In response to an Israeli citizen. In one part of her email, she wrote that I gave meditation an “unnecessary and wrong linkage to politics and unfortunately it is very naive to believe that you could go to one of our neighbouring countries and attempt to do the same thing there.” *Many thanks for taking the time to write to me. I read from beginning to end the Chief Rabbi of Britain, Jonathan Saks, article you sent me on his belief in Israel as a model country.
I am in a rather blessed position, not needing to support nor defend the views and actions of any nation state, including the UK, nor the views of any religion, including Buddhism. As a small servant of the Dharma, there is an inseparable link between the personal and the global, between meditation and politics, between the lifestyle and standpoints of the individual and the fate of others and the Earth.
Dharma teachings involve inquiry into suffering, conditions for suffering, resolution of suffering and the way to the resolution (Four Truths of the Noble Ones).
We are challenged to hold lightly what we identify with in order to look over the wall to see and feel for the circumstances of others who we rush to condemn from our side of the wall. We can then engage in a determined effort to dissolve walls between us.
Keep meditating. If you do, please be prepared for a time when your view in terms of being “for” and “against” may get dramatically shaken up.
Hope to see you next year.
*note to readers. I have been to Nablus in Palestine regularly to make the same link between the inner and the outer.