2015 Shows a growing intolerance and threat to freedom that tears communities and several countries apart. Our universal culture demands a transformation including a new way of communicating if we wish to turn around this human self-destruction.
The world is searching to evolve to a different way of living. Activists oppose the oil pipeline through U.S. territory from Canada to Mexico. Political opinions in the U.S. are broadened through news channels from BBC, Deutsche Welt, and Middle Eastern, Asia and Russian Media. Health care is a constant focus in the U.S., as is the right to label the food that we purchase, humanity’s right to water, women’s rights internationally and climate change. Our instant communication has to create a universal compass and a new way out of this downward spiral. Governments and some universities walk behind.
Could a different sort of communication help? Do other cultures, besides that of the modern West hint at a new kind of dialogue?
My recent visit to Truc Lam Tay Thien monastery in Vietnam raised awareness of my own communication. It was at this Zen monastery, I received a recap of my sometimes unthoughtful chatter.
One afternoon, right after lunch, one of the nuns invited me to share some green tea. Three of us sat in the kitchen, the story teller, another nun who translated and myself. She straightened the yellow hat that warmed her bald head. Her worked hands slowly poured the tea. And with a bow, holding the small cup she offered one to each of us. We in turn put our hands together in a gesture of thankfulness before accepting. Then she motioned us to raise our cups simultaneously, tasting the delicious brew. Her face with a generous Buddha smile drew our attention, she began…
There was a monk in Japan who came upon people having a tea ceremony. He was able to peek through the beautiful screens that surrounded the party. While the panels were not see through, he could make out a glass container filled with tea, and whenever the woman leading the ceremony picked it up, to pour another round for her guests, she’d shake the brew a little, moving around in the canister. The monk noticed that when the canister was full, her shaking created little noise. It sounded quite calm even added to the peace amongst the participants. Later on, however, when the container was almost empty and she shook it before pouring, the tea made a bubbling noise.” The Vietnamese nun compared the noise of the tea in the container with loud water in a river at a spot where there is hardly any water flowing. Further down this loud water joins the steady and peaceful flow in the fullness of the river.
“So it is with us,” she said.
“It’s our responsibility to keep the container filled so we make a peaceful sound.”
“How?” I asked her.
“That’s different for each one of us.”
She placed her cup back on the table, smiled and walked off to her quarters.
The notion that we are all part of humanity has been forgotten. Americans are stereotyped abroad as bad, as are Europeans. Many make the mistake of labeling a population by the image of their government. The West has the responsibility to communicate that its democracy not only stands for capitalism – It also stands for freedom of religion, speech, creativity, economics and various expressions. At least that’s the theory.
To restore the idea that people from the West are trustworthy and democratic, which is the foundation of dialogue, these countries need a clean-up. This includes a new value system that dissolves greedy consumerism as its sole beacon for democracy. Western history books need honesty. This honesty may be followed by other nations across the world.
In the U.S. it would mean the acknowledgement of displacement and genocide of millions of Native Americans. In the Netherlands, the issue of slavery and colonization in centuries past must be acknowledged. Thus generations to come can evolve into a wiser future. The West’s inherited missionary drive from centuries ago makes us a restless bunch. It’s a mirror image from the past of what we now see through the Islamic State. Control by Iran, Israel, North Korea, ISIS, Russia and yes the West too, challenges the masses back into victims, persecutors and perpetrators.
Dialogue and collaboration with indigenous people in the world could help reverse our lack of a connection with the earth, absence of a true identity or suffering we do not want to face. A pursuit of material wealth as a sole component of happiness is another component. A deep listening in communication may hold a brighter future for generations to come. A passion, similar to that of the sixties, would not be misplaced. All require honest participation, an active building of trust, without domination worldwide.
An honest exchange of the Western world with Indigenous peoples can begin today. We could inquire about teaching contentment and slowing down. Thus entering into a new way of dialogue. We could gain momentum by honoring past treaties of land, which will not be used by anyone if we snooze on in ignorance. Academia is weighing in through studies of Indigenous worldviews and studies of the future. Enlightenment values us. New local initiatives in dialogue and patience—could embrace cross cultural immersion—and further our chance of survival.
The borders of our world are less important where trust and freedom define how people behave towards each other. But why not begin within our borders. As a first, a tea or coffee ceremony to break us free from our ego-driven self can generate harmony in our dialogue and negotiations. Ritual helps slow us down, which we must in order to repair our divides, in the family, community, politics and material world.
The present Western hurried life, creates an environment where sickness and death are often the only time of reflection and forced relaxation. Times to slow down with a U.S. cup of Joe, an English high tea, or some Turkish coffee with friends can put on the brakes and expand our dialogue. We already do drink our cup of coffee world-wide, all we need to do is focus the topic, relax and explore small steps toward this tall order away from speed and greed, accepting life’s impermanence. Opening our mind, leveling emotions and decreasing haste prevent us from blurting out unchecked thoughts and irritating people and cultures around us.
That full canister of tea in the story might make the flow peaceful and steady.
For permission to reproduce please contact Ingeborg van Zanten-Hayes.
The world is searching to evolve to a different way of living. Activists oppose the oil pipeline through U.S. territory from Canada to Mexico. Political opinions in the U.S. are broadened through news channels from BBC, Deutsche Welt, and Middle Eastern, Asia and Russian Media. Health care is a constant focus in the U.S., as is the right to label the food that we purchase, humanity’s right to water, women’s rights internationally and climate change. Our instant communication has to create a universal compass and a new way out of this downward spiral. Governments and some universities walk behind.
Could a different sort of communication help? Do other cultures, besides that of the modern West hint at a new kind of dialogue?
My recent visit to Truc Lam Tay Thien monastery in Vietnam raised awareness of my own communication. It was at this Zen monastery, I received a recap of my sometimes unthoughtful chatter.
One afternoon, right after lunch, one of the nuns invited me to share some green tea. Three of us sat in the kitchen, the story teller, another nun who translated and myself. She straightened the yellow hat that warmed her bald head. Her worked hands slowly poured the tea. And with a bow, holding the small cup she offered one to each of us. We in turn put our hands together in a gesture of thankfulness before accepting. Then she motioned us to raise our cups simultaneously, tasting the delicious brew. Her face with a generous Buddha smile drew our attention, she began…
There was a monk in Japan who came upon people having a tea ceremony. He was able to peek through the beautiful screens that surrounded the party. While the panels were not see through, he could make out a glass container filled with tea, and whenever the woman leading the ceremony picked it up, to pour another round for her guests, she’d shake the brew a little, moving around in the canister. The monk noticed that when the canister was full, her shaking created little noise. It sounded quite calm even added to the peace amongst the participants. Later on, however, when the container was almost empty and she shook it before pouring, the tea made a bubbling noise.” The Vietnamese nun compared the noise of the tea in the container with loud water in a river at a spot where there is hardly any water flowing. Further down this loud water joins the steady and peaceful flow in the fullness of the river.
“So it is with us,” she said.
“It’s our responsibility to keep the container filled so we make a peaceful sound.”
“How?” I asked her.
“That’s different for each one of us.”
She placed her cup back on the table, smiled and walked off to her quarters.
The notion that we are all part of humanity has been forgotten. Americans are stereotyped abroad as bad, as are Europeans. Many make the mistake of labeling a population by the image of their government. The West has the responsibility to communicate that its democracy not only stands for capitalism – It also stands for freedom of religion, speech, creativity, economics and various expressions. At least that’s the theory.
To restore the idea that people from the West are trustworthy and democratic, which is the foundation of dialogue, these countries need a clean-up. This includes a new value system that dissolves greedy consumerism as its sole beacon for democracy. Western history books need honesty. This honesty may be followed by other nations across the world.
In the U.S. it would mean the acknowledgement of displacement and genocide of millions of Native Americans. In the Netherlands, the issue of slavery and colonization in centuries past must be acknowledged. Thus generations to come can evolve into a wiser future. The West’s inherited missionary drive from centuries ago makes us a restless bunch. It’s a mirror image from the past of what we now see through the Islamic State. Control by Iran, Israel, North Korea, ISIS, Russia and yes the West too, challenges the masses back into victims, persecutors and perpetrators.
Dialogue and collaboration with indigenous people in the world could help reverse our lack of a connection with the earth, absence of a true identity or suffering we do not want to face. A pursuit of material wealth as a sole component of happiness is another component. A deep listening in communication may hold a brighter future for generations to come. A passion, similar to that of the sixties, would not be misplaced. All require honest participation, an active building of trust, without domination worldwide.
An honest exchange of the Western world with Indigenous peoples can begin today. We could inquire about teaching contentment and slowing down. Thus entering into a new way of dialogue. We could gain momentum by honoring past treaties of land, which will not be used by anyone if we snooze on in ignorance. Academia is weighing in through studies of Indigenous worldviews and studies of the future. Enlightenment values us. New local initiatives in dialogue and patience—could embrace cross cultural immersion—and further our chance of survival.
The borders of our world are less important where trust and freedom define how people behave towards each other. But why not begin within our borders. As a first, a tea or coffee ceremony to break us free from our ego-driven self can generate harmony in our dialogue and negotiations. Ritual helps slow us down, which we must in order to repair our divides, in the family, community, politics and material world.
The present Western hurried life, creates an environment where sickness and death are often the only time of reflection and forced relaxation. Times to slow down with a U.S. cup of Joe, an English high tea, or some Turkish coffee with friends can put on the brakes and expand our dialogue. We already do drink our cup of coffee world-wide, all we need to do is focus the topic, relax and explore small steps toward this tall order away from speed and greed, accepting life’s impermanence. Opening our mind, leveling emotions and decreasing haste prevent us from blurting out unchecked thoughts and irritating people and cultures around us.
That full canister of tea in the story might make the flow peaceful and steady.
For permission to reproduce please contact Ingeborg van Zanten-Hayes.