An antidote to political burnout and civic despair: drawing on mindfulness and modern wisdom to
cultivate resilience healthy engagement and skillful presence in turbulent times A compact
beautifully designed guide offering 27 powerful teachings of interdependence to navigate news
social media and civic engagement with clarity and courage 250 years after the US
Declaration of Independence this incisive Declaration of Inter dependence is a timely tender
and transformative guide for citizens who care deeply about the world but feel disillusioned by
the state of public discourse. Professor Jeremy David Engels—scholar mindfulness teacher and
longtime student of Thich Nhat Hanh—proposes that clarity and interconnection are not only
paths to personal peace but vital practices for renewing democracy itself. Structured in the
spirit of On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder this compact accessible book delivers 27 profound
insights—each a short chapter—on how to show up for democracy with compassion clarity and
courage. It invites readers to step away from enemyship to root their activism in shared
humanity and to declare their interdependence. Readers will discover: • How mindfulness can
heal the civic wounds of polarization and fear • Practices for engaging with news and social
media without being consumed • A reimagining of democracy as collective empowerment not
endless conflict • Zen stories and teachings to inspire transformation • Practical tips for
showing up skillfully in moments of disagreement and tension Whether you’re a seasoned
activist or a tender-hearted citizen seeking a new path forward this luminous testament to
resilience offers a lantern in the dark—and a quiet call to remember who we are and what we’re
here to do together.
