deenametzger@deenametzger.com
September 11, 2001
Dear Friends and Citizens of the World:
If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another. If you
wish to know that you are safe, cause another to know that they are safe.
The
Dalai Lama, September 2001
I was at Masvingo in Zimbabwe when I saw CNN and the photos of the plane-bombing
of the Towers of the World Trade Center only one hour after the event. Masvingo
is the 13th century remains of a medieval city, the greatest sub-Saharan center
of spiritual and regal authority on the African continent; we were acutely aware
of the possibilities and dangers of power. I was traveling with
a small group of people, four of whom had joined us in Zimbabwe to undergo initiation,
that is to enter into a deep personal relationship with the Spirits, that is
to deepen their daily experience and practice of the spiritual life. Of
the four, one had a brother who worked at the Pentagon and one couple lost their
future in-laws on the plane that flew into the tower. We were so far away
and yet we were immediately plunged into the center of grief.
At the end of our journey to Zimbabwe, after much debate and soul-searching,
I decided to go onto Mt. Sinai in Egypt as planned, to pray for peace even though
that might maroon me in an Arab country in the event of violent retaliation
on the part of the United States. I was and continue to be as deeply concerned
about the implications and effects of retaliation as I was about the attack
on the WTC and the Pentagon. I was aware that retaliation might well trigger
not only world war but the end of life on the planet. I considered where
I might be of greatest use, and where my presence might be inflammatory, if
such events began.
On Rosh Hashanah, I, an American- Jewish woman, climbed Mt. Sinai in the company
of my husband, Michael Ortiz Hill, whose background is Mexican Catholic, American
Protestant and Buddhist and two renowned black indigenous African healers or
ngangas, Augustine and Simakuhle Kandemwa, and a Muslim Bedouin boy from
a family with whom I had become kin five years earlier. Our common
prayer was simple: May we become peacemakers. May peacemaker spirits
enter each of us and find us hospitable. May these spirits inhabit us for the
rest of our lives.
These are my first thoughts on my return for these very difficult times.
Please don't indulge despair or hopelessness. We have no time for it.
It is defeating. Don't indulge self-pity, outrage or fear. Whatever
you do, remember that the Spirits exist and that our prayerful and heartfelt
activity can activate them in the world.
Many of you who are reading this letter have been preparing for such times for
many years. Your spiritual search, your engagement in spiritual practices,
your environmental and political concerns and allegiances have prepared you
to meet this crisis with forbearance and wisdom.
Now is the time to be conscious. Notice, I didn't say, 'Now is the time
to act.' I mean that we cannot step away from the inner revelations of
consciousness. So many of us have been scrutinizing our lives in order
to put them in ethical and spiritual order. We cannot procrastinate
about enacting the principles of behavior that we know will benefit the planet.
From scrutinizing securities and investments to reviewing relationships,
there is time only to act according to the deepest teachings regarding peace
that are residing within us.
We must each drastically cut our use of the world's resources, from water to
fuel oil, from timber to gems to _. Give up our fetish about an expanding
economy, which can only continue to destroy the planet, also by imposing the
demand on all other peoples that they follow the disastrous trajectory of western
economics and technology. Let us throw in our lot with others less
'fortunate' than ourselves and those whose values and traditions are vastly
different from our own. Let us judge if we really need any or all of the
things we think we need from water in plastic containers to paper towels, to
all the technologies that seem to be required for successful businesses and
to support our [questionable] way of life. Let us ask ourselves
if our [specious] comfort or ease is good enough reason to endanger the planet
and undermine other cultures and wisdom traditions. We must give up the
nonsense about abundance being our right and that there is enough for everyone.
There isn't. The earth can't support our demands. We must
ask less of Her. We must take less from Her. Instead we must serve
Her.
Scrutinize the heart: where have we secretly known we have violated our own
deepest beliefs, our heart, our spiritual practice? Let us change our
behavior. Now. After we have done this, let us gently and kindly
urge our friends and associates to do likewise. Do not ask them to copy our
behaviors, do not judge how they should act and what they should change, but
let us stand alongside them as they begin to scrutinize their lives. Let us
recognize how difficult it is to do this, commend those so engaged for their
efforts without indulging self-pity or narcissism. Notice the ways in
which we have been irritated with others. Notice our tendencies to make
judgments, to look at others critically. Make amends.
Let us not get caught in a false and inappropriate patriotism that sets us
against them. Fly an earth flag rather than an American flag. Recognize
that this event is a core and unsentimental opportunity to learn the true nature
of compassion. Face the ways in which our country has been bombing and
terrorizing people on behalf of American economic, financial, commercial and
military interests, on behalf of our comfort and ease. How have we each
individually benefited from this? Search out all the subtle ways in which
our way of life deprives others and other beings of their lives. Notice
all the ways in which we have used the words 'rational' or 'sensible' or 'practical'
or 'reasonable' to justify essentially selfish and self-protective behavior.
The only real security is in true alliance with what we truly and most
honestly understand as the sacred cosmic order, as Mat, dharma, Torah, Logos.
Let us step away from fear. Step away from self-interest. Begin
to act on behalf of others before ourselves on a regular basis. Let us
understand why people turn to violence and so do whatever we can to provide
security and safety and beauty for them so they have no reason to be so afraid,
so angry. Reach out whenever we can to our Arab and especially our Muslim
neighbors. Offer them alliance, protection, assistance, camaraderie,
friendship, respect, honor.
Let us speak with our ancestors. What wisdom do they have for us
at this time? Search out and honor the indigenous wisdom regarding peacemaking
and right living from all the traditions that we have dispossessed, destroyed,
despised. Let us find the ancient wisdom [not ideology] in
our different traditions and apply it to these times.
Speak to the spirits. The same spirits serve all people though they may
have different names and different faces. What do they suggest we do that
will benefit all people and beings?
Let us be certain that whatever we do is in everyone's interest, including all
the creatures of the natural world. Do not believe that any of our lives
is more important or more precious than another's.
Let us change our hearts and minds. Let us find and enact all the ways
we can to love passionately. Let us all walk as healing presences
in the world.
Let us enter into deep prayer. But let us not pray for our own self-interest.
Let us pray that peace will come. Let us pray that it will come
through each of us though it will appear differently in each of us.
To pray is to enter into the service of Spirit. A prayer is not for one's
benefit; a prayer is that one may serve Spirit well and entirely.
Let us offer ourselves to Spirit wholeheartedly. May we be gloves
for God's hands. May we be healers and peacemakers every moment of the
day and night.
Peace and Blessings.
There are those who want to set fire to the world
We are in danger.
There is time only to work slowly
There is no time not to love.
{Please circulate this letter if you wish.}