Breathe. continue.
Last night, after we had meditated and we had a little talk, we meditated a little more and then we formed little discussion groups. The topic was inner peace. One of the comments the teachers had made about perspective was that when you meet someone you don't like it is good to remember that this may just be an illusion, a perspective because that person is liked and loved by other people. One of the members of my little discussion group found that to be very moving. He brought up the Amish school shootings in Pennsylvania and told us about an article he had read. Around 30 members of the Amish community that lost six of its girls in that school shooting turned up at the killer's funeral. Now, I find that moving. Its one thing to talk about forgiveness, its a much bigger thing to be able to follow through on the talk.
I, myself, find forgiveness something that is very hard to do. I don't know why. I always have. So, it has given me a lot of food for throught and hopefully it will be something that I can meditate (hooray!) on and develop because I think the world could actually use a bit more it. We seem to use revenge and punishment with such glee and gusto that things like mercy and forgiveness are just given lip service. Like, what would really happen if, instead of sanctioning Iran, we said, "Look. We'd like you to not do this one thing. But, we understand that you have these certain needs you would like to have met. What sort of plan can we develop in order to meet both of our needs/expectations?" Are we really that afraid of tyrannical madmen that we are willing to damage innocent people and cut out working with reasonable people?
