I find myself at a particular stage in life, not exactly a crossroads more a quiet country lane offering a specific opportunity which I feel I must take; if not for posterity, at least for Billy, Arlo, Noah and Fin – my grandchildren. You see I cannot rely on having this chance again.
I think it is time to seriously consider creating a revolution. Just a quiet revolution that is, one that does not require any commitment, ideologically, financially, or even belief. I am not suggesting you should look at the work I produce on this with anything more than passing interest. After all there is much that demands your attention.
Recently my wife has had a benign tumour removed from inside the top her spine. The tumour was pressing against the nerves as it grew. She is now into the fourth week of her recovery which is slow, uncomfortable but progressing in the right direction. I continue to be unable to drive for medical reasons and will have an MRI on my heart this week. This procedure should make it clear as to whether I am safe to drive or not. I feel as fit as I have done for many years, allowing for the advancement of age, and consequently am cautiously optimistic for a good result. Although this may take some time.
Consequently, we are somewhat bound to our current home among the fields, the woods and the creatures of the earth and skies. Vast tractors with their huge trailers come thundering past from time to time and we occasionally see people walking with their friends, families and dogs. As it is winter and we are mostly indoors, there is little in terms of communication between us and the strangers that gaze into our house. There has been known to be the exchange of friendly waves from time to time.
The wild area in the garden is carpeted with snowdrops, hares are beginning to return to that same area where they have produced young in the last few years. On the days that are light there is a new feel to the land. It is indeed time to give birth to things.
We continue to be dependent on the generosity of family and friends for conversation, help to get to places and general human contact. However, the healing of body and mind is paramount helped by the goodness of the human spirit and the solace of nature. A good time for reflection, a good time for writing.
A good time for revolution…
It is nearly fifteen years ago and my wife, our youngest son and I are sitting in the large meditation room of the Hanuman Temple in Varanasi. Through the carefully sculpted apertures of the windows, we can see the grey/brown waters of the Ganges flowing past. The Head of the Temple sits in front of us. He is old, dressed in white robes and his legs are tucked beneath him. He inclines his white-haired head towards us, smiles and looks at us with care in his deep, dark eyes.
This is where the seed of revolution was reawakened. It had been planted many years before through a variety of experiences: travelling overland to India, falling in love and marrying, having children, having grandchildren, working with children, listening to and talking with so many people.
I cannot remember what this man said exactly. This man who had spent much of his life working to get the River Ganges cleaned up. Yet I can still feel the sensation of body and mind that occurred for me during that hour as he brought us through pre-Hinduism to Quantum Theory. It was more a flow of understanding rather that some exposition of knowledge. A journey into multiple realities accompanied by the sound of water and the voices of the many people outside in the city where they brought the bodies of their loved ones to be cremated by the side of that holy river. Within me something subtly changed.
Now I feel the potential for the seed to come into some kind of fruition.
Some five or six years later my wife and I are sitting in a large hall where wicker chairs have been put to one side for us to spend some time with a well-known Buddhist monk who we had met earlier. He enters the room quietly. His head is not shaved, but the thick covering of white hair is very short. Placing his hands together gently in greeting he sits down in front of us, arranging the deep maroon robes so that he is comfortable. Outside the air of the city of Chennai is resolutely humid and hot. My wife and I are meeting him to discuss the matter of learning.
Towards the end of our conversation we come to an agreement that humanity is on an almost irretrievable course towards disaster; that, even if it is not to be precipitated by human behaviour, it may equally come about through some natural phenomena. This, he feels, has the possibility of bringing about some sense of realisation or understanding of the effects of self-centred or egotistical activity. The global economic system as it is currently, underpinned by violence and greed, with the existence of rapid environmental degradation, widening inequality between the poor and the rich, and increasing religious intolerance is destroying any semblance of balance or harmony in the world. Thus negating the values and ethics that might give some avenue to ensuring the survival of the human race.
Since then the world has been taken on a course that has never been seen before; appearing to be entering a stage beyond which we can only see increasing intensity of suffering for much of humanity. This demands a deeply personal response in our everyday lives. The response will dictate the outcome; for it is the process of our thinking and the way we behave within that process that creates change. Let us be gentle, careful and see our way through friendship for this is a psychological revolution.
A revolution in relationship.
Oh my. I'm in. All in. For you. With you. Of you. This moves me Andrew. Thank-you.