I do not stand with France-only. I also stand with Beirut, Lebanon, Kenya, Syria and all the places that are experiencing horrific events. Rather than label individuals from the country they are from, I choose to look at all people as humans, my fellow brothers and sisters, regardless of where they were born. It is only when we stop seeing people from other countries as "the other", will we be on a true road to peace.
In response to the events in Paris, the Dalai Lama said, "we have to begin the change at the individual level and them move on to neighborhood and society.”
Pema Chodron had this to say, “When I think about the tragedies in Paris and in Lebanon and in fact in many places in the world, it seems to me this it's clear that the cause is hatred. Therefore I feel for people that are committed to waking up and being of benefit to others, the key is for us is not to nurture hatred in our hearts. It may seem beyond many of us to feel compassion for the perpetrators, but probably the most important thing is for us not to add anymore aggression to the planet, but to add as much open kindness and open heartedness as we can."
When appalling events happen, we are cracked open to our core. In this vulnerable state we have a choice: we can either respond with more hatred, bitterness and exclusion, or we can use it as an opportunity to look at the underlying cause, to know in our hearts that love is stronger than hate, to know that putting out the energy of hate only adds to what is already out there.
Please don't misunderstand, I am not advocating that if someone has a gun pointed at us that we respond with a hug (although as I write this I am reminded of the brave young man in Tiananmen Square who repeatedly shifted his position in order to obstruct the tank's attempted path around him). There are definite consequences for our actions. What I am saying is that as individuals, if we are serious for peace, we must stop supporting leaders who are guided by greed and power, let our leaders know that this is where we draw the line, not in our name. Work for peace, not war.
We can do better. We must do better. We can Act As One.
In response to the events in Paris, the Dalai Lama said, "we have to begin the change at the individual level and them move on to neighborhood and society.”
Pema Chodron had this to say, “When I think about the tragedies in Paris and in Lebanon and in fact in many places in the world, it seems to me this it's clear that the cause is hatred. Therefore I feel for people that are committed to waking up and being of benefit to others, the key is for us is not to nurture hatred in our hearts. It may seem beyond many of us to feel compassion for the perpetrators, but probably the most important thing is for us not to add anymore aggression to the planet, but to add as much open kindness and open heartedness as we can."
When appalling events happen, we are cracked open to our core. In this vulnerable state we have a choice: we can either respond with more hatred, bitterness and exclusion, or we can use it as an opportunity to look at the underlying cause, to know in our hearts that love is stronger than hate, to know that putting out the energy of hate only adds to what is already out there.
Please don't misunderstand, I am not advocating that if someone has a gun pointed at us that we respond with a hug (although as I write this I am reminded of the brave young man in Tiananmen Square who repeatedly shifted his position in order to obstruct the tank's attempted path around him). There are definite consequences for our actions. What I am saying is that as individuals, if we are serious for peace, we must stop supporting leaders who are guided by greed and power, let our leaders know that this is where we draw the line, not in our name. Work for peace, not war.
We can do better. We must do better. We can Act As One.
