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"An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind."
~Ghandi
Sunday, September 16, 2001
In every language there is a word for peace. I created this - Words of Peace - to be a meditation on the word, and the unity beyond the differences in all of us.
May all beings find peace.
posted by CBN on 9/16/2001 06:15:50 PM
I've hesitated putting up a flag on the porch or posting one here - I love my country, but I have mixed feelings about patriotism. I've always felt that going over board with devotion to country is what has gotten us in the mess we're in - that the only boarders on the earth are man made, and that borders make for separateness rather than unity.
Greg brought over a flag, and after talking it over with Chris and Matt, we've come to the concensus that our display of a flag at the house is out of respect and remembrance of what has happened and the toll it is taking all over the country. And that is what this graphic represents as well.
Soon, though, I want to find a symbol of peace to fly along side the stars and stripes. I feel that I can love and respect my country and still have and promote compassion and peace for all the people of the world.
The flag graphic is free for personal use
We're beginning to hear the personal stories now - so touching, so poignant, so human. Tributes and memorials are pouring from the hearts of people who have been touched by this tragic event. So many mixed feelings, yet all these feelings are normal and natural in response to a very unnatural event.
rivers run... The victims in the planes and buildings have shown us the most important lesson in all of this - their last acts were to reach out to say "I love you". When faced with the reality that all we have is the present moment in such an urgent way, they understood what is important.
Every day, every moment, the now is...
I love you.
...the face of love's forgiving © 1995 Sacred Circle Music
Pat Robertson once said that a meteor might strike the U.S. because of the gay days parades in Orlando - what a crack pot! My favorite Pat Robertson story is when he was praying on his TV show that a hurricane that was projected to hit the Carolina coast be diverted - miracles! it shifted course shortly after that - lol - but being the weather watcher that I am, I had already read the updated advisory from the National Weather Service saying just that. Maybe the meteor will hit Pat Robertson for being deceitful.
I guess what I don't understand more than anything is that people honestly believe that their God is so hateful and unjust - that they are lucky to escape him - that they have to be careful what they think to avoid his wrath. How sad.
I'm so thankful that I have found a path that gives me so much comfort - especially in confusing and upsetting times like this. Many thanks to the Buddha and all who carried his words through the ages to me - I'm profoundly grateful!
A view from the GOES storm floater.
Also of note is a letter from the Dalai Lama.
The example I tried to use today in explaining my point of view to a former naval officer who is eager to fight - someone, anyone - is that there has to be balance and peace for any lasting impact to come from our actions. If a person doesn't take care of themselves, has a sniffle but ignores it, they develop an illness yet keep going and do nothing about it, when they walk into the ER with full blown sepsis, they have to endure a full blown assault on their bodies to *try* to save their life.
Doesn't make sense though, does it? Yet that's the hard job - the education, proper food, negotiation and compromises to help the people - and the only way to fight this is to look at the core problems and work to solve them. It's not easy, it takes time, and it's not dramatic nor "news worthy". I'm not saying to throw away the antibiotic, but the focus must be on prevention to be effective in the long term.
My empathy and compassion are for all people - every where and in all circumstances - yes, I understand the feelings of rage, I feel them too - but I also know that if I can feel rage, so can "the enemy" - if people are brave and fight back, so does the other side. We must take our feelings and transform hate and anger into actions that will actually solve the problems that cause violence - to help those who are suffering.
Taking action - Donating blood (Chris and I went yesterday to donate, but were asked to come back today because of long lines) - give the gift of life!
Heartbreaking - watching the film, imagining what the people must have experienced, listening to my son go through his feelings and thoughts about this, helping him look up information about different aspects of the crash and it's aftermath - helping him learn some coping skills for stress like this.
Heartwarming - Talking to people here with the first priority being comforting folks with connections and worries; heartfelt compassion and empathy for victims, families, witnesses, rescue workers, and veterans who prayed that they would never live to see this happen again.
Ironic - signing on to a "spirituality" chat room and hearing the new agers reacting with hate and violence, but leaving in recognition that toxic talk is just as harmful as chemical intoxicants.
Spooky - the entry in my date book yesterday for 9 a.m. was "End of Life" - it was for the class I was supposed to teach but was cancelled - still, it took my breath this morning when I looked at it.
Opportunity for practice - Practicing tonglen, breathing in my feelings, breathing out my feelings - just being with the feelings of confusion, pain, sympathy, empathy and compassion - not trying to understand or figure anything out. Holding the tension between the pairs of opposites. Sending Reiki for highest good for everyone involved - everyone.
It all just makes my heart hurt.
I almost met Dan Fogelberg once - I was staying at a hotel on a business trip and he was playing at a nearby theater that night. I found out about the concert when I arrived, and got a ticket before even checking in! Being alone, I had a front row seat - very cool! Once checked in, I was wandering around the hotel pool and patio area and saw him sitting at a table writting something. I took a breath and started to walk over - just to say hello and thank you for all his wonderful music. I stopped though, I just had a feeling that he might be like me - needing some alone time. Rather than disturb him, I walked on back to my room.
When it was time for the concert, I realized that I didn't really have anything appropriate to wear! It was a business trip, afterall - I wound up pulling on a pair of jeans and unbuttoning the collar of my blue oxford cloth blouse and putting the scarf in the breast pocket of my grey flannel jacket. Shrugging, thinking that was going to have to be ok, I found my front row seat. When Dan took the stage, I had to shake my head - there he was in blue jeans, blue shirt, and grey flannel jacket! Oh good - now, I look like I'm stalking him or something!
So that's my brush with fame. lol Other Dan Fogelberg stories to tell about the music, though, not about him personally.
On the other hand, this article in the New Republic is an important one, especially considering the lack of understanding of the cultural differences between East and West regarding religion. Ministers and monks are not interchangable terms. The Catholic church is unique in having a central authority figure to respond to abuses. Even with this central authority, Catholics have had to contend with abuses. Buddhism is no different, especially with so many different schools, and some monks far more political than spiritual.
Russ of My Brain Hurts is absolutely right that no religion is immune from abuse or hypocrites - unlike Russ, I don't fault the religion for the bad actions of people. A favorite ploy of the wolves is to use the name of religion to justify their actions and manipulate others. Sadly, the sheep of the world won't see past the trappings of religious rhetoric. I was raised around people who believed blindly, not just in the words of their religions holy book, but anything a "man of God" said. They are equal partners in that though, since their reward is having their prejudices and political views justified as properly "religious".
Personally, I agree with Martin Luther King that followers of the true words of Jesus - not the rhetoric preached in most pulpits - would be and are considered radical and dangerous. Non-violence is very threatening to many people. The words of the Buddha are like that to me, too - the concept that no means justify any ends no matter how noble sounding. What have we but now? When do "the ends" happen?
I've recently become interested in some of the Tantric practices of Buddhism, but I think I'm really going to need to look closely at why I'm interested - would those rituals and practices help me cut through illusion, or become an illusion of distraction so I won't have to deal with my inner issues? Being rule oriented, methodical, and precise, I'm very good at being "religious". Being intellectual, it's easy for me to understand spiritual and religious concepts. Both of those things are huge hurdles to actually seeing.
For me, it's important to work on those inner issues to come to an actual experience of the concepts my brain figures out and wants to own. I think this is why having different practices and even religions is so important - to give each of us tools and methods - as individuals with our own specific proclivities, talents, and needs.
The Dalai Lama said it best:
"I always believe that it is much better to have a variety of religions, a variety of philosophies, rather than one single religion or philosophy. This is necessary because of the different mental dispositions of each human being. Each religion has certain unique ideas or techniques, and learning about them can only enrich one's own faith."
I am feeling better now, though - and the good news is that Matt is back! We had a great time watching Murder in Small Town X last night, even though his theory on the killer made it up til the very last second, when the evidence veered severely off track! I really liked that show - the actors did a great job - it had to be such a hoot for them, getting to stay in character and yet having to react to the more unpredictable investigators - and I liked the blend of reality and murder mystery. Matt wanted Alan to win, but I liked Angel because he seemed genuinely immersed in the town. I really liked at the end him carrying Samantha out of the house and being protective of her.
I do have my own mystery to solve, but I'll write more about that later - it's more of a Buddhist history question than anything juicy! lol - I'm a geek in my own way, I guess!
Saturday, September 15, 2001
posted by CBN on 9/15/2001 11:31:28 PM
So many stories...
the sun shines...
sometimes it rains.
the world keeps turning...
life goes on
but not the same...
never the same...
never again the same...
perhaps more precious, now.
~ Jamie Karson
posted by CBN on 9/15/2001 01:20:41 PM
Be sure to stop by Peter's site and play the slide shows of his first hand photos of the event and the tributes around New York. This song was playing as I watched, bringing tears...
the face of love is kind
the grace of love is there
For all to find.
~ Dan Fogelberg
posted by CBN on 9/15/2001 01:09:35 PM
This dramatic tribute from Tina
posted by CBN on 9/15/2001 12:54:50 PM
A beautiful picture and poem from Tiffany
posted by CBN on 9/15/2001 12:53:44 PM
Friday, September 14, 2001
This is beyone discusting God Gave U.S. 'What We Deserve' - I can not understand why people listen to Falwell and Robertson. I was heartened to hear that the White House said that the remarks were inappropriate and that the President does not share their views.
posted by CBN on 9/14/2001 09:49:29 PM
"Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer."
~ Sutta Nipata I, 8
posted by CBN on 9/14/2001 05:59:43 PM
More to keep us busy is Gabrielle - rushing on shore as we speak - rain is coming down in buckets. I got our disaster planning shopping done early this morning, including some spiffy new flashlights - bright colors with black rubber grips and straps - lol, gotta do something to keep spirits up a bit!
posted by CBN on 9/14/2001 11:23:52 AM
Keep an eye on Book Notes for excellent coverage - and a meaningful, intelligent call for peace. Craig is an excellent observer of the unvarnished truth.
posted by CBN on 9/14/2001 11:18:36 AM
"You can't solve a problem on the same level it was created. You have to rise about it to the next level."
~ Albert Einstein
posted by CBN on 9/14/2001 11:11:55 AM
Excellent perspective from Suzanne - sadly, this "war on terrorism" will most likely be a violent one - yet, the only true way to stop terrorism is to do the hard work of cultivating peace. It's way too easy to drop bombs, especially easy for the political leaders who order them dropped. Far harder, far more thought and hands on work involved in building the road to peace.
posted by CBN on 9/14/2001 10:55:39 AM
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
And so it begins - jish.nu | weblog - amid the tales of heroism will be some very dark tales to tell.
posted by CBN on 9/12/2001 10:52:23 PM
Important resources and links from Yahoo! - one of my strategies for coping with things that upset me is to learn as much as I can about the situation. I feel better when I can break larger than life events down to their component parts, then put the pieces back together.
posted by CBN on 9/12/2001 10:47:43 PM
Another brilliantly touching call to peace by a young man looking for active ways to promote his ideals. mind on fire - well titled!
posted by CBN on 9/12/2001 09:56:57 PM
So very well said from Karuna Notes (the archive isn't working, so as time goes by, you may need to look at the archives to read the Sept. 11th entry)
posted by CBN on 9/12/2001 09:52:02 PM
Thank you noah, for this message of peace.
posted by CBN on 9/12/2001 12:40:41 PM
I had wondered if this might be the case - to read this eye witness account is stunning. Such heart! Thoughts of gratitude and deepest sympathies to their families.
posted by CBN on 9/12/2001 12:24:10 PM
Amazing - The technology that allowed us to see events unfold, live, raw, and real. We set up a TV at work outside the conference room so that folks could check the progress of events whenever they needed to. The need for information was great - especially with so many folks with personal connections - so many poignent stories - so much shared grief.
posted by CBN on 9/12/2001 10:58:09 AM
Monday, September 10, 2001
I really like this concise summary of the term Buddha Nature. The paradigm of a "soul" is one that is crucial for any kind of understanding between those who believe in a soul and those of us who do not. I think it's the pivotal point around which all understanding of different faith traditions revolves. There's no point in defining anything else, in my way of thinking, until this concept is understood by the individuals talking.
posted by CBN on 9/10/2001 11:53:52 AM
Sunday, September 09, 2001
This is a nifty search engine Daypop - I don't know how long it's been around, but its notes whether the page is a website or blog.
posted by CBN on 9/9/2001 04:20:46 PM
I've been a fan of this site abuddhas memes for some time - it made my day to find Cloud 9 linked here! Thanks! :)
posted by CBN on 9/9/2001 04:17:02 PM
Here's an interesting twist to an old arguement - An Atheists Proof - rather than argue scientifically whether God exists or not, this author uses the argument that the Bible and the existance of God isn't credible. The idea of God on trial isn't new, but I think this essay sheds new light on that idea.
posted by CBN on 9/9/2001 02:57:07 PM
Saturday, September 08, 2001
I got some of the Dan Fogelberg CD's out this evening (almost wrote "albums" there - lol) Lots and lots of memories surrounding these songs and his concerts. And I love to sing along with his music - something I haven't really written about here is music, yet there is hardly a day that goes by that I don't sing - even if it's only along with the radio in the car.
posted by CBN on 9/8/2001 10:18:25 PM
This is such a cute idea - the changable themes for terrapin gardens. I have several ideas for a re-design, but haven't found the time to devote to them. This concept is such a good one for those of us with short attention spans! lol
posted by CBN on 9/8/2001 03:18:32 PM
Friday, September 07, 2001
Had to chuckle over this - good to know that after all these years I'm "hip" - makes me feel young! ;)
posted by CBN on 9/7/2001 12:24:13 PM
Thursday, September 06, 2001
Just a funny little detail to add - Cloud 9 now has a favicon for your bookmarking pleasure! :)
posted by CBN on 9/6/2001 09:05:31 PM
Interesting reading - String Theory and Buddhism
posted by CBN on 9/6/2001 11:55:35 AM
Wednesday, September 05, 2001
Not such a good way to start Sept. - I've felt sick for over a week, and Monday was the worst! :(
posted by CBN on 9/5/2001 09:04:40 AM
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