Haiti

[Guest guest]

I was in my brother-in-law's house in Haiti during the powerful quake. Folks who

say the one in Chile was more powerful are overlooking that the one in Haiti was

closer to the surface.

 

Didn't know what was transpiring at first, couldn't understand what was

happening as the house rocked violently. During it when someone said,

" Earthquake " , I envisioned the house falling off the mountain it was built on.

 

What was more severe was driving through the area on a following day and seeing

the churches, stores, buildings turned to rubble and moreso all the dead bodies

in the streets and the usually jovial Haitians walking around as if dazed, some

crowding into parks to live.

 

It's easy to talk of perfection from ivory towers, I know, I've done it despite

some personal tragedies, but to actually be there (it's different from seeing it

on t.v.) throws all philosophies out the window. Besides, who would want to be a

complacent robot during such suffering of others?

 

I will never get that image of death and destruction out of my consciousness. I

have been into the nondual way for over 35 years yet was unprepared for what I

saw. And my sister-in-law, who works at a hospital in Haiti would further tell

us of the horrors she saw when she came home exhausted after work.

 

If you posit " perfection " the opposite " imperfection " must also be lurking

around.

 

Since then I've tried to rationalize by thinking all is a dream and all within

the dream are dream characters, so why shouldn't this Richard dream character

feel compassion and want to help? (I offered several times to help in the

hospital but my sister-in-law refused the offer). Why should Richard get some

soothing philosophy and turn into a feelingless rock?

 

I would very much would like feedback on how to understand this in the

nondualistic sense.

 

Thank you in advance,

Richard

[Guest guest]

Richard - PraNAms

 

Your story is moving. My heart felt compassion is with you.

Yes there is not much we can do at that time. All philosophies do not come and

seem to help amidst the mass scale human tragedies. We can talk about advaita

after comfortable BMI needs are taken care of and as always it is easy to talk

but live in the true spirit of advaita. That makes the sages different.

 

I know you do not want to hear explanations - but what should I do in those

circumstances.

 

The famous serenity prayer comes to my mind. Yes there are lots of things that

we cannot control. It is not that one disaster is more sever than the other. The

one who is experiencing that particular disaster is most sever for him any other

that one reads.

 

There are only two approaches in those situations. Those we cannot control nor

have no control since we are not omniscient, we need to accept what it is - what

it is praarabda and what we can do with what it is purushaartha. The question is

always what I can do now to help the situation. I can only be a contributing

factor not controlling factor as the law of karma - karmani eva adhikaaraH te

says. I have a free will only in terms of contributing factor to the total

system which is from the point of totality is beyond my control. Acceptance of

what it is and in the process of recognition of higher laws is what is called

nevedanam or understanding the role of superior intellect that shapes things

that are beyond human BMI limits. The best we can at least do pray for the lard

to give strength and stamina for those who are directly facing the calamities.

If we can do any other help - physically or financially - what in Ramayana calls

as squirrel’s

devotional contribution - that is what we should do. That forms our

purushaartha.

 

My prayers to all those who are suffering due to the disaster.

 

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

 

--- On Fri, 3/12/10, richarkar <richarkar wrote:

 

 

 

I was in my brother-in-law' s house in Haiti during the powerful quake. Folks

who say the one in Chile was more powerful are overlooking that the one in Haiti

was closer to the surface.

 

Didn't know what was transpiring at first, couldn't understand what was

happening as the house rocked violently. During it when someone said,

" Earthquake " , I envisioned the house falling off the mountain it was built on.

 

What was more severe was driving through the area on a following day and seeing

the churches, stores, buildings turned to rubble and moreso all the dead bodies

in the streets and the usually jovial Haitians walking around as if dazed, some

crowding into parks to live.

 

It's easy to talk of perfection from ivory towers, I know, I've done it despite

some personal tragedies, but to actually be there (it's different from seeing it

on t.v.) throws all philosophies out the window. Besides, who would want to be a

complacent robot during such suffering of others?

 

I will never get that image of death and destruction out of my consciousness. I

have been into the nondual way for over 35 years yet was unprepared for what I

saw. And my sister-in-law, who works at a hospital in Haiti would further tell

us of the horrors she saw when she came home exhausted after work.

 

If you posit " perfection " the opposite " imperfection " must also be lurking

around.

 

Since then I've tried to rationalize by thinking all is a dream and all within

the dream are dream characters, so why shouldn't this Richard dream character

feel compassion and want to help? (I offered several times to help in the

hospital but my sister-in-law refused the offer). Why should Richard get some

soothing philosophy and turn into a feelingless rock?

 

I would very much would like feedback on how to understand this in the

nondualistic sense.

 

Thank you in advance,

Richard

[Guest guest]

Namaste dear Richardji:

 

Philosophy is an easy target for expressing our displeasure for its failure to

answer all questions that arise in our mind. Advaita philosophy doesn't expect

us to talk of perfection from ivory towers, but we do enjoy talking without

committing ourselves to the goal of perfection. As per my understanding that

`perfection' doesn't imply that the world and everyone in the world has to

operate necessarily perfect. The philosophical view of perfection is to prepare

ourselves to understand and accept the imperfect world as it is! This is a tall

task and we have to work on it to develop a positive mental attitude and agree

to see the world with the Divine Vision. I am not yet ready to throw all the

philosophies out the window. Tragedies such as the Haiti Earthquake will force

us to contemplate to find answers to the question " Why? " There is no guarantee

that we will immediately get the answers that are acceptable to us.

 

I received the following story from a friend through email. This is a true story

that happened in Japan. In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan breaks

open the wall. Japanese houses normally have a

hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found

that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into

one of its feet. He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when

he checked the nail, it was nailed 5 years ago when the house was first built.

 

What happened? The lizard has survived in such position for 5 years! In a dark

wall partition for 5 years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling.

Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 5 years without moving a single

step--since its foot was nailed! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard,

what it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing

from where it came, appears another lizard, with food in its mouth. Ah! He was

stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another

lizard has been feeding it for the past 5 years... Imagine? It has been doing

that untiringly for 5 long years, without giving up hope on its partner. Imagine

what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind

can't.

 

This story does provide some answers to questions that arise when a tragedy

strikes without notice. In addition to the disaster, many good things also

happen simultaneously. We have several options – one is to blame everyone

including the God (Nature) for the disaster and do nothing; second is to witness

the spontaneous help that come from many and get motivated to provide some help;

and the ideal third choice is to act spontaneously and participate in the relief

mission:

 

We have lot more to learn from animal species on how to react during natural

calamities and any attempt on our part to take time to understand is also the

path toward perfection.

 

What I have provided here is just my own understanding and will very likely

incomplete or with many flaws. Hopefully, our fellow travelers will provide more

insights for your thoughtful questions.

 

With my warm regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin , " richarkar " <richarkar wrote:

>

>

> I was in my brother-in-law's house in Haiti during the powerful quake. Folks

who say the one in Chile was more powerful are overlooking that the one in Haiti

was closer to the surface.

>

> Didn't know what was transpiring at first, couldn't understand what was

happening as the house rocked violently. During it when someone said,

" Earthquake " , I envisioned the house falling off the mountain it was built on.

> ……….

>

> It's easy to talk of perfection from ivory towers, I know, I've done it

despite some personal tragedies, but to actually be there (it's different from

seeing it on t.v.) throws all philosophies out the window. Besides, who would

want to be a complacent robot during such suffering of others?

>

> I will never get that image of death and destruction out of my consciousness.

I have been into the nondual way for over 35 years yet was unprepared for what I

saw.

[Guest guest]

advaitin , " Ram " <ramvchandran wrote:

>

>

>

> Namaste dear Richardji:

>

> Philosophy is an easy target for expressing our displeasure for its failure to

answer all questions that arise in our mind. Advaita philosophy doesn't expect

us to talk of perfection from ivory towers, but we do enjoy talking without

committing ourselves to the goal of perfection. As per my understanding that

`perfection' doesn't imply that the world and everyone in the world has to

operate necessarily perfect. The philosophical view of perfection is to prepare

ourselves to understand and accept the imperfect world as it is! This is a tall

task and we have to work on it to develop a positive mental attitude and agree

to see the world with the Divine Vision. I am not yet ready to throw all the

philosophies out the window. Tragedies such as the Haiti Earthquake will force

us to contemplate to find answers to the question " Why? " There is no guarantee

that we will immediately get the answers that are acceptable to us.

>

> I received the following story from a friend through email. This is a true

story that happened in Japan. In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan

breaks open the wall. Japanese houses normally have a

> hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found

that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into

one of its feet. He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when

he checked the nail, it was nailed 5 years ago when the house was first built.

>

> What happened? The lizard has survived in such position for 5 years! In a dark

wall partition for 5 years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling.

Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 5 years without moving a single

step--since its foot was nailed! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard,

what it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing

from where it came, appears another lizard, with food in its mouth. Ah! He was

stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another

lizard has been feeding it for the past 5 years... Imagine? It has been doing

that untiringly for 5 long years, without giving up hope on its partner. Imagine

what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind

can't.

>

> This story does provide some answers to questions that arise when a tragedy

strikes without notice. In addition to the disaster, many good things also

happen simultaneously. We have several options – one is to blame everyone

including the God (Nature) for the disaster and do nothing; second is to witness

the spontaneous help that come from many and get motivated to provide some help;

and the ideal third choice is to act spontaneously and participate in the relief

mission:

>

> We have lot more to learn from animal species on how to react during natural

calamities and any attempt on our part to take time to understand is also the

path toward perfection.

>

> What I have provided here is just my own understanding and will very likely

incomplete or with many flaws. Hopefully, our fellow travelers will provide more

insights for your thoughtful questions.

>

> With my warm regards,

>

> Ram Chandran

 

Thank you Ram for that beautiful story. And thanks to those who sent replies.

 

Richard

[Guest guest]

Dear Richard

First of please accept my heartfelt condolences and prayers for your friends and

family who would have been greatly affected by this enormous tragedy. It is a

blessing to have a heart that bleeds with compassion such as yours and my

salutations to you.

 

No words can ever truly comfort, much less validate, the sorrow of one who faces

a tragedy or personal calamity. As you rightly point out, the philosophy does

tend to ring hollow.

 

But perhaps I can articulate some general thoughts regarding this.

 

The understanding that the world is mithya needs to be given an appropriate

intellectual as well as - perhaps more importantly - emotional framework.

Vedanta is not about freezing your emotions and hardening your heart convinced

as one is about the " illusoriness " of the world. On the absolute contrary,

Vedanta teaches us to melt our hearts and minds in the incadescence of supreme

devotion to the Supreme so the feeling of Universal compassion and Univeral

one-ness sarvatma bhava envelops ones persona.

 

So then the way to validate ones grief is not to deny it much less resent it but

to embrace it - in the same way one would embrace happiness - as very much a

part of the Divine Order. Happiness is Shiva, Grief is Shiva as well, Birth is

Shiva and Death is Shiva alone. There is no imperfection in the Order - birth

and death are both in the Order. See the most profound words of Rudram =

 

Nama ugraya cha bhimaya cha

Salutations to Him who is fierce and strikes terror

Namo Agrevadhaya cha dure vadhaya cha

Salutations to Him who kills from near and from afar.

Namo hantre cha haniyase cha

Salutations to Him who kills individually, and who kills all.

 

And in the very same verse -

 

Namah shambhave cha mayo bhave cha

Salutations to Him who is the source of happiness at all times - both here-in

and in the here-after.

Namah shankaraya cha mayaskaraya cha

Salutations to Him who is verily the bestower of happiness in all worlds -both

here-in and the here-after.

Namah Shivaya cha shivataraya cha

Salutations to Him the auspicious one, who is the Supreme auspiciousness.

 

Now with this framework when you witness suffering - when you see people in the

midst of horrific tragedies - let your heart bleed in empathy and your eyes

overflow with the tears of compassion - this too is part of the Order. Be His

instrument if such is His will and such is your capacity - Vedanta is not a

soothening balm - properly assimilated it can well be a call to action - for

karmayoga - to regard oneself as a minute Divine instrument in order that a

fellow human's suffering be lessened - in whatever may be ones limited capacity,

even if such be at inconvenience to oneself - in the words of the Gitacharya -

nimittamatram bhava - become or regard yourself to be My instrument alone. It

would be truly tragic if philosophy - misunderstood - gets perceived as an

impediment to compassionate service - the philosophy of Vedanta should instead

refine and crystallize that very emotion and act. Through knowledge alone does

complacency, which can only be a product of tamasic ignorance, get replaced by

compassionate and involved and dedicated action. In the words of the Gita

 

tasmad ajnana-sambhutam hrtstham jnanasinatmanah

chitvainam samsayam yogam atishtha uttishtha Bharata

 

Therefore, O scion of the Bharata dyasty, take recourse to (karma)yoga and

ARISE, cutting asunder with the sword of Knowledge this doubt of your own in the

heart, arising from ignorance.

 

Hari OM

Shri Gurubhyoh namah

Shyam

 

 

 

advaitin , " richarkar " <richarkar wrote:

>

>

>

> Since then I've tried to rationalize by thinking all is a dream and all within

the dream are dream characters, so why shouldn't this Richard dream character

feel compassion and want to help? (I offered several times to help in the

hospital but my sister-in-law refused the offer). Why should Richard get some

soothing philosophy and turn into a feelingless rock?

>

> I would very much would like feedback on how to understand this in the

nondualistic sense.

>

> Thank you in advance,

> Richard

>