I’ve been having some interesting conversations with a couple of people I met through my blogs. Just visitors, that left a comment, and that I replied to, and now we have a conversation ongoing. Fascinating individuals.
And after these conversations, we come to the question: What should we do? Yes there is injustice, religious intolerance, corrupt businesses, pandering politicians, out of control media ... So what should we do? One answer is to work on ourselves. Another answer is to hold fast to our beliefs, because they are right. And yet another is to stop bitchin’ and start a revolution.
So how do you see it? And what are we to do?
I saw an interesting movie on the plane over to Japan. It is called “V for Vendetta”. (And yes, it is based on a comic book, but don’t let that influence you.)
It is about a government (in this case Britain, but that’s not the point) that has become Big Brother, and ultimately has become the problem (the connections to Iraq snd America are not so subtle, but don’t let that bother you either). And about one man who has harbored legitimate grievances for 20 years, and is now carrying out his Vendetta. And about one innocent civilian – also touched by the injustice — carrying on his crusade (probably a bad choice of words). It is about your role as a member of that society, and whether you would stand up against such injustice. It is about fear, and about transcending it. About death, and no longer fearing it. It’s a bit over the top as a movie, but I think that is OK (after all, it’s based on a comic book ;-). It wants you to ask — just who is the terrorist, anyway? So whatever your grievance, your concern, your favorite injustice, the question remains ... Just what are we to do?
I came across this quote recently, and I offer it as at least one possible reaction. But I’d welcome hearing about yours. Please feel free to comment.
Let us be One
May all humanity be one, and we be one with them. And may we feel our kinship now with all living things, as well: with the creatures of the land and sea and sky, and feel our common bond with our Mother, the Earth we share together.
O Creative Spirit of Life, whom the people of the world call by many true names, we give thanks this day for the wonder that is all around us: for the human quest for meaning; for the poetry and myth of the human imagination; for the bright stars in the night; for the joyful sound of voices uplifted in song; for the company of friends; for the bonds of those we love.
We would be mindful, especially now, of the great pain still within our world: the loneliness, the poverty, the hunger, the disease, the injustice that yet remain. Just as in the solstice season, our globe swung back toward the light of longer days, so, too, we pray, may human history once again swing out of darkness and toward the light -- toward the light of peace and justice, reason and compassion.
We join now in the hope that in the midst of all that besets us and our world, we can yet be faithful to Life, and faithful to one another. The spirit of all the celebrations we have commemorated this season-- and other celebrations the world's people observe-- is the spirit of faith in the amazing possibilities that Life always offers unto us: possibilities of new light, new life, new freedom, new hope. May we plant the seeds of this hope deep within our souls this day. And through the winter yet before us, may we tend to these seeds, and nurture them, and care for them -- so that they, too, may come to flower like the spring that already beckons -- come to flower in those blessings we offer back to Life.
Amen.
Rev. Jeffrey Symynkywicz
4 comments:
Magnificent photo! Thank you for sharing a view that I will probably never see for myself. Fourteen hours, eh?
As I was reading your words, you asked just who is the the real terrorist. I wanted to rephrase the question to this: just what is it that terrifies us?
The quote gives a clue, perhaps. Loneliness, poverty, hunger, disease, unjustice. Yet I suspect the terror is deeper, and these are just the symptoms.
Pat,
Thanks for the visit and comment -- I know the photo you were referring to was over at http://reflectionsofbeauty.blogspot.com/ and was the view from Mt. Fuji. Yes, it can be magnificent.
As for your rephrasing of the question: from "who is the terrorist?" to "just what terrifies us?" -- yes, I think that is the right direction. And if you follow all of those symptoms you identify, I think you'll find the answer to be our ego.
For our ego is programmed, it seems to me, biologically with a scarcity mentality. That makes sense when we realize that its job is to keep us alive through our procreative years, to continue evolving. That really is its "purpose".
But we do not have to be bound by this evolutionary programming. We can be aware of our own consciousness, and thereby can ask the questions that get at the root cause of these symptoms. Personally, I think that means realizing we are not our minds, not our emotions, not our egos.
We are something more -- and you can see that by just being -- being the witness to all of those symtoms. You can set yourself in the audience of this great play called Life. And once that is done with ease and confidence, you can re-enter the play, act your part, and realize you are just reading lines that have been given to you. You are no more that actor's character than any movie star is in reality the character they play on the silver screen.
Once you recognize this reality, and can freely participate in this great game called Life, your detachment from the script will allow you to realize this fear is only an egoic drama, which we need not buy into if we don't want. And by not buying into it -- by being detached from the outcome -- we are free to act from our Authentic Self, and if we chose, offer Love and Compassion to help others realize there is something more than the drama, than the play, and than their roles.
So thank you for rephrasing the issue: not who is the terrorist, nor even what does he fear, but just what script he is reading, and does he wish to act, and if so, how should he play his part. I hope in the end it will be one more cast member that has learned from the school of Love and Compassion, and can alter the drama accordingly. At a minimum, that actor will find peace with this approach.
Very thought provoking post..yes having tha continued faith in oneself and in the goodness of life is very vital..
I also believe that every indivdual can make a difference..we touch so many people's lives each day..each interaction can be one of compassion and reaching out..and soon enough the transformatory process begins.
perhaps i am an eternal optimist
:)
thanks for sharing this!
Jyotsna,
Thank you for the visit and comment. I hope you are correct. Perhaps it only takes a relatively small number of individuals to reach some sort of tipping point or critical mass. And then society at large sees the choice, much more clearly for the first time. And at that point, we are collectively able to disarm Madison Avenue, disarm the fear-mongers, disarm the cynics, and we will see civilization rise to a new level. Here's to hoping we each can be a part of the solution.
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