Retaliation

I spent the last three days in Kawambwa dropping S-- off and spending time with colleagues. Many of my experiences reflected the difficult, frustrating aspects of the human experience. I found myself continually confronted with filth and insects and death and defecation, drunkenness, physical agression, supression, and holding back, anger and demoralisation, frustration, chauvinism, hypocrisy, and ignorance.

This is a part of reality that many seek to avoid and yet, by the mechanisms they use to eschew suffering, they inadvertantly throw themselves directly into the fire. All of this fighting violence with violent acts and misunderstanding with intentional silence perpetuates the grand wheel of samsara. It is absolutely absurd how our patterns trap us and keep us stuck. We could see that and still somehow, the comfort of familiarity would preside over the prospect of healing.

I received a message from A-- today, which made me very very happy. He still thinks of me on the other side of this Earth, even though it has been months since we have spoken. I really wish that I could have spent more time with him when we lived on the same continent. Our experiences together were always extraordinary, magical, beautiful. He was a reflection of the sea and everything it represents.