Your voice matters

The last few days, the overwhelming amount of suffering in this world has knocked the wind from most of us and left us breathless and at times speechless.

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I’ve been contemplating on how to use my voice in a way that is helpful—that illuminates and supports rather than confusing things, that promotes peace rather than sowing discord, that reinforces our common humanity rather than pushing us farther apart.

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I need to be honest here: I do not know how to do that really. At least not yet. And, in fact, it is becoming harder.

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Do not throw at me notions like “peace & love” (or “love & light”) because they have lost meaning. Of course, these words are a beautiful prayer for universal Love, which can only resonate in all of us as our innate nature, but we keep forgetting our essence. And in the meantime, words have become empty vessels.

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How do we move from this notion of Peace without sounding too naïve? Because really, this is my deepest longing underneath my rage witnessing the world’s suffering….Clearly it is a challenge, as yogi & teacher, as a humanitarian worker and simply as a “decent” human being.

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I do not have clarity yet, but I made the promise to myself that I would keep on trying to be a gatherer and try to hold space for any suffering. But, yes, it is becoming harder. I also made a promise to myself to keep the eyes wide open to the world and not fall into ignorance or bypassing just because it is more convenient to look away. I would fail not only in my quality of a humanist but also as a human being.

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I will keep using my voice because I can, and it is a duty when you can. I will be clumsy at times, most likely. Many of us have the privilege to live in a democracy where we feel safe to speak up. It is a blessing, but this also comes with a responsibility for others who do not have such privilege because, let me say it clearly: WHEN YOU MOVE, EVERYTHING ELSE MOVES. You matter, your voice matters and we need you in whatever way that feels safe for you. We need you to even be confused or lost…but do not look away. Ask, enquire, read, listen.

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All suffering is heartbreaking and non-sense as we belong to the same Humanity. From the same macrocosm, each of us condensed into a form we call YOU. Such huge common mystery in each of us! This is huge commonality. Yet, we forget that we are not separate. Politics and trauma make us feel that we are, but we are not. We do come from the same force of/and for Life. That force of creation and pull for Life no matter what.

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I fail to understand how some would decide the fate of others, in any circumstance. I think about Israel/Palestine where I lived for 4 years (and got hit massively by realities which are hard to forget) and I also think about the forgotten parts of the world: Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, Iran, you name it...Currently working in Syria and Afghanistan, I have to confess my days are not filled with greatest hope always but I have to continue believing in Life to carry on.

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I have tried to write or post during this past week with the words I had….They were probably not phenomenal, but I tried. I also tried to stay away from sensationalism trying to yield into nuance. In the polarized world we live in, where we must be either/or, be with or against, I see in that persisting polarity the highest danger for coexistent living. Some reacted to my writings with thanks, some felt I was too gentle, some felt i was too strong with my words…Please, know that I am also struggling. Like you all. I am struggling with all forms of ignorance. I rage in this failure of Humanity.

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Please let’s hold space for each other. It is though for everyone even for your friends who hold different perspectives as yours, or as mine.

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Prevent yourself from oversimplifications & amalgams, they are the highest dangers to coexistent thinking and living. If confused, just read history books and anchor yourself into international legal/human rights frameworks and read again the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They offer good reminders.

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I recognize that it is easier to write these lines from the comfort of my sofa in Geneva. I am thinking that because I am less "in the mess of it all" like I used to be while living in Israel/Palestine, maybe I could give a chance to feeling my pain without being overridden by it. "It is the job of outsiders to help maintain a space for peace" I read today. I liked these words as I thought maybe I could try this between my raging moments.

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I am not pretending that i can easily do that but i want hold space for me to try. They say that prayers work. Let me try. Let me try again.