The seed of mystery lies in muddy water. How can I perceive this mystery? Water becomes clear through stillness. How can I become still? By flowing with the stream.
—Lao-tzu
Two extremely different dreams recently, sleeping in a hotel room while part of the International Solidarity Movement training for non-violent activists. Almost immediately upon sleeping I dreamt of my mother, Pearl, one of my rare mother dreams—she or I was malevolent. I don’t recall exactly how this occurred but we were deeply antagonistic toward each other. I remember her or me stalking off after a vicious argument. I believe I awoke nearly trembling, not with rage but with sadness and remorse. Then later, my last dream of the night, as I slowly came awake to the morning fog and light: I observed 2 men I knew well (not knowing who they are now, maybe BN one of them) had missed each other, then decided to jog. In jogging—and somehow I was right alongside them, maybe in a car—they crossed paths. This was thru grass, on a slight hill, along a reservoir or lake. One turned to greet or meet the other. There seemed to be reconciliation.
I wrote this in a small hotel not too far from Ramallah central, with 3 other ISM neophytes being trained for duty on the front lines. Our trainers are a married couple, she US, he Palestinian. The training is excellent, something I should have gone thru on an earlier trip. For instance: discussion of terms, such as neighborhoods or illegal settlements. And spectrums of non-violence violence and effective ineffective. We’d place our bodies on the continua after listening to various scenarios, like rock throwing. And media, various forms ISM uses such as the press release, article or report, and journal. Also how to follow up with the materials, schools, churches, etc. They use the popular education model of discourse so the presentation is highly interactive.
My co neophytes seem committed and experienced. One, B, knows Agape, one leader, S, knows many of the Boston to Palestine group in Boston. It is a small community. Yesterday morning, sitting outside the Faisal hostel near the Damascus Gate, eating lunch in the outdoor café on the corner, I had the distinct feeling I’d meet someone I knew if I lingered long enough. A group of mostly older white women walked by and I recognized one white haired woman. She recognized me eventually and we discovered we knew each other from neym, MY. They were the Interfaith Peacebuilders’ delegation led by Scott K and Adam H that I’d hoped to link with later. MY and I lunched together, laughing about the synchronicity.
Weapons used by Israel against non violent activists
International Solidarity Movement
Finding N and the ISM office proved taxing, I nearly panicked. Riding a small bus from East Jerusalem, me fully loaded with 3 months of gear, cruising past Kalandia checkpoint not even seeing it, reveling in the new USAID-sponsored Jerusalem-Ramallah rd that had been destroyed by tanks during the 02 Defensive Shield operation, riding on that bumpy rd many times, my equipment jarred and perhaps injured, I was happy to experience the new smoothness. Despite the delays caused by construction. But when we arrived at the bus destination, the bus stand next to the Ramallah Friends high school where the police station had been hit by a missile during the 02 invasion, I decided to take a taxi to find N.
Her directions proved insufficient. Confusion, largely because of language with the driver. He crazily searched, going from side to side of Ramallah. I’d removed or not inscribed any contact data that might be discovered by airport security and had forgotten to later write in my notebook that info. So I didn’t know how to contact N for directions. My mobile phone was deep down in my luggage, it would have her number. But I finally remembered my computer and that I’d remembered to download the contact info I’d sent myself by email. I opened my computer, found the number, had the driver contact the office, and Walla, eventually I found N.
Who hurriedly told me about the training, invited me to join it, saying I could crash at the office even without the training but eventually I’d have to take it. I could join the training in progress and later return to the office to reside. This was my choice, rapidly made. I’m now grateful for it because of the knowledge, contacts, and respite in the hotel room. Here I can wash, write, do yoga, sip cold coffee, fart, and linger without my shorts on. A rare moment when on assignment.
A later dream if I can recall it after rising early in the International Solidarity Movement media office, sipping Joe, writing D and L, two of my closest friends. It was winter. Water had frozen to shiny ice over an entire region of land. This forced evacuation of the Ramallah Friends School and other places. As part of the evacuation I found a new site, then had to move because of recurring problems. I was calm, understanding, patient, loving throughout.
This seems an apt preparation dream for my current travels. An emergency requiring hasty action. Switching plans. Going with the flow. Not worried, managing. Exactly how I’m feeling now.
Later:
Sleeping over temporarily at the ISM media office in Ramallah, on the floor, with about 10 others, mostly I think Germans, after a concert of Another Voice, the counter concert to One Voice. Activists who abhor what they call normalization forced cancellation of One Voice. That was the one voice concert to be held in Jericho along with a parallel concert in Tel Aviv. Normalization means are any projects, measures, actions that imply acceptance of the occupation, as many felt One Voice had. One Voice had the support of many Israelis, including Likud members of the Knesset, and it required signing a pledge that discharged many of Israel’s international obligations.
Hip hop group
I’m working on the Gaza permit, and last evening, on the way to a local tavern for late night drinks with my housemates, I met two folks who feel maybe qualified to teach writing in Gaza. A slim chance of their receiving permits since both have been arrested multiple times during ISM-supported non-violent direct actions. But this suggests that if I continue to mention the American Friends Service Committee wishing for writing teachers I might find someone.
[...] skipschiel Wrote an interesting post today on skipschiel.wordpress.comThe first few lines…. [...]
The seed of mystery lies in muddy water. How can I perceive this mystery? Water becomes clear through stillness. How can I become still? By flowing with the stream.
—Lao-tzu
Lao Tsu. Tao Te Ching. Chapter 15
Translation by Arthur Waley:
Of old those that were the best officers of Court
Had inner natures subtle, abstruse, mysterious, penetrating,
Too deep to be understood.
And because such men could not be understood
I can but tell of them as they appeared to the world:
Circumspect they seemed, like one who in winter crosses a stream,
Watchful, as one who must meet danger on every side.
Ceremonious, as one who pays a visit;
Yet yielding, as ice when it begins to melt.
Blank, as a piece of uncarved wood;
Yet receptive as a hollow in the hills.
Murky as a troubled stream –
Which of you can assume such murkiness, to become in the end still and clear?
Which of you can make yourself inert, to become in the end full of life and stir?
Translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English:
The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.
Because it is unfathomable,
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.
Alert, like men aware of danger.
Courteous, like visiting guests.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.
Hollow, like caves.
Opaque, like muddy pools.
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.
Translation by R.L. Wing:
Those skillful in the ancient Tao
Are subtly ingenious and profoundly intuitive.
They are so deep they cannot be recognized.
Since, indeed, they cannot be recognized,
Their force can be contained.
So careful!
As if wading a stream in winter.
So hesitant!
As if respecting all sides in a community.
So reserved!
As if acting as a guest.
So yielding!
As if ice about to melt.
So candid!
As if acting with simplicity.
So open!
As if acting as a valley.
So integrated!
As if acting as muddy water.
Who can harmonize with muddy water,
And gradually arrive at clarity?
Who can move with stability,
And gradually bring endurance to life?
Those who maintain the Tao
Do not desire to become full.
Indeed, since they are not full,
They can be used up and also renewed.
It’s about being still and quiet and staying low. It’s not about staying in dirt forever. One needs to keep still until one arrives at clarity. Keep still, not go half-way around the world joining causes you don’t understand. Lao Tsu talks about being careful and hesitant, not going half-way around the world to join some “freedom fighter” movement.
The I Ching says, “Old broken well is full of mud. Not even animals drink from it.” (Hexagram 48, The Well).
Those words about “flowing with the stream” – they are not there. Instead, Lao Tsu advises one to “make yourself inert” and to “wait quietly while the mud settles.” Seems fairly clear to me: a person with a muddled brain will make a mess out of anything. One needs a clarity of thought and heart before taking action.
Stay at home and meditate, study. Study new things. “We love to learn what we already know, but that is not really learning,” said my teacher. In particular, learn from the ones you now dismiss as “oppressors”, “occupiers” or “settlers”.
Lao Tsu does say “Be the stream of the Universe! … Ever true and unswerving,” (Chapter 28). But is the stream you are flowing with the stream of the Universe? Or the stream of long-discredited leftist thought patterns, which have already spilled blood of millions and keep spilling it? Is it Ever true and unswerving? Or is it swerving with the “political necessity” and “justifiable violence” (that is getting harder and harder to justify) of “revolutionary struggle” that increasingly looks like old-fashioned thuggery (like Fatah and Hamas killing each other in Gaza)? Are you drinking from an old broken well while believing that you are following the stream of the Universe?
Lao Tsu also said that Heaven and Earth are indifferent; they use things, then throw them away (lit. “Heaven and Earth are ruthless; To them the Ten Thousand Things are but as straw dogs.” or “Heaven and Earth are impartial; They regard all things as straw dogs.” Chapter 5), and people should do the same. Are you indifferent? Or impartial? Are you truly fair?
And have you truly accepted in your heart that Heaven and Earth treat everything with indifference, that cold indifference is in the very nature of things? This is not easy to accept.
You are involved with ISM, which, even though it claims to be non-violent and independent, has blood on its hands and is ruled from Fatah. Is this impartial? Is this truly fair?
Hitler too talked about his desire for peace. Beware of lies and false promises. Be careful of being used.