ANNOUNCING BENEATH BUDDHA'S EYES FIRST GUEST WRITER

LET ME INTRODUCE GUEST BLOGGER ALIFA SAADYA OF JERUSALEM: Pursuing my goal of learning to become more open leads me also to want to listen to the stories of other’s journeys of personal discovery. After all, we are all on this trip together—all connected at the heart. Violence has closely touched Alifa who introduced herself by commented on a recent entry of mine about Ahimsa. I can think of nowhere on earth where it might be more difficult for a person to be tested in non-violence than Jerusalem where war as a daily occurence effects everyone. —Tony

This is what Alifa shared initially:

Sometimes I think that starting by making peace in ourselves is the only way, yet part of me says, it’s also not enough. In the past two years I’ve experienced the following: my next-door neighbor was murdered by the "Al-Aqsa Martyrs" and my two daughters were on Jaffa Road during a shooting incident. Neither was hurt, fortunately. On July 31 last summer, I ignored a loud boom, thinking it was an airplane, only to find myself ten minutes later rushing down from my office to help attend the wounded after the cafeteria was bombed.

In the face of this (and yes, I am well aware of "how much the Palestinians are suffering"), it is really hard to maintain one’s equanimity. Most of the people who are always "talking" about peace and love and all that stuff are so far away from the experiences that really challenge them to make peace. You've at least been in a real war and so I can respect where you're coming from.

I guess what I want to say is this: it’s really hard work not to fall into states of anger, hate, or simply despair. And I think it takes real courage for ordinary people to put forth the effort day after day not to do this.

After my friend was murdered, I began to say the Metta Sutta every day. After awhile I stopped, mostly out of lack of time before rushing off to work early in the morning. But I still bring to mind each day that all beings deserve peace, happiness, prosperity, and safety.

It’s a beginning, but I still say, I don't think it’s enough...

Alifa Saadya
Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Stay tuned over the next few days for Alifa's continuing story ... I'm certain that her heart-felt words will move you as much as they have me. —Tony