The world, as we see it, is a virtual reality (VR): it is constructed by our ideas/expectations, desires, fears. The same holds for the idea of self. So far no problem. If, however, one holds that these forms of VR are actually real, then suffering starts. War starts in the mind.
Christopher, with respect, you did comment on 7 October in your blogpost but you also adopted the BBC / Guardian trick of refraining from actually calling the Hamas ‘fighters’ terrorists and members of a proscribed terror organisation. You also give no indication that you watched the film of the atrocities committed by Hamas, spelling it out with same grim attention you gave to the recent report on IDF atrocities in Gaza. As you wrote on 19 March about that report, it is “a horrifying, detailed analysis of the current consequences of the IDF (Israeli army) invasion of Gaza under the orders of the Israeli government to launch and sustain an ongoing systematic decimation of the people of Gaza and their homeland.” And so it is, but where’s the equivalent blogpost for the Hamas atrocities, the detailed analysis of infernal crimes committed by young Palestinian men, applauded by their friends and families, and filmed, allegedly, by photojournalists who were on the payroll of Reuters and Associated Press? Where’s the endictment and outrage when it comes to the horrifying levels of capture, corruption and collusion of the international organisations that are supposed to be there to provide support and relief to the victims? I personally have not watched the film because — frankly — it terrifies me, and I don’t have the guts. Have you? And if so, what’s your take? Since Covid, I have utterly lost faith in the proclamations of Engaged Buddhism because all I have seen is biased activism. This blogpost does nothing to dispel my disillusionment.
IMO, the lack of acceptance of any guilt on the Israeli side for the violence happening is the "other side of this coin".
IMO, it is (Hamas) terrorism against (state) terrorism - the following text I copied from anotjer person's comment on another article on another site:
"....state terror that has always been the foundational component of Israeli doctrine, from Plan Dalet in 1948 at its founding and the concomitant murder of 15,000 Palestinian farmers in 530 villages, the slaughter of all the males, the many rapes of the women and girls and shipping many of the survivors to what would become the concentration camp of Gaza.
... the Nakba ... Dahiya doctrine mandating the IDF's slaughter of an entire village from which a single gunshot might have issued. Terrorism?"
Is there truth in the above? Everyone has their own judgement on the possible facts.
There is a lot of history to the situation:
did ...(names)............... help the founding of Hamas as a competitor to Fatah?
The call for a ceasefire is not an expression for taking sides. It is an expression for staying in touch with one's humanity and reason.
I can not even imagine the pain through which people on both sides are going.
The 7th of October has traumatised a nation. We can see the effect of the trauma right now: much violence and trauma being inflicted in return.
If we were not to ask our heart, but only our mind for advice,we need to ask one single question: Is it likely that the current actions of IDF will lead to Hamas being extinguished? Or is it more likely it will have the exact opposite effect: a generation of traumatised children looking for revenge?
A call for a ceasefire is in the interest of BOTH sides. This war makes no sense, no matter if you look at it with your heart or your mind.
The world, as we see it, is a virtual reality (VR): it is constructed by our ideas/expectations, desires, fears. The same holds for the idea of self. So far no problem. If, however, one holds that these forms of VR are actually real, then suffering starts. War starts in the mind.
Christopher, with respect, you did comment on 7 October in your blogpost but you also adopted the BBC / Guardian trick of refraining from actually calling the Hamas ‘fighters’ terrorists and members of a proscribed terror organisation. You also give no indication that you watched the film of the atrocities committed by Hamas, spelling it out with same grim attention you gave to the recent report on IDF atrocities in Gaza. As you wrote on 19 March about that report, it is “a horrifying, detailed analysis of the current consequences of the IDF (Israeli army) invasion of Gaza under the orders of the Israeli government to launch and sustain an ongoing systematic decimation of the people of Gaza and their homeland.” And so it is, but where’s the equivalent blogpost for the Hamas atrocities, the detailed analysis of infernal crimes committed by young Palestinian men, applauded by their friends and families, and filmed, allegedly, by photojournalists who were on the payroll of Reuters and Associated Press? Where’s the endictment and outrage when it comes to the horrifying levels of capture, corruption and collusion of the international organisations that are supposed to be there to provide support and relief to the victims? I personally have not watched the film because — frankly — it terrifies me, and I don’t have the guts. Have you? And if so, what’s your take? Since Covid, I have utterly lost faith in the proclamations of Engaged Buddhism because all I have seen is biased activism. This blogpost does nothing to dispel my disillusionment.
IMO, the lack of acceptance of any guilt on the Israeli side for the violence happening is the "other side of this coin".
IMO, it is (Hamas) terrorism against (state) terrorism - the following text I copied from anotjer person's comment on another article on another site:
"....state terror that has always been the foundational component of Israeli doctrine, from Plan Dalet in 1948 at its founding and the concomitant murder of 15,000 Palestinian farmers in 530 villages, the slaughter of all the males, the many rapes of the women and girls and shipping many of the survivors to what would become the concentration camp of Gaza.
... the Nakba ... Dahiya doctrine mandating the IDF's slaughter of an entire village from which a single gunshot might have issued. Terrorism?"
Is there truth in the above? Everyone has their own judgement on the possible facts.
There is a lot of history to the situation:
did ...(names)............... help the founding of Hamas as a competitor to Fatah?
etc. etc.
All violence is unacceptable.
The lack of humanity is obvious.
The call for a ceasefire is not an expression for taking sides. It is an expression for staying in touch with one's humanity and reason.
I can not even imagine the pain through which people on both sides are going.
The 7th of October has traumatised a nation. We can see the effect of the trauma right now: much violence and trauma being inflicted in return.
If we were not to ask our heart, but only our mind for advice,we need to ask one single question: Is it likely that the current actions of IDF will lead to Hamas being extinguished? Or is it more likely it will have the exact opposite effect: a generation of traumatised children looking for revenge?
A call for a ceasefire is in the interest of BOTH sides. This war makes no sense, no matter if you look at it with your heart or your mind.