The Zen Jewdhist Takes On Our Middle East Conflict

The concept of "us" and "them" has nothing to do with anything but "our" way of thinking.  When one of us threatens or kills our own, we must be heartbroken and seek to prevent further tragedy without hatred.  

When there is no Other, there is no hatred.  

It is upon us who aren't so embroiled in hatred of Other to take on the mantle of echad (non-dual) thinking first.  We cannot wait for Other to reach out.  All casualties must become our casualties, all losses our losses if anything is ever to change.    

We need to be our own meshiach individually and collectively.  

 -off da soap box bimah.

The Song of Teshuva (a Meditation Metaphor)

The child sitting on the Rebbe's knee

runs off to make faces
in a mirror.

The bearded sage smiles,
gently calls him back, 

and enfolding him
in a warm embrace, sings
the soul's niggun.

-In memory of Reb Zalman, z"l.