September 11, 2015
New York, NY
Our spiritual community continues to offer daily prayers to the victims and to all those affected by the events of September 11, just as we do for the victims of every human conflict.
Since that terrible day 14 years ago, so much has changed, both in our own personal lives and in the landscape of the world. When looking back a year ago, five years ago, 14 years ago -- do you find more things that have changed about yourself, or more that remains the same? Even with all that is impermanent about life, I am certain that one thing we all have in common is that the direction in which we are heading is undoubtedly forward.
You may wonder how a spiritual figure such as myself may relate to an event that happened so many thousands of miles from her home country. Every morning and evening I make time for myself to reflect on all lives, from those in my recent memory to eons past, and to everything those lives must have involved, including the human emotions of joy and sadness and the strengths and weaknesses of the human heart. Remembering the interconnectedness of our lives with those who came before us reminds us to be resolutely compassionate, undauntedly kind, and most importantly, to always have courage and hope in our hearts.
If sadness can be shared, no matter how long ago these events occurred, then we can also share in the joys, the gratitude, and the love that we experience every day. Reaffirming these emotions is what we can do in the present, in the here and now. So bring out the light that is within you, pass it on, and together we can push forward our commitment to illuminate the world.
