Facing the Challenge of the Heart

52 WEEKS FLOWED like water washing over the heart’s stone, smoothing its chiseled edges. On the radio, name after name of the dead are recalled.

Humanity is buffeted by the strong tornado of momentum of history, of the past religion forces. How shall we walk through the journey to evolution, of going toward the enlighten era?

There is no single way of responding the Challenge of the Heart but to remain conscious and aware of the pain and suffering. Sorrow darkens our spirit yet we must let the ray of awareness shines through.

52 weeks ago, as I pedaled madly on my scooter down to the WorldTradeCenter to pick up my daughter from her school, I saw the sun trying to shine through the plum of ashes. Now, let my heart shines through the plum of sorrow and despair.

To move on is to move through the trauma and sorrow.

History will show us that this period is the turning point of humanity. Like a lighting spark to the ancient Camberin sea, our collective consciousness wakes up to the responsibility of the earth without boundaries. National territories and borders are meaningless. A group of fanatic 10,000 miles away in a remote desert country could sling shot a deadly shattering blow to the glass towers of the richest and most powerful nation. Our brain still grasps out its tendrils to this remoteness of a world without borders.

Like a warrior honing his sword for a thousand years, I am ready to face the challenge with a keen awareness of the inter-connectiveness of all actions and life. Every small action of a single individual has ramification to the whole world. Like in the Taiji dance, we must place our next step with balance and tranquility of mind and body. To simply react to fears will plunge us deeper into the heart of darkness.

In the history of China, during chaotic times, Taoists rose up to guide the people toward peace. Once peace occurred, the Taoist masters returned to their high mountain retreats. The humanity functions like a single body, in dealing with this fever of violence, that great spirits—mahatmas will come forward to guide humanity out of the darkness into the light. Buddha has done so 2,500 years ago.

These great souls—mahatmas are embodiment of awareness, Sati. Only in moment to moment awareness without flinching from pain, sorrow and suffering, lies the true practice of Taoist Alchemy. These awareness acts directly by its very presence. Awareness is action without the complexity of the discursive mind which is chaotic and is the source of all the strive and suffering.

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