Thursday September 27th 2001 10-45 CET
Balancing Pacifism
I enjoy the luxury of thinking myself to be - or preferring to think
myself to be - a 'pacifist'. That is to say I am someone who prefers to
use peaceful, non-violent methodologies.

I enjoy this 'luxury' because others are not pacifists! They are
willing to dedicate themselves to a life of service...as police or
in the armed services and similar vocations/occupations. As a
result I exist in a society/societies where I have never been
compelled to make the 'absolute decision': namely, at what point
does a violent response become necessary?

There are those who would respond "It is never necessary!".
In my heart, in my spirituality, I would like to accept such
a concept. However, should I stand idly by and let others be harmed
by an 'evil intent' - or would not the state of lovingness require from
me that I intervene in someway? Is it better that the life of one be
taken than the life of many be destroyed? Is the lovingness any
the less, or greater, depending upon numbers?

What if my intervention were verbal and loving? Could it be that
the expression of lovingness were itself enough to combat the
'indoctrinated hatred' of the oppressor?

The fact of the matter is that sometimes we are confronted in life
by circumstances that refuse to respond to 'the lovingness' and in
such circumstances the duty of a pacifist is to continue to
express 'lovingness' - but to do so with an appreciation that we
enjoy this 'luxury' because others make total sacrifice.

In the face of great 'evil', the sacrifice of a 'principle' for the greater
good can also be an act of lovingness.

Pacifists have plenty of 'humanitarian work' to do in such
times as these. We may not support war, but unless and until we
are prepared to 'sacrifice totally - even principles' we have no
right to oppose what others - fairly and justly in their perception
- deem to be the only available response to an evil, destructive and
non-loving force.

Our 'lovingness' accepts the duality of this life experience
and should accept the necessity of a 'measured response'
by those who have the responsibility to defend the way
of life that permits us the 'luxury' of non-violent existence.

Extant,it is a sad reality that sometimes the language of violence
must be used in order that the opponents of lovingness
can understand.

The difference between the two opposing forces is that one side
recognises the 'sadness' of the actions - whilst the other
simply glorifies in the destruction and claims 'extreme principles of
justification' for it.

When we are willing to surrender our 'comfortable existing'
and march, unarmed except with our lovingness, into the
'war zones of the world' proclaiming our message of peace -
then, and only then, do we actually give reality to our 'pacifist
concept'. Until that time, we enjoy our 'concepts' at the cost
of someone else's dedication and have no integrity in our
lovingness if we undermine their perceived 'service to society'.

When we are willing to stand in line, as ordinary Hindu and Moslem
followers of Gandhi did outside a salt works, and be beaten or even killed
without offering violence in return...when we are willing to do that
we transform the concept of pacifism into the reality .

Until we are willing to 'risk our lives', our 'comfortable existence',
in the cause of the lovingness - we have no right nor honesty
to condemn those who risk their lives to 'defend freedom and society
against those who would destroy it'.


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Tuesday 25th September 2001 23-50 CET
Autumn
Yesterday I travelled to Oslo, a journey of a couple of hours. It was
bright sunshine and the journey through the resplendant autumn colours
was a most pleasant experience.

Farmers were busier than I'd ever seen them before...I suppose the sun
and dry days are naturally important..."make hay while the sun shines".
It was clear that farmers had carpetted a great deal of the countryside
with that 'crew cut look' which textured the land and made a stunning
'counterpoint' to the naturalness of the forests and unused land.

Now I am back in Sweden awaiting, this evening, a forecasted brilliant
show of 'Northern Lights' (Aurora Borealis) which has also often
been a source of considerable pleasure and wonder.

In this 'normality' I seem to be light years away from the suffering
of so many others in this world: those so impoverished that they
have not even a decent supply of clean water: others for whom
food is an absolute luxury: those who live in fear of oppression,
whether political, religious or simply 'blind hatred'

Perhaps an appreciation of what we have, what we can enjoy,
can also serve as a motivation to share it!

Whilst it is right that nations defend their citizens, is it not
also amazing that such tragedies/crises as we have recently
witnessed seem able to motivate in a way nothing else can?
The figures of money I see/hear talked about for space
exploration, defense expenditures...attack budgets....
such a small percentage of these used to improve the lot
of a disproportinately higher number of 'have nots' (food/water)
may well prove to be the best investment against terrorism.

Ah, but these are naive ideals, huh?
Well, perhaps nowadays they are not so naive, and perhaps
the recognition of the interdependence of humanity resulting
from the dramatic increase of communication in the last 30 years,
perhaps these factors recreate a potential for 'Paradise realised'
here on earth.

Perhaps being 'light years away' is of no consequence when LOVE
is not bound by space or time. Especailly when LOVE is truly
'unconditional'.

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Sunday 23rd September 2001 23-50 CET
Arising.....
The dust blocked out the sun it was reported. It rained dust on normality.
This was the dust of death. This was not Hiroshima or Nagasaki, for those
events belong, thankfully, to another age and a different comprehension.

The sounds of differing traditions, alternative cultures, harmonised in
a prayer for those whose lives had been taken, or whose lives had
been unimaginably changed.

Though they were labelled by many as 'muslim extremists/terrorists',
though the Koran condemns their actions, though the civilised world
renounces their motivations......nowhere was it more strongly, directly
crystallised than before the mourning throng in New York today:

"People rose to their feet when Imam Izak-El Pasha pleaded for tolerance.

"We Muslims, Americans, stand today with a heavy weight on our shoulders
that those who would dare do such dastardly acts claim our faith," he said.

"They are no believers in God at all."

The crowd respectfully observed the varying religious traditions and
representatives who joined in sincere prayer.

From the ashes of terrorism rose the phoenix of expressed faith.

"One-ness is Divinity"

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"Oh, earth,
Oh, humanity,
How long, how long
before you see
that One-ness is Divinity"
from the peom "One and one makes one" , Geoffrey Groom, http://poet.2000c.net

Let that which divides us become bridges of tolerance and understanding
that unites us.
Let not only sadness, horror, mutual deprivation be that which unites us,
but compassion, caring and genuine practical assistance be the tools of unity.

For of such virtues as these is Paradise constructed.

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