Sunday, February 15, 2004

Ancient Hatreds & Holy Places

"The holiest of all spots on Earth is where an ancient hatred has become a present love." - author unknown

I had been reading a wondrous book compiled by Marianne Williamson called "Imagine: What America Could Be in the 21st Century", when I stumbled upon the above quote while reading a chapter on Race Relations written by Kokomon Clottey and Aeeshah Ababio-Clottey, and I thought to myself, I said: "Self! This is one pregnant idea...given that some of the world's most troubling conflicts are among those whose hatred is of such ancience. May these ancient hatreds dissolve away like salt in warm water, never to crystallize again, but rather turn to tears and rain and then joy.

In the same chapter is this remarkable thought:

"Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Vietnamese Buddhist monk, said: "It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a community -- a community practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community practicing mindful living. This may be the most important thing that we can do for the survival of the Earth."

Imagine!