To Ananthasree on believing in the goodness

[Guest guest]

Ananthasree wrote:

 

A young man "stole" a bus in order to drive as many people as he could

fit in it to safety. He rescued many people, yet charges will be

pressed against him for STEALING the bus. How can this be?

 

Armed military men and police have orders to "shoot to kill" people

who are looting for food and supplies. Are we so obsessed with

materialism/money that we will kill people who are starving and

suffering for taking things from demolished stores? How? How? How can

this be???

 

Then, there are men raping the women during a time like this. A

government sending in the military to point guns at these people who

lost everything. Our President comes on television smirking, looking

as if he wants to bust out into laughter, as he talks about the misery

and loss of this terrible event. It is so absurd, I wonder if I am

dreaming.

 

I am struggling with a lot as I watch this violence, injustice and

absurdity unfold. Amma says that everyone, at root, is love. I do not

see this. I see that humanity, at root, is evil and selfish. Certainly

these events are all part and parcel of our age of materialism, but

how do I remain optimistic and keep my heart free of contempt for

humanity itself???? I look at the heartlessness and the suffering and

I begin to feel depressed and angry, which is only poisoning myself.

 

I look at all of this and feel so helpless. I hear wonderful stories

of caring and rescue, but I see and hear far more stories of violence

and injustice. It happens everyday, yet in an event like this...we see

it all at once. It is very difficult to take all at once.

 

I mean, really....I have had it with this world and I am embarassed to

be a human being. I guess I am just looking for someone to offer a

positive, or at least a more spiritually rational explanation for

this. I am sick of sobbing everytime I see the news. I feel guilty for

these simple luxuries I have. I am sick of feeling like I am the only

one who is feeling the sadness of this in the core of my being. I go

into the market and hear people talking about it as if it were

smalltalk. I am feeling lost. In this state, I dream of moving to the

mountains, becoming a hermit and distancing myself from humanity

forever. I can't take it.

 

 

 

Dear Ananthasree ~ I left your entire post intact, which I don't usually do

for brevity's sake, because of your eloquent and sorrowful expression of

"shock and awe" and confusion.

I believe that what Amma says is right. I believe it with my whole being. We

are, at the root of our very selves, good. Yet tragic situations like this

bring out the best in some and the worst in others. Why is this so? I am not

learned enough to answer, but I think whatever is uppermost in our own nature

will rise up and be unthinkably negative, like the Asuras that Ma Chandi had

to kill, or poignantly positive. We humans have both these qualities in our

nature, yet, it it true, as you say, that in American, our basic way of life is

one of materialism and greed. Even I long to get out of my tiny trailer and

into a house.

 

Some people are doing terrible things; some are doing wonderful things. All

across the country, people are starting food and clothing drives. Amma is now

setting up yet another center (in Dallas)from which to respond to the

tragedy. We all have a choice, and some, including our highest elected

officials,

chose very poorly, while others have responded with the full magnificance of

the human spirit. I too heard a story yesterday where some people had "looted"

a grocery store and set up an impromtu soup kitchen to feed the hungry. I

pray they will not be like the bus driver, and have their charitable activitiy

responded to by being arrested.

 

You are such a sweet soul. Why should you be embarrassed if others act

badly. That is their action, not yours. (I am one to talk, though because I

have

been totally devastated over the past three years by the way my family has

treated me, and I am still trying to come to terms with this.) Crying when you

hear the news shows that you are sensitive to the trials of others. I worry

more about the people who watch the news as if it is entertainment (which, by

the way, our culture is training us to do with all the "reality" tv shows).

 

If you feel you must retreat into the mountains and distance yourself from

humanity as a whole, then that is your path. But please do not do it out of

despair. Every single action counts ~ from the smallest prayer, to a donation of

food or clothing or shelter; from the donation of time to go and help if one

is able or the the contribution of money, and no amount is too small.

 

When I did my little children's beading project at the art fair, I did not

raise much money (only $33.00), but I did raise awareness ... the children who

participated will hopefully understand that even they can help in a tragic

situation, and the mothers who sat with them understood at a more complex

level.

 

What are our skills, our talents? What do we have that we can help with? Our

artist group has only just gotten over the work of the art fair, which was

harder than I expected. Now we have a show coming up, part of what is called

here, "Weekend at the Galleries," an annual event where people pay tickets to

the local arts council and then walk around town to all the galleries,

tasting treats, etc. Our folks are not ready for another meeting yet, but I am

raring to go. I will give them a week. : ) I am hoping they will agree to

donate

a portion of the commission we make from any sales to the relief effort. At

least this is what I will suggest.

 

There are lots of musicians here too. I have already talked to one, who said

he would participate if someone (me?) organizes a benefit concert to raise

money for the relief.

 

Besides each having our own talents, every community, large and small, has

it's own talents and resources. How can we best mobilize these? How can we

become "centers" of Amma's action in all our towns and communities. Every

kindness, every smile, will show the better side of our nature. There is nothing

we

can really do about the ones who are showing their "bad" side.

 

Ananthasree, I want to reach out and give you a hug. (I could probably use

one too.) Here are some words from Amma (printed in the Santa Fe Tour Program):

 

"To wait for either the inner or outer circumstances to be 'just right'

before we embark on the spiritual journey is like standing on the seashore

waiting for the waves to completely subside before we jump into the ocean.

This will never happen. every moment of life is so utterly precious, such a

rare opportunity. We should not waste it." ~ Amma

 

Blessings dear Ananthasree ~ I am wondering if there is something, in

addition to praying, we here on the digest could do. Perhaps we could have our

own

disaster auction and post items in a photo album on the group page. I'm not

sure exactly how this could work, but perhaps people could post photos of their

items, and bids could be taken for a week or so (someone would have to keep

watch on the bids). Each individual who posted an item would then mail it to

the "winner." and the winner would send the auction payment ... to someone on

the list everyone trusts. Then this person could put it all in the bank and

write one big check to the M.A. Center. Or all checks could be made out to

the M.A.Center, but sent to this coordinating person. Once the "donation" was

received, the person who contributed the item could be notified to send it

out. Is this something we can do. I think so. I have jewelry and art work I

would gladly donate to a Digest Group Auction.

 

Or we could make individual pledges to each send $5 or $10 to the M.A.

Center. I like the auction better because some people have items they can

donate,

where money might be tight for them.

 

I am just tossing out ideas. If any hit "home," I hope the group will let me

know, and we'll figure out the logistics. Jai Ma ~ Linda