Dear friends,
Well, we have entered a time of dark news, indeed. No sooner does covid seem to be winding down (finally!), than we have a war in Europe, a huge spike in inflation, and continued supply chain problems. I had a few thoughts to share (surprise! :-)) that may be helpful to some folks…
When things get crazy and difficult like this it is important to remember that there are two separate things going on: the events and news, and your emotional reaction to those events and news items. Believe it or not, there is no causality between the two. That is, the bleak news does not have to get you down. An open and loving heart will always feel a pang when confronted with the suffering of others, but we tend to both multiply and extrapolate that suffering. One of my favorite lines of a song I love is, “Why multiply grief with despair?”
For you word nerds out there, “despair” is from the Latin spero, which means “hope,” so despair means "without hope.” But we ought never to be without hope. We easily and often lose sight of what is going on here. The world is unfolding as it needs to. Our education sometimes requires us to face extremely difficult situations and/or consequences for past actions. I remember seeing a movie some years ago. The main character was beset with all sorts of problems. He was asked why he seemed so unperturbed by them. His response was always, “Would it help?"
When the deer in a woods overpopulate and there is starvation and a lower birth rate, our heart is tweaked, but that is of course mixed with, “Isn’t it wonderful how nature rebalances!” When a fire burns through a forest, our heart is again tweaked, but there is also an element of the wonder of nature somehow knowing how to clear out the underbrush so new life can sprout.
I have to admit, the situation in Ukraine has been particularly hard for me (and not because my paternal grandparents were coincidentally from Ukraine!). Watching suffering on a scale like this always is. I never want to close my heart to the suffering of others, even in self-defense. But there is a part of me that assumes something is happening beyond my knowledge and current awareness. If memory serves, I remember the Dalai Lama saying that the conquering of Tibet by the Chinese, while of course tragic, forced Tibetan Buddhism to go out and spread throughout the world. What a blessing that has been for millions.
Never lose hope. We are not as knowledgeable as we think we are. Have faith that things, though mysterious and painful, are proceeding as necessary according to an unknown plan. Then send prayers, positive thoughts, and money to those suffering in Ukraine.
Blessings,
David G, manager
for the Gang at East West