One of the most learned and highly trained American-born lamas in the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition. He is a meditation teacher and author.
Today is a day of tears and prayers here in Boston, and in widening concentric circles around the country and world. So many were involved in yesterday’s tragic events. Personally, I can’t get over the thought of 8 year old Martin Richard who died, standing in the sunshine, waiting for his Dad to come home across the finish line on a festive and historic occasion. (His mother and sister, aged 6, are still in the hospital.) Now the Boston Marathon, which is always held on Patriots’ Day, will sadly be remembered differently.
My minister friend Reverend Kim Harvey was downtown at her Arlington Street Church, within three blocks of the bombings, when the explosions occurred. Reverend Kim helped minister to people’s immediate needs, providing refuge from the chaos. She came to my house on her way home late last night, and we communed and meditated together. Today Kim’s back at work, ministering to those in need and preparing for a candlelight vigil, just another humble hero in our midst.
Obviously, we live in violent, anxious, fragmented times. If we can’t disarm our heart and root out the seeds of anger, hatred, fear and greed, we will inevitably have more senseless killing in front of us. If we don’t pull together, we’ll be pulled apart. Let us join hands and heads, hearts and minds and communities, for a better future to be possible—the future which begins right now.