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West Liberty's avatar

The land and the spirits of these children are speaking and so we choose to listen and we refuse to forget. We remember our teachings, that those who have passed will be reborn, that we are connected to one another in ways that have not and cannot be broken even by the most brutal violence. These memories live in our blood and our bones. As you said, as Indigenous people, we have all been impacted. We hold those young ones who are here close and remind them of who they are. We hold our elders close and let them grieve. We let ourselves grieve, and we remember that the land knows, that the land does not forget, and that the land can hold us, does hold us, through it all. We touch the soil, the water, the grasses, we sing, we dance, we breathe.

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Sara Campbell's avatar

Speaking of the Bodhisattva vow, a popular interpretation at the Zen center where I practice is that the vow is about saving all beings *from yourself,* which is not exactly surrender. e.g. I can't change the murderous scumbags at large but I can save anyone I come across from the wrath of my own murderous rage (that is possibly caused by the murderous scumbags at large). And I can make the choice to do the right thing day after day after day after day despite how inconvenient or difficult or painful it might be. And maybe that has a ripple effect.

Call me a dreamer but I do think we are living in an age of awakening. It's cold comfort in the face of the horrors of uncovering mass graves, but it is something that we are acknowledging and bringing them to light. Sending love to you, Chris.

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