Hi Friends, Like you, I have been trying to find some way to make sense of the tragedy in Tibet. By the time you read this, hopefully, things will have changed for the better. But how to find the ‘good' in such a catastrophe...? This has been my koan since the news broke. How do we find a ‘yes' to a situation which seems so unjust and unfair? I find myself angry and frustrated – but at the same time knowing that if there exists a ‘no' in any given situation, there must also be a ‘yes' hidden in there somewhere.

Every shadow is a result of light.

I once heard His Holiness say that it was a sense of compassion that helped him sustain his peace of mind through the original invasion – and the key to his peace of mind was the understanding that we are all one human family.

Still, something inside me wanted to take the politicians and shake them and scream STOP ALL THIS MADNESS - NOW!!! Even though in my heart I knew it to be a futile reaction, the emotion itself felt very primal and cried out for a voice. I woke with this feeling a few nights ago and lay, looking for that ‘Yes'.

We all have an intellectual understanding of the concept of duality – we see it clearly reflected every day, not only in the Chinese invasion, but in all minute personal conflicts, no matter how trivial. The challenge is, how to consciously live a life of acceptance and understanding, without compromising our own truth. I began to see there may be a blessing after all. If I could use the Chinese invasion of Tibet as a reminder, a wake up call, to be more aware and more caring of those around me – to fully tune in to compassion and the understanding that we are all brothers and sisters, that we are all doing our best in life, no matter how unjust things may seem on the surface. Maybe then I could take some good out of the sad events in Tibet.

I asked myself if I was truly living in ‘Oneness' with my friends and family, and the people around me.

I asked myself if I had any unfinished business anywhere. Did I have any issues hanging over, that still needed to be resolved? Was I holding anything back? Was I sharing myself totally, and authentically, and consciously...?

After pondering this, I eventually brought the question back to myself – I looked at any inner conflict I may be harbouring. Am I being honest with myself..? Am I being truthful? Am I hiding..?

And sure enough, this meditation eventually brought me ‘home' - as I lay in the darkness, breathing into Oneness, I felt the gratitude and benediction pour through me – the pure thankfulness for the gift of Life itself. It is a bitter pill, true, at the expense of an innocent people, but what to do? - the challenge is to use every situation in life – even tragedy (especially tragedy) - to find ‘goodness', rather than simply complain. If we don't do this as we pass through life, we are doomed to slumber

These times are hard, the lessons are hard. And as our planet continues to deteriorate beneath our feet, there will be more lessons coming – as we all know. We can rise to the challenge...what other choices do we have?

So, yes, pray, sign petitions, attend vigils, take part in demonstrations – we all do whatever we can – but deep down, the thing that is going to help the Tibetan people most - and humanity at large – is if we, as individuals, take the responsibility to reach out with compassion and forgiveness to all those around us, with open arms and open hearts.

It all begins at home.

Light a candle for His Holiness and his people tonight...and say a prayer for the human race.

With love, Miten

p.s. Deva suggested sharing this passage from Osho on Atisha's Heart Meditation with you.

Transformation: Atisha's Heart Meditation
"When you breathe in, breathe in all the misery and suffering of all the beings of the world -- past, present and future. And when you breathe out, breathe out all the joy that you have, all the blissfulness that you have, all the benediction that you have. Breathe out, pour yourself into existence. This is the method of compassion: drink in all the suffering and pour out all the blessings.

"And you will be surprised if you do it. The moment you take all the sufferings of the world inside you, they are no longer sufferings. The heart immediately transforms the energy. The heart is a transforming force: drink in misery, and it is transformed into blissfulness... then pour it out.

"Once you have learned that your heart can do this magic, this miracle, you would like to do it again and again. Try it. It is one of the most practical methods -- simple, and it brings immediate results. Do it today, and see."
Osho: The Book of Wisdom, #1

 

Miten is one half of the duo Deva Premal and Miten whose sacred harmonies have filled many hearts with hope, love, joy and understanding. You can find out more about them at thier website http://www.prabhumusic.net