Follow up ...
Dear Friends,
I am getting various responses to my invitation to on the Palestine and Israel conflict … and sincerely apologize for feelings I had hurt.
I had just read Please Call Me By My True Names by Thich Nhat Hanh, and was motivated to open a way to explore this, feeling as much as we could.
I thought, “There must be something other than reading the news and feeling angry and helpless!”
I also know friends on both sides that feel incredibly hurt and devastated.
I am sorry if the post offended people, and it was certainly not my intention.
I do think there must be some way we can tune into situations without needing to take sides.
At the same time, my examples may have not been the right ones, and I am sorry if the post hurt anyone’s feelings.
My sincere apologies.
I would like to think that there is a way we as humans can come together when there is conflict (regardless of what governments are doing).
I do think Thich Nhat Hanh and other people’s writings that focus on compassion offer us one path forward.
I am learning along with you, and understand this is a very delicate issue.
Blessings,
SOREN
I loved what you wrote Soren. I'm surprised that people's feelings were hurt, but then again, I'm not. There are always two sides, always. People are given a narrative from media and they don't necessarily look beyond that. This was not a shock at all. Nothing condones the violence though. It is horror. As is what has gone before that from both sides. I felt that you were trying to provide a different offering to the anger, and divisiveness. And this is what is needed at the moment, as always. A space for contemplation and community. Without sounding trite, love and understanding are always the more powerful force. Love what you offer in your writing. Keep doing it. You will never keep everyone happy. Jo 🙏
Soren, I thought your response of the invitation to sit together with this was beautiful. After our daily Pandemic meditations with JKZ, I too feel the sanity resides with each individual who chooses to shine a light stronger than our shadow. I do not think we can rely on news, governments, geopolitical leaders, to help us move forward with what feels to me like a collective “ spiritual crisis” which is causing so much pain and suffering. I too am truly sorry if my comment offends anyone. As many folks, I have my own strong views and alliances, but I know they are not the solution to the devastating problems.