected and safe … not to mention that outrage often feels like a worthy substitute for reverence and respect for those hurt and killed. Still, from a yoga perspective, I think we can simultaneously, individually, use the moment to respond in an even higher way.

What, therefore, can we do as a private yet significant facet of our reaction to such an intense moment as this?

Since the underlying principle is balance, that should be our focus. Greater balance in your consciousness facilitates optimal reactions. We can’t assume It’s panacea to the level eliminating all suffering and violence … which are a part of the universe. But instead, simply give us as individuals a method of navigating challenges. In fact, navigating the full range of experiences in the universe, including horrific ones.

And of course the good news is that an increase in individual balanced consciousness does contribute, in my opinion to the elevation of communal consciousness and more specifically to the manifestation of that communal consciousness through forms like civility, cooler discourse and even, less violence … the same goals as the overreaction.

So … I encourage meditation on balance. Contemplate the energy and forms of balance … the middle, sky/earth, light/dark. Have faith that mediation and contemplation will plant the seeds in your nature to afford you the freedom to handle difficulty and influence others positively … even in the face of great fear. It might even give a clear insight into other ways we might be able to react on a larger scale, say, legislation or fundamental paradigm shifts. The key is that the evolution yielded from our reactions to reality … both individually and communally will come not from pure reactivity but from grounded, elevated consciousness.

And that would be good.