Meaningful MediaPosted by Michelle 23 Sep, 2007 21:48:33
Is the biography of the Dali Lama. While I know the story well I had not as yet experienced it and saw it from this point of view. The responsibility he has and must live with – and what Tibet as a country went through. What I still find so hard to believe is that it continues under plain view today. What really leaves me gob smacked is I remember learning that Tibet was part of China – while I see and know today that it wasn’t/ isn’t shouldn’t be so – maybe once under some ancient rule – but then do we give Australia back to the Aborigines, America to her natives and make Holland once again be part of France… It pains me to see now that it is open to foreigners – but what do see other there now than the theater that China puts on. I can’t begin to understand the pain of the Dali Lama who would like nothing other to go back, but knows that he can’t. What it would mean to have his country back, while all the while knowing that in the Chinese culture – to lose face – is bigger than any bigheartedness might be possible. I did think though in flutter of optimism would it not be the grandest gesture of the Olympic games in the name international generosity and peace to give Tibet back to the Tibetans. This could be the biggest statement of a possible tomorrow a moving on and above the past to embrace a new state of being - I dream… But just imagine a tomorrow a world where such gestures happened and were made possible by acceptance through an open-mind and heart, this is the kind of world that all of us would want to live and be a part of. It would be much preferred than a place from where we are able override a peaceful nation of Buddhists to claim the most shallow of victories. I think it touches me more than anything is the humbleness of the Tibetans and their peaceful protesting. After watching the film though a haze of tears I wondered why this might have happened, I believe some things happen for a reason – no matter how hard it might be to understand. I think one thing of worth, is that it brought the peace and spirituality of Buddhism to the world. It gave the rest of the world a Dali Lama, his holiness, his warmth and depth of spirit that otherwise we would have never have the chance to experience. But we have this now forever and we need to let the selfishness of what we the west wants go, isn’t it time to let him go or to help him build the road home to Lhasa??
http://www.freetibet.org/
Meaningful MediaPosted by Michelle 07 Jul, 2007 10:23:38
The film was although painful somewhat of a reflection of
what can still happen today. We as a society tell ourselves what happened in Germany could never happen now, but what about Serbia, Congo,
Rwanda, even in Tibet or other locations throughout Africa that I don’t even know about. We only really know what the media tells us,
why didn’t they tell us the real extent of what was going on in Rwanda? Why aren’t any journalists on the ground in
Africa interviewing people to get the real perspective, why the hell is
everyone so focused on Iraq. From here they bombard us daily with the
Westernized version of the story – what they would like us to believe. What kind of news do we have if they can’t
even tell us what is really going on in the world, where is journalism heading,
where is our own need to know?
And what really got me other than the current media’s biased
view towards real world events, was the confusion of the people in Rwanda. They were convinced as any of us human beings
would be; that when the rest of the world found out what was going on there
would be rescue attempts of a UN intervention.
But the UN only went in to retrieve their own people, anyone white could
leave. Where does that leave anyone else
but dead…. If they had oil would it have been different, if it was a European
country or a wealthier country or a whiter country… What are our worldly values
today? Really tell me…. Does being a
human being or a living creature not count for anything anymore – especially
when compared to thin slices of green paper…
Anyway through conscious awareness of what is going on, and more
compassionate value system we could very easily turn things around. All we need is the will and desire to do so.
It starts with each of us.
QuestionsPosted by Michelle 07 Jul, 2007 10:20:42
What are we not today if not a society driven by false needs, image and critical cynicism for everything other than ourselves.
We judge, criticize, live forever in glass houses throwing stones… pointing the finger – believing ourselves more righteous than the next person. It seems for every good deed there is someone else pissing on it. But everyone is so busy believing / being brainwashed by the media and the thoughts and comments of others – who today really thinks to look for a second within themselves. Do questions without answers exist? So many people talking, so many people asking and answering but how many are really thinking or listening?
Can we really in our righteousness point the finger and criticize others. Do we stand so strong - So confident - Or do we feel by judging and lowering our opinion or the confidence of others it somehow raises us higher?
How warped we are in how perceive life and existence. Is what we are here to do? Our brains numbed by the media – our whole life looking externally – measuring ourselves up measuring others down. All levels of government, schools, media and corporations – running our lives. If it were all to stop in a second would we fall apart - Are we able to think or do anything for ourselves, have we become an army of robots.
Is the issue brands? Consumerism? Or lack of knowledge of who we are, a true assessment of our needs as human beings – not by what we wear / buy / earn, but by what we do or don't do as people. By our approach to life and our experiences. Can any of us remove the light that blinds us, as we learn to see ourselves and others not as we project ourselves or how we perceive others but actually as we really are???? Does this possibility still exist or has life as we know it gone to far…..
A test for our social conscious.
In response to the comments on the blog: http://bonfireofthebrands.blogspot.com/
QuestionsPosted by Michelle 03 Jul, 2007 19:52:59
So why do we have that urge as humans to move… to believe that there must be better more luscious pastures elsewhere. Is it due to some build up of our psyche which is never satisfied with what we have, or is it a sub-conscious nomadic past that we have not quite been able to forget? As nomads we followed the sun or our food sources…. Today there are many people who long to or do the same. Of course there are those who talk about it and never manage to take that first big step. There are those that take the step, like their new pasture and stay. Or those like myself; forever restless, always moving – sometimes back to old countries – and sometimes more often, onto new ones. No, not always successfully, but not doing to badly either.
And although while others of my species aspire and attempt to take that first step of moving – I long for another step; that of actually staying – maybe even forever?? Somewhere to call home, where I could stay evermore, which still to a nomad like myself, sounds like a very long time!
But if you have ever moved country, you might just understand. It's not quite as dreamy and adventurous as it first sounds. While your imagination runs wild on the possibilities, the actual reality is what jolts you back down to earth. And while I have only trans-located to over 12 cities in 8 different countries there comes a definite point where you just want a real home. Learning yet another language becomes harder every time as the more languages you know the more jumbled your (well my) brain becomes. Adapting to a new culture and way or live – this I found to be the most difficult in places where you least expect it, for me both the place I grew up as well as the country I was born. Although do not for a minute get me wrong, while I have loved every challenge and country for different reasons, and they all led to me being who I am and what I am about today – there just comes a point, where I would like to wake up in the morning, knowing I belong, and that I am home. I can travel, use it as a base, however when that plane comes in to I know that I am home.
Hence following a period of complete mediocrity in my life, with the steady job, nice house, good friends in a well organised but unchallenging country – I decided to throw a spanner in the works. So, after full analysis of my situation; of my wants, needs, and desires for the future, as well as incredibly long lists of possible places and opportunities. I narrowed it down to 2 places, one where I could earn a lot of money and the other where I could, and would really be able to call home. I went for Italy as I could see it being my home and due to the fact I that I wanted to retire there anyway, I figured now was a good as time as any to see if I could learn the language and make any of those dreams a reality. This is all based on logic, on the somewhat more un-logical side, I also had a dream about this magical place I would call home. When I looked it up in the following morning, it not only existed but it also sounded enchanting and very much a reflection of the elements I had dreamed about. So a few weeks later I headed off to see if the actuality resembled my dream or my logic. And I wasn't at all disappointed, so within the space of 2 weeks, I'd rented my house, stored my things, found a place to rent in Sicily and was on the plane and out of a life of mediocrity and into a whole new adventure. The start of my journey had begun…….
And is the grass here greener? No it's just different like anywhere else. 11 months later I am still here – living my adventure and my dreams. There are days it is better and days it is not, here the grass grows in the sun, near the sea and a different pace to life. There is no pressure, the unconditional love one receives from family and friends – the nourishment it gets from the un-processed home made food builds a different kind of strength. The things that are important in life vary and people live from moment to moment, here in the now, not in yesterday or tomorrow. This brings one closer to the moment more absorbed by what is happening –one grows, and basks in life and moves on as you would anywhere. It's not greener, but it is my grass…. And I feel finally I am in my garden and it's just as green as I would have wanted it, and I won't be going home as I am here already….. Now all I need to do is to keep sowing the seeds and watching them grow.
