What emotional or mental resources do you have to deal with the unexpected? What spiritual strength do you have to cope? With the unexpected, would you be blocked? Are you blocked, frozen in your tracks?
Sept. 11, 2001, is a date representing or symbolizing the unexpected. The 9/11 experience is deeply imprinted on our psyches here in the U.S., indeed in the world. 9/11 also was a transitional date in South Africa in 1906 for Mohandas Gandhi.
Sept. 11, 1906, was transitional because Gandhi found resources to face the threat with new life-giving responses, rather than violence.
The August Johannesburg Gazette had published new regulations demanding that the Indian residents comply with restrictions on travel and that they carry identity certification which could be demanded at anytime, even from Indian women. “Better to die than comply” was the angry response in the minds of Indians.
Gandhi felt that “violence was in the air.” “What should I do? Join in the violence or find another way?” On Sept. 11, 1906, Gandhi found another way.
He would stand on the truth of human dignity in noncompliance with the restrictions.
And, 3,000 Indians stood with him by oath. “Let them throw us in jail!” And, they were taken into jail. And so, the nonviolent equivalent to war was born.
When the 9/11 devastation occurred in the United States, the government response was war – war in Afghanistan and war in Iraq. It was called “war on terror.”
In times of shocking and traumatic experiences, humans need time to mourn the losses and to reflect on the events by calming the emotions and sorting out the causes and effects of these events.
The emotions go through several stages including anger, even rage, bargaining, eventually leading to resolution, unless there is a block. Each person experiences this process differently, taking various time periods. This is true not only for individuals, but groups and even nations.
Our collective experiences share in collective process and responses. However, over time it becomes clear that there are different responses among various groups within the whole.
Considering the question of our resources to face the “unexpected,” we can look to Gandhi’s experiences as a model. From 1889 in England to 1906 in South Africa, Gandhi was undergoing a transformation leading him to face racism and find a way to help Indians have a dignified life.
He developed his spirituality from Christian, Jain, Muslim and Hindu resources. He discovered his true self. And, he was constantly studying the way for authentic human living.
While he used all these resources for his responses to life experiences, his bible was the Bhagatva Gita. In two words, his religion was “no desire.” Based upon the ultimate truth, Gandhi experimented with truth in many situations.
A few years ago Charles Taylor was awarded the Templeton Prize for his philosophical writing.
He described the plight of the Plains Indians when all the buffalo were wiped out. The tribes felt like “the bottom had fallen out” of their lives.
Their entire identity and livelihood revolved around following, hunting, and living from the buffalo herds. In this plight they designated Many Phelps to find a way. Over time Many Phelps’ reply was to look to the cockatoo bird. Known for its constant searching and alertness, the cockatoo became a model for the tribe’s existence.
For myself, I believe in the ultimate source of reality, from whom everything flows and to whom all returns.
In answer to the original questions, I recommend these experiences and ideas to anyone who does not have resources to face the unexpected.
Our rapidly changing world requires resilient, resourceful peoples.
Bernie Meyer spends his time working for peace through many groups including the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action. He portrays Gandhi, including numerous occasions in India. Perspective is coordinated by Interfaith Works in cooperation with The Olympian. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by Interfaith Works or The Olympian.
