Sept. 11, 2002: A Reflection

Maybe this is therapy by poetry, but I actually wrote this in less than five minutes to summarize my feelings today...

Just wanted to share it here in a place where I feel comfortable.

Lu


Sept. 11, 2002: A Reflection

A year to the day,
we could hear their spirits
whispering in the winds...
The harsh winds that blew
One year later in 2002

A year to the day,
we could hear shattered remnants
of despair floating by
with cries of agony, echoing 'WHY?'
Winds do tell tales of sorrow

May the Eternal Flame
lit in their memory
Help them spark the light
of forgiveness in their hearts

We will never forget
the hearts of the brave
May the hearts that were broken
heal in peace

Maybe I am not listening in the right places,
but I think I never hear anyone mention forgiveness in relation to 9/11.
The emphasis seems to be sustaining outrage and anger.

So nice to hear your voice, Lu.

dance

Lu

**HUG**

I feel your pain :-(

I wonder what New York city was like yesterday.

Mimosa

Lyciss wrote (09/12/02 at 01:20:04):

author=Lyciss link=board=chat;num=1031808591;start=0#1 date=09/12/02 at 01:20:04

Lyciss,

No, thank YOU for always contributing on padma.  Your insight is great and I appreciate reading your posts  :)

I find sometimes that writing is the best way to let feelings out, especially extreme ones. After watching the ceremony of lighting the Eternal Flame in Battery Park yesterday, dedicated to all who passed last year, something just inspired me to write that piece...

It was also very very windy all day yesterday.  The wind was howling so much it felt creepy, almost like I could hear voices of the victims crying.  Guess I just put it all together to let them know, we all care and remember them in our hearts.

Lu

lian hua dance wrote (09/12/02 at 05:32:24):

author=lian hua dance link=board=chat;num=1031808591;start=0#2 date=09/12/02 at 05:32:24

Hi Dance,

It's nice to hear your voice!  

Forgiveness seems impossible after such events took place.  

What I really do wish is that all those who passed that day try to find some sort of forgiveness in their hearts so that the scenario won't be repeated (or worsened) the next chance or lifetime they get to meet up again.  

One of my cultivator friends believes the victims and terrorists associated in the whole ordeal were involved in the Vietnam War in their previous lives, and that one year ago was the karmic ripening of that cause.  I don't care when or where they were involved--I just hope no one sees something like what happened that day ever again.  

I always wonder, besides the places the attacks occured last year, do any of you living in other US states become bombarded with images, reports, etc. to make sure we remain depressed every day?  Just joking, but there is a little truth in that.

Nice chatting with you Dance,

Lu

Lyciss,

You didn't detract anything from anything :)  

I have lots of views on the whole thing too.  Some people will handle the events in a mature way but the ones that don't can't really be blamed because it is a difficult thing to deal with. We just have to try to help them open their minds.

About a week ago, a boy in one of NY's suburbs was beaten up because he "appeared" to be Muslim.  I know that sounds messed up but that was the reason.

He was leaving his parents' restaurant with his Mom when a few other boys just walked up to him and beat him up.  They shouted various racial slurs at him (ones that didn't even represent his nationality), asked him if he knows that being Muslim is being a terrorist, etc.  The boy is from Pakistan and his parents lived in America for 20 years.  They were shocked at the whole thing.  The boys that beat him up at the very least realized afterwards they made a big mistake, and that believing in Islam doesn't mean one also supports terrorism.  

It's almost understandable when children act that way, but when adults behave that way it's a major problem.  And a lot of adults have and do act that way here.  It seems that no lessons were learned after the tragedy.

Lu

Lyciss,

I know, I completely lose myself too...I'm sorry.

It happened and we all know about it, but we also want to hear positive things too.

My problem lately is that I'm trying to be strong about it (I had some problems recovering from it for a good 10 months).
But, when the US security alert was heightened the other day it made me kind of relapse into that devastated state I was in.  I got really worried when they closed the US embassies in Asia.  Those overseas threats to US interests were very similar to what happened last year before the tragedy.

What are we supposed to do?  Of course I want to know about current events and warnings, etc. but being warned and overly-informed without trying for the last year has really taken its toll. I think I'm at the stage where i just can't be informed anymore  :P

Lyciss wrote (09/12/02 at 22:26:12):

author=Lyciss link=board=chat;num=1031808591;start=0#8 date=09/12/02 at 22:26:12

Mimosa,

Thanks for the HUG, also returned  :)

I guess NYC was everything yesterday...patriotic, sad in remembrance.  The happy things were knowing we have been strong as a city and together as a country.

There were lots of activities going on, not sure if you knew about them

NYC had a commemorative program

the features were:

-Bagpipe & drum procession starting from each of NY's 5 boros to WTC.  It started at 1 am!
-Citywide moment of silence at 8:46 am (first hit)
-Reading of the names of the dead at Ground Zero
-Citywide tolling of bells at 10:29 am (first fall)
-Lighting of the Eternal Flame at a permanent memorial in Battery Park (close to the site) at around 7:30 pm
-Citywide candlelight vigils
-Various musical tributes and dedications at all 5 boros of NY

mimosa wrote (09/12/02 at 08:59:23):

author=mimosa link=board=chat;num=1031808591;start=0#3 date=09/12/02 at 08:59:23

Greetings and felicitations,

I felt as if I must say something regarding the 9/11 very tragic event. The question has been raised regarding forgiveness and this may be a valid consideration.  But I must ask why are people so willing not to simply forgive but would rather hold onto their attachment to the anger and outrage that was caused by the acts of a people with a dogma so very different than our own?

I have read that there is no such thing as a "just" war; that the winner revels in the victory not realizing that somday the celebration must end and guilt and lamintation will naturally  follow.  The loser of the war immediately feels the pain and suffering of the loss.  Do not both feel the same attachment to their emotions? and do we not believe that attachments are the source of suffering?  The answer seems clear, simply acept it, reconize it for the tragedy that it was and let it (the feeling) go.  Believe that those responsible will suffer for all the nagative Karma that they accumilated in just a short time.

The events of 9/11 were indeed a tragedy of the most profound nature and both the United States and those who perpretrated the attack will feel the attachment of the emotion generated by the event for years to come in much the same way that we remember Pearl Harbor.  I do not mean to appear as if I am trying to minimize what was done but I do believe that taking of additional lifes will not change those events which took so many lives.  Bring those to justice and by no means forget what has happened.  

I have no answers and this is only my opinion, such as it is.

PS:  Forgive my "spellin" errors.  It is late and I am tired!

Om, Guru Lian Shen Siddi Hum!

Lian Hua Gene.....

Dear Lian Hua Gene,

I felt as if I must say something regarding the 9/11 very tragic event. The question has been raised regarding forgiveness and this may be a valid consideration.  But I must ask why are people so willing not to simply forgive but would rather hold onto their attachment to the anger and outrage that was caused by the acts of a people with a dogma so very different than our own?

#Yes, I always think about the same thing too.  Forgive but don't forget.  I think it's the same thing as 'compassion without wisdom is stupidity'

I have read that there is no such thing as a "just" war; that the winner revels in the victory not realizing that somday the celebration must end and guilt and lamintation will naturally  follow.  The loser of the war immediately feels the pain and suffering of the loss.  Do not both feel the same attachment to their emotions? and do we not believe that attachments are the source of suffering?  The answer seems clear, simply acept it, reconize it for the tragedy that it was and let it (the feeling) go.  Believe that those responsible will suffer for all the nagative Karma that they accumilated in just a short time.

#I know it sounds crazy, but my heart actually feels for them too (the responsible ones).  They learn and somehow believe that using suicide as a weapon is just in the law of Islam.  What ever got into their minds?  That is just a preposterous, unthinkable thing to anybody who follows any religion, including Islam.  Buddhists would shake their head at that, especially to know that such a 'suicide weapon' is used to harm or even kill others in the process.  
I once had a firsthand experience with a person who thinks in the type of manner I described above.  The person tried to take my life, but I was somehow saved.  After that experience I took unofficial Bodhisattva vows.  One of my vows is to help people open their minds from that type of thinking.  Whether it be through traditional avenues for education or through spirituality, I am now bound to samsara forever, lol...
Sorry for going off on another tangent here.


The events of 9/11 were indeed a tragedy of the most profound nature and both the United States and those who perpretrated the attack will feel the attachment of the emotion generated by the event for years to come in much the same way that we remember Pearl Harbor.  I do not mean to appear as if I am trying to minimize what was done but I do believe that taking of additional lifes will not change those events which took so many lives.  Bring those to justice and by no means forget what has happened.  

#I agree.  

I have no answers and this is only my opinion, such as it is.

#Your opinions are welcome

PS:  Forgive my "spellin" errors.  It is late and I am tired!

#ha ha...we won't beat you up for any spelling errors

Om mani padme hum

Lu

Hello Lu...

Thanks for your thoughts and for not "beating" me up because of my spelling!  The emotions that the 9/11 event brought out in me were powerful.  I had to fight very hard not to de-evolve into the violent thinking that I was widely known for. In the "old" days, I would have simply said "nuke 'em til they glow" or "nuke 'em into the stone age" and I would have meant it!  How unfortunate, but over the years I have found that mode of thinking and acting to be counter productive and generally harmful, both to yourself and those around you.   We must strive to be better than that.....

With that I will sign off now.

Lian Hua Gene.....

The problem about 'nuking them into the Stone Age' is that for many countries like Afghanistan, that would not be all that much of a change. :)
But seriously, on the ongoing reminders of 9-11, I think back to my first reaction when I learned about it and watched it on tv. "These people don't know anything at all about us."
So much destruction...so many lives lost, and like I said, we watched it all happen live on tv. It was as if we all were there.
Before 9-11, to tell the truth, I regarded New York as about as alien a place to me as Afghanistan, but after, New York is like the next town over. I'm afraid that these terrorists may have done what our own political leaders could not do. Bring us together. Suddenly those "yankees" are our next door neighbors and family. What the world needs is a good alien invasion. Then see how important all the division and squabbling between one group of humans and another becomes.  ;)