We want to express our deep feelings and sympathy to all people who are suffering from the insane attack to the
American people in New York and Washington.
Our feelings are mixed up, all the TV reports are so painful, with
out any thing to do or say. Is this Karma? How do we find a way to cope with it? How can we understand spiritually why this
is happening? Is the answer to this love or do we have to punish everybody who has contact with these evil actions? Our
feelings are so mixed about that.
Answer from Deepak:
I want to
share my love and concern with you to all those dealing with the excruciating loss and pain from this tragedy. It will take a
long time to recover from this blow, and in some ways, America and the world will never be the same.
Some of you may
have read a short note I wrote the day it happened that was sent out through the Namaste mailing the next day. I had
just flown out of New York that morning 45 minutes before the first plane crashed into the World Trade building. My
wife and son were on separate flights at the time when I first found out and I was absolutely immobilized with concern
for their safety. Once I found out they were fine, I suddenly felt the greater anguish and pain of those died and of
their loved ones who will always miss them.
This is not the time to dispassionately explain the spiritual cause
of such loss and destruction when families are still waiting for word on their loved ones. We may go through many feelings
and responses right now, and we don't have to evaluate them as right or wrong. The most useful thing we can do right now is
to find some way to help those who need our help. Whether we can offer money, supplies, services, or prayers, that will
positively help at this critical time. We may also feel some hatred and the need for revenge that comes from our pain
and loss. While that is natural enough, it doesn't help when the root cause of this terrorism is itself hatred and suffering.
Protective and preemptive measures must surely be taken by those who have the responsibility to safeguard
society, but the mindset of war and revenge will not by itself stop the cycle of more violence and revenge. We are confronted
with a belief, such as the jihad, that death and destruction of others is encouraged and rewarded by God As
incomprehensible and foreign as this belief is to us, we will never overcome it with violence and hate, for that is the very
fuel which perpetuates it.
