We Share the People of the Ukraine's Suffering...

 


Bearing Witness to Ukraine’s Suffering

As we bear witness to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we cannot fall into our tendency to turn away from suffering, says Roshi Joan Halifax. We must see that we are not separate from others, and move with compassionate action.


As we witness what is happening in the Ukraine in real time, today, probably like you, I am acutely aware that the world is at risk. Hopefully, we also realize that we are not separate from the world. We might ask: How might we meet this reality of suffering and violence, seeing that we are part of it? What is our experience as we bear witness to Ukraine’s satirist turned global figure, President Zelensky, as he stands in the streets of Ukraine’s capitol in a flak jacket with others? Or the young Russian soldier holding a gun? What about the old woman holding her hand out filled with sunflower seeds as she scolds the Russians soldier, or the young Ukrainian man kneeling before the Russian tank, examples of non-violent, civilian resistance? What is the task at hand and ahead of us to meet confusion, delusion, and violence in our time, in our country, in our lives? And how do we realize peace transformation in the midst? And this in the midst of our human driven climate catastrophe.

If we see that we are not separate from others, then we not only share their awakening, we also share their suffering.

The renowned Czech humanist Vaclav Havel once said that morality means taking responsibility, not only of your life, but for the life of the world. From a Buddhist perspective, it means seeing the roots of violence in our country and in ourselves, and finally understanding that we are not separate from all beings and things and must act accordingly or further violence will spread as the Corona virus has spread.

Continue Reading Below the Fold.


Comments

Top Posts

Illinois Democrats Move To Tighten Firearm Regulation/Restrictions...

It's Going To Be Close, Brace Yourself For Continued Polarization of America, Especially if Obama Loses...

As the Obama Administration and a Compliant Lame Stream Media Continue the Benghazi Spin...

Our Biggest Creditor {China} Tells Us "The good old days of borrowing are over"

Another Republican Accused Of Sexual Misconduct...

How A Nation Can and Does Change...

The Public's Trust In Government on the Decline...

Democrats Bought By Special Interest Money, and They Say It's All Republicans...