"Our Hearts Go Out to All Who Are Affected by Violence – A Spiritual Perspective"

By Sister Jenna, Spiritual Mentor and Director, Meditation Museum

I woke up this morning hearing about the death of U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens and other staff at the U.S. Consulate in Libya.  An attack that happened Tuesday night in the eastern city of Benghazi by angry people who are apparently in pain within themselves over a film that seemed to have voiced hatred towards Islam's Prophet Muhammad, according to Libyan officials. Where do I begin?  At what point do we start to find deep rooted changes, rather than change that initiates further sorrow, pain, anguish, and what happens later on, regret?  It makes me wonder when hearing such stories, what lives in the mind of such pain, such peacelessness, such disconnect with the self?

It must be real hard to just, smile?  I have come to realize that inner pain is a result of “ALGAE.” I say this time and time again in every lecture I deliver, because, it's true.  "A" is for Anger, "L" is for lust, "G" is for Greed, "A" is for attachment, "E" if for Ego. Get rid of ALGAE and we will get rid of pain. An attack on anyone is an attack on ourselves. 

In India, we have always heard about the deities and their pleasant and peaceful existence in an age called the “Golden Age.”  It's certainly not a Golden Age now. But, we can create one regardless of how removed we are from that memory. For
anyone to find justice in inflicting pain on someone else is proof that the pain (ALGAE) within is quiet deep that it cannot be hidden anymore. I offer a technique to help reduce that pain.  1) Stop the Blame - This only fuels more hatred and less attention on the self to heal and change the self.  2) Accept
- That every human being (soul) has come into life to play out a part that we
have no control over.  3) Be an Observer - From deep within your own heart the self must believe there is benefit, even in tragedy.  Remember, change on a visible level takes place more rapidly from love or tragedy. But to change, we all need power. So, sometimes it won't come in a pretty package, but perhaps, change is what it is ushering in. Be an observer.  4) Love no matter what! - However ugly it gets, nothing, or no one, should make anyone of us choose to stop loving. Love is the means of healing the inner pain.  5) Think of the One - Whether we wish to accept it or not, we all came from the Source and I deeply believe we have become so disconnected and lost that ALGAE has increased and replaced real love and freedom.  

If we begin to remember the One Supreme Source not only will the healing begin, but the love of an ocean will flow through our very being.  I close this with a simple request. Think of the One more and peace will begin to flow into our hearts, and into our world.

Om Shanti,

Sister Jenna