Universal Music

Sorry, I haven't been writing this week. I've been experiencing a lot, but felt like I had nothing profound to write. I still feel this way, but I know I have to push myself to write something, so bare with me.

Today, I had a crummy day. Don't get me wrong, the energy in Berkeley is amazing and I find myself surrounded by people that I've been looking for my entire life. I can't believe all of the innovation that is happening in this city, all of the beautiful people who live here looking at at the world through a new lens, people realizing all at once that the world is bigger, more complex and with more possibility than ever imagined. People who with this new awakening are becoming part of a new movement fusion that combines green business, medical breakthrough, spiritual awareness, heart unity, the creation of art, the retelling of history in another voice, ect to move towards peace.

It is important to note that some people don't even realize that they are part of this movement and that's where I believe it is our job to bring them in. Saying, "Hey you, guess what! You are totally all about nonviolence and peace, come join the party. Let us give you some tools to help you on your journey. Let us introduce you to your bother's and sister's. My some of them can help capture your vision."

Let's make it clear that people like this don't just exist in the Bay Area, but there are so many here. And it's super refreshing!

Then there are those who have the passion to create another world, but don't have the patience or the understanding to deal with anything than a quick fix to the problem, and because of this they resort to violent acts, calling for the bloody revolution. It is here that we must show them that there is a way that is more sustainable and deeply rooted: ahisma- nonviolence; the intention to do no harm.

But yes, I'm loving it here. However, sometimes I don't know what to do with all of this postive energy. Today, I had so much love and inquiry surrounding me that I wanted to run away. Isn't that strange? Don't get me wrong I was loving every minute of it. I was thankful for it, but I had no clue what to do with it all. It was almost as if I couldn't compute it all at once, and instead of staying engaged ready to soak it all up, I just wanted to shut down. It's probably because I'm so used to dealing with people who are not interested or so unconnected that I didn't have a clue of how to be part of a group that was experiencing the exact opposite. I felt like I just needed to escape because I know longer knew my place. It was weird and put me off.

This off mood followed me home, but was quickly relieved. There was a guitar lying in the living room of my host's house when we entered. My housemate Nic was instantly drawn to it, as he was saying just the night before that he really wanted a guitar to play (the Universe does listen). I listened to him play. Our colleauge from Pakistan, Sadan, came home with us as well and played some Beatles songs for us. Universal music! ;) And I sat and listened. The music filled the house and everyone's moods lifted and felt light and happy. It felt like a family.

I then decided I didn't need to run away. I just needed to take a back seat for awhile. To listen to the beautiful music of the world that is being created as "heart unity" is truly coming to be and thriving in the space around me.

It makes me wonder how unsettling pure and authentic compassion and love must be for someone who has experienced so much more violence and apathy than me. It must be terrifying. Even I almost didn't make it.