| Iran's Cry for Freedom |
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 Gangaji and I are in Amsterdam right now. We love it here. Besides loving the people, and the culture, we love the freedom here. The Netherlands is perhaps the most advanced human society at protecting both individual freedom and the democratic public space. As societies perhaps we could all learn from the Dutch.The deepest cry for freedom arises in all of us. Sometimes it is repressed by our own internal mechanisms. We cover over it and ignore it for security or comfort or for being loved. Yet it is there beating in all hearts. This cry for freedom has now burst forth in Iran. When we recall the great love poems of freedom from Rumi we are hearing the Persian soul in love with love, freedom and truth. Even at the height of their empire thousands of years ago, they were known as the most tolerant of empires for their time, allowing allied states freedom of religion and cultural identity and freedom to leave the association. But political freedom as we know it is a most modern phenomenon. I have been reading about Thomas Paine of late, and while he was always a hero for me, I had no idea how much he is responsible for the American Revolution. It was Thomas Paine, at Valley Forge, the lowest point of our revolution who issued the call that, “these are the times that try men’s souls.” He went on to ask if we were only sunshine patriots and summer soldiers, or were we ready to bear all costs in the defense of freedom. If we were in Tehran today what would we do? Would we say, 'well I would lose my job, or what about the kids,' to keep us off the streets? This is a defining moment in each person’s life and we each must choose to either serve our heart, or our mind. This is not to say that there is a correct response. For some staying home is following the heart, for others it is the opposite. No one can judge what another should or should not do. It is not in the behavior but rather, our internal response, that we can see our tests of the heart. We are one with our brothers and sisters fighting for political freedom everywhere. What we can offer is to take the burning desire for freedom into our own heart; to face our own forces of oppression and repression? What keeps us from full surrender into the freedom and love that is already present? We can examine if this desire has been repressed under our desires for safety or the need to conform. We can examine ourselves and stay true to this burning desire for freedom. We can fully surrender to this call and realize we are this flame of freedom. We are alive and free and in form. Then each one of us becomes a burning beacon that lights the night and guides others on their way home. |
Comments
Christopher Hedges at TruthDig.com observes that Iran had a democracy before we took it away. An excerpt from his piece:
“...The central story of Iran over the last 200 years has been national humiliation at the hands of foreign powers who have subjugated and looted the country,” Stephen Kinzer, the author of “All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror,” told me. “For a long time the perpetrators were the British and Russians. Beginning in 1953, the United States began taking over that role. In that year, the American and British secret services overthrew an elected government, wiped away Iranian democracy, and set the country on the path to dictatorship.”
“Then, in the 1980s, the U.S. sided with Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq war, providing him with military equipment and intelligence that helped make it possible for his army to kill hundreds of thousands of Iranians,” Kinzer said. “Given this history, the moral credibility of the U.S. to pose as a promoter of democracy in Iran is close to nil.
Especially ludicrous is the sight of people in Washington calling for intervention on behalf of democracy in Iran when just last year they were calling for the bombing of Iran. If they had had their way then, many of the brave protesters on the streets of Tehran today—the ones they hold up as heroes of democracy—would be dead now....”
The Freedom, which you speak of and manifest Eli, is the only changeless, reality. It is beyond nation-states, political parties, the hegemony of empires, of religious movements, of personal histories, as well as of gender and form. It is a fire that consumes all limitations and constructs, all demarcations that separate us as well signifiers that unite us. Until all that is left can be described as such:
"...If you have a burning desire for freedom.
It will burn the whole universe
including you, your mind, your ego and your body.
Let it burn and whatever is left
throw back to the fire."
~ Papji
How wonderful to hear from you! And what a sweet picture of you and Gangaji. Thank you.
I am deeply moved by the events in Iran and find it is working to strengthen my resolve to stand in Truth and Freedom, no matter what!
Not only do we enjoy (relative) political freedom we have the even deeper call to True Freedom within the Silence of our own hearts. While it is a huge and undeserved blessing it is also an equally huge challenge and responsibility. I accept.
May ALL beings Awaken in this Fire of Love,
Barbara
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