Breaking the Cycle of War

My good friend, Qudrat, a former U.S. Marine, has many military-minded friends who tell him that we have to kill the Muslims in the world because their religion is fundamentally flawed and dangerous for humanity. In a previous correspondence, I had said that this view of Islam is biased and false. Qudrat's friend then sent back the following reply:

. . .If you think that the Moslem world is not a threat to non-Moslem peoples and societies I have enclosed just one insight that you might look at to get some understanding about this threat. . . Also you might want to check out the history of Islam since Mohammad and see if these people that ascribe to the Islamic religion should be thought of as a benevolent religion or society, or perhaps a malevolent one? Please open and read these articles when forming an opinion about Islam!
http://www.tzemach.org/articles/religionofhatred.htm
http://www.tzemach.org/articles/agenda_islam.htm

(NOTE: Be prepared if you click on the above hate-site links - they are not light reading and depict the depths of human depravity when we do not accept we are one human family.)

I then sent the following response, via Qudrat, who is moderating the discussion:

There is no doubt or question that there have been and are despicable, abominable acts and aggressions, horrendous beyond description, as well as plans in the making by deviant Muslim sects to overlay their system of rules and beliefs on others. The only question is, what is the effective way to counteract, obliterate and annihilate these deviant actions? Are our attack on Afghanistan, invasion of Iraq, preceded by the 10-years of sanctions and corrupt oil for food programs, the current troupe surge and planned attack on Iran ever going to work? Have they in any way helped to reduce the growth of radical Muslims? Our attacks, killing thousands, if not millions of Arab people by some accounts, is rather growing the radical Muslim population faster than we can kill them; and it is putting us on the same level of aggression as the Muslims we criticize, and at the same time, we are losing the lives of thousands of our own sons and daughters, and wounding others of our children to live a life of hopeless despair, beyond any chance for healing and a quality life. For many, it is worse than death.

In the history of Muslim aggressions, the most successful response, which effectively ridded the Punjab region of Mogul aggressions during the 1700s were the Sikh forces of Guru Gobind Singh and Maharaja Ranjit Singh (following the death of Guru Gobind Singh). Why were they successful where others were not? It is because of the philosophy of our humanity that Guru Gobind Singh taught. He taught that there is One Creator of the creation and the Creator and the creation are one. He considered that humanity is one vast organism and that any organism at war with itself will perish in self destruction. Therefore, he sought peace and reconciliation at every turn, always, as his first act. As a result, there were many Muslims who sought the protection of his court and many Muslims joined the Sikh forces. Many others kept their Muslim faith, but gave secret support to the Guru’s forces. Guru Gobind Singh believed people should honestly communicate their needs to each other and when they do so sincerely, they will easily find solutions that meet everyone’s needs. That is why he said, “When every peaceful means has failed, it is pious and just to raise the sword”. He always carried his sword to the meeting, as we do, still, today. But that does not mean we skip the meeting. The problem with our aggression, from our side today, is that we utterly skip the meetings. We can resolve much when we sit down together.

Marshal Rossenburg, to whom Sikhs gave the Man of Peace award in 2005, claims that in EVERY dispute he has ever mediated, once each side is able to correctly reflect back the needs articulated by the other side, RESOLUTION is forthcoming within 10 minutes! He guarantees this outcome. He says the problem is, people do not know how to listen to each other with understanding, and instead rely on their ASSUMPTIONS rather than trying to hear the reality. According to Gurutej Singh, who has taught Conflict Management for 27 years to his Akal Security troupes, ". . .every conflict known to humankind can be attributed to a lack of communication. Once we communicate, we can resolve 99.9 percent of our conflicts," he claims. (We will hardly be required to go to war for the remaining .1 percent)

Therefore, I encourage everyone to sit down with our Muslim brothers and sisters, all that we know. Let’s talk. I encourage our government officials to do the same. What are the issues? What are the conflicts exactly? Our media is so convoluted, we cannot even discern what the issues in question are. If you do not know any Muslims to talk with, try reading a few reports from Aljazeera every week or so.

http://english.aljazeera.net/

I am sure you may assume they are only reporting lies and propaganda. I do not doubt there are some, but are there not in our own media, as well? Did you know how many AP and Reuters reports come from Aljazeera reporters? If you check it out you will see how much our news relies on them because their reporters go where no one else will. At the very least, you will see how not just Aljazeera but many other countries' news reports tell exactly what is going on in America with America's leaders, so the world knows well about us, but our news tells practically nothing about what other countries' leaders say about themselves. We only report what our media says about them, but not what they say about themselves. It is very interesting that whenever you talk with people from other countries, ANY other countries, they can always very well articulate the views and positions of most of America's leaders, as well as the leaders of other countries, far better than most Americans.

During war, especially, it is critical they we educate OURSELVES about what the leaders of other nations are saying and proposing, rather than only getting our information from one or two streams of media in our own country. Throughout the history of war, there have always been only those who make and sell the weapons who win. ALL others are losers. That is true of our wars today more than ever. Did you see the movie Troy? It was true in that most famous war thousands of years ago. The movie "Lords of War" really spelled it out. War is about profit.

Some people say the current war is about oil, but that is more of a front because those who want the war, those who are raking in billions in profit from weapons sales, know that people will say, "well we need to have this oil, so the war has to be." As shown in the Lords of War, weapons dealers sell to both sides. Osama bin Ladin gets his money and weapons from his rich family, always has, and no one denies this, and WE supply his rich family with weapons. New appropriations were just approved. Did you see Blood Diamonds? U.S. interests supported those who steel little baby children and turn them into terrorists. This war against the "terrorists" exists because humanity has allowed itself to be used as pawns for thousands of years, allowed itself to be divided and conquered, allowed itself to be abused by believing all of the propoganda that "those others are the evil ones."

Before sending this reply to Qudrat, I asked my friend, Gurutej Singh, for input and he sent the following insight: "There are two ways that those in power can always get the masses to comply with their wishes 1) fear, 2) guilt. Islam and Christianity use both effectively. Fundamentalism in any form is dangerous, A closed mind in any head is dangerous. What is unfortunate is that people are being manipulated by puppetmasters who know how to apply the double whammy of fear and guilt. The only way to overcome abuse is to FUCK your way out of it.
Faith
Understanding
Compassion
Knowledge"

(Gurutej has a flair for theatric effects:) He is an actor and writer, among his many artistic talents.

Now it is a new day and a new way all over the world. There is a powerful shift happening and people everywhere are waking up to see beyond the deception. Check out this lovely project, in process:

http://www.theshiftmovie.com/ (there is a great gospel song at the end of the trailer)

People are realizing it is in their power to choose peace, to choose prosperity, to choose knowledge, to choose understanding, to choose compassion, to chose faith in our very own humanity, our own dignity, divinity, and grace. Our human family everywhere has the same needs and hopes and dreams for our families to be safe, to live in good homes in safe neighborhoods, to eat healthy, safe food and drink clean water, for our children to go to good schools and become educated, and to be allowed to worship freely, as we choose, or not. This is the day that we create a new world, a better world is coming! Sat Nam.

The Technology of Langar

Welcome to the first post in my blog about the beautiful technology of Langar.

Langar is a free community meal served to nourish body, mind, and soul. During the late 1400's in India, a Spiritual King known as Guru Nanak began the practice of Langar among his followers, who came to be called "Sikhs," meaning seekers of truth. Contributing from the wealth with which they are blessed, Sikhs serve Langar or community meals that are open to all, without charge and without regard to anyone's religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender, or social status. Everyone is welcomed in a spirit of utter inclusiveness and the oneness of all humankind. All sit equally together at Langar. No one is high or low and everyone is cherished, just as God cherishes everyone in all creation. Vegetarian food is prepared while singing or chanting mantras or prayers for the upliftment, peace, and prosperity of all people.

In addition to the ideals of equality and sharing, Langar promotes human virtues of acceptance, responsibility, generosity, and humility, and it improves our community quality of life. Through sitting together and listening to one another with open hearts, we actively educate ourselves to learn and better understand the views and beliefs and the needs of others. When we open ourselves to recognizing the needs of others and honestly share with others our own needs, we automatically create a spiritual bond that leads to solutions that meet everyone’s needs. Langar is based upon the concept of Guru Nanak's primal teaching of "Ek Ong Kaar" or there is One God that created the creation and the Creator and Creation are One. Humanity is a vast organism that flourishes when we recognize our interdependence and the common divinity within all. Certainly, any organism at war with itself will perish in self destruction. As Yogi Bhajan wrote on the back of his business card, "If you can't see God in all, you can't see God at all." Guru Nanak is often called the Guru for the Aquarian Age because he brought a new way to help guide us in this new age, an age in which we recognize that we are one in the spirit, the light of God lives in all hearts, in all religious, in all cultures.

Ultimately, practicing the technology of Langar will wipe out hunger and poverty throughout the earth. Wherever there are Sikh Gurdwaras (spiritual temples open to all people) Langar is served and no one goes hungry. At the Golden Temple of Amritsar in India, the home in the heart of Sikhs throughout the world, up to 10,000 people are served Langar each day. Sikh teachings encourage people to live their lives in service to others, not as beggars or in poverty; rather, Sikhs believe in creating abundance, peace, and prosperity for all people. Wherever Langar is served, lively and wonderful bazaars spring fourth in the nearby vicinity, which create the most festive and beautiful occasions in which prosperity flourishes. Through building networks of intercultural and interfaith dialogue with reciprocal cooperation, everyone reaps the rewards and benefits of greater shared resources and shared responsibility, and an elevated quality of life for all.

Please join us for Langar at Hacienda de Guru Ram Das in Espanola, New Mexico. Known as the Mother Ashram and the home of the Siri Singhasan e Khalsa Gurdwara, this beautiful, golden-domed temple follows the spiritual tradition of the Golden Temple in India. It is as a place where everyone of every religion—or no religion—can come to experience spiritual solace and peace. Next to the temple complex is the Langar hall where all are invited to share and enjoy community Langar. As Yogi Bhajan taught us, “gather in the company of the holy, chant God's name, and experience your beauty, bounty, and bliss; in dignity, divinity, and grace; and bring peace to all, light to all, and love to all.” Sat Nam.