- "Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction
of life, I undertake to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect
the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not
to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing
in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life."
-
- THICH NHAT HANH is a Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist,
scholar, and poet
-
- Last week, an Italian video about Fallujah was released
on the Internet. I hesitated before viewing it. I knew
the effect was going to be devastating. And yet, I knew that avoiding the
reality would be cowardice and cowardice is a quality I cannot
abide. And so, with choiceless awareness, I allowed the nightmare
into my day.
-
- I can only struggle for ways to describe the sickening
feeling that overcame me. To say it was disturbing is a horrendous
understatement. To say it was devastating is to minimize the impact. I
am merely reduced to shaking my head in despair and looking with sorrow
at what the human race has become.
-
- Have we lost our reverence for life? Have we ever
owned it? Am I a fool to trust that deep within each of us lies a
place that is rarely visited; a place where hate, anger and self-indulgence are
unwelcome; a place where compassion dwells. Can you trust that
such a place exists and it is accessible? Can you understand that
if we do not get to know this place intimately, we are indeed a doomed
species?
-
- Yes, the world is filled with anger, hatred and injustice.
I hear the cries of people as they point their fingers at the assumed "culprits"
and assure themselves that their rants are part of the solution. And
yet, I believe quite the opposite. Can you hear what I am saying?
I am saying that such words are part of the problem.
-
- I am stating that we are all responsible. Yes,
all of us!!! And unless we assume that responsibility,
nothing will change. WE are the problem and WE are
the solution. To target "the other" is both
the depth of unconsciousness and the height of dishonesty.
-
- Please understand. I am not in the least
minimizing the situation that exists on Planet Earth in these more than
troubled times. But Planet Earth is merely a reflection of
each one of us. It is merely a mirror that has been provided for
us. Don't turn away. Look. Look at your innermost
beauty and your innermost ugliness. Keep your eyes focused
on that mirror, forget the distractions, forget the television, forget
the desires of the physical body. Learn the trick of the mirror.
- Look, if only for a minute, at yourself.
Look at your behavior. Look with eyes that can see. Peel
away the veil of defensiveness. Look at how you treat your
fellow human beings. Do you feel that these behaviors
are unrelated to the behaviors in the Middle East? Look at
your reaction to the people with whom you disagree. Look at your
reaction to the people who appear different. Look at how you treat
people in need. Look at how you treat the people who consciously
or unconsciously offend you. Listen to how you talk to people with
whom you disagree. Get to know your tyrant. Get to know your
dictator. Where is the fascist now? Look in the
mirror.
-
- Life is so incredibly precious, and moment by moment
it is slipping away. Moment by moment you are contributing
to the hatred, anger and violence on this planet, and just because dead
bodies are not lying in front of you, do not doubt for one minute the violent
effect of what you are doing.
-
- There is not a minute to waste. The time
is now and it always has been and always will be now.
Feel the urgency. This is the time to put an end to the violence.
This is the time to be truly alive.
-
- When we are truly alive, everything we do or touch is
a miracle. When we are truly alive, we can appreciate and
honor the beauty of life. When we are truly alive, we will do everything
in our power to protect life. ALL life.
-
- "If a man loses his reverence for any part of life,
he will lose his reverence for all of life."
- -- Albert Schweitzer
-
- Copyright 2005: Judy Andreas
- www.judyandreas.com
- JUDE10901@AOL.com
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