I am a committed pacifist. Easily said but what if your life, your family’s life is under threat? An attempt to answer this question could quickly result in lofty preaching. The current situation in Eastern Europe deserves the very opposite.
In many circles there are initiatives aiming for peace. It is impressive that their love and prayers are equally aimed at the people in Russia and the people in Ukraine and include their nations’ leaders. Rightly so. A friend of mine, for example, posted the photo of two lovers wrapped in their nation’s flags on Facebook.
While I sympathize with these many initiatives I observed in me a lackluster to join them – which disturbed me. “Normally” (?!?) I, too, would mobilize people to send Reiki to the unfolding of the current situation. Not now. Why?
By looking at the couple on the picture our hearts may open, it may trigger empathy. It can even be a call for action. Rightly so. But our focus may all too easily be out there, looking at them – much like the picture taking spectator in the photo. They must have peace, they should stop warring. Yes, that may be the most pressing and urgent step. By all means! And as such I am supporting all efforts in that direction.
But what about us, can’t we do more? Shouldn’t we all wrap ourselves in the flag of our nations like those two lovers and put our foreheads together, let our hearts touch each other? Not be onlookers in the background but join in. In everything we do. Any where, any time.
This website is committed to reconciliation. In that process, the unfolding of reconciliation, truce can be an intermediary step. Yes! But truce is not peace. Reconciliation is an all encompassing process. Therefore, I suggest to broaden the vision, even to include ourselves with the question what have we contributed to the situation being what it is, what is my part in it? The exploration of the answers will contribute to the healing of the whole.
René Vögtli
| Kenya’s envoy to the UN, Martin Kimani is expressing his country’s objection to Russia’s invasion and exemplifies the universal context. Watch the 3:44 minutes video. |
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Ukraine’s Wolodymyr Selenskyj speaking not as president but as a citizen, he is addressing the Russian people. But for me, he is addressing the people of the world. |
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| From the Dalai Lama‘s website: dalailama.com: “Our world has become so interdependent that violent conflict between two countries inevitably impacts the rest of the world. War is out-dated – non-violence is the only way. We need to develop a sense of the oneness of humanity by considering other human beings as brothers and sisters. Problems and disagreements are best resolved through dialogue. Genuine peace comes about through mutual understanding and respect for each other’s well-being. The 20th century was a century of war and bloodshed. The 21st century must be a century of dialogue.” |
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