Back to About Story Tsunami
Date: Wed, 29 Dec
2004 13:29:47 -0500
In the face of the extreme suffering that is now taking place in Southeast Asia -a devastation that has touched eleven countries, and persons from throughout the world -the balm and actual healing that storytelling provides is extremely relevant. The immediacy of the event engages the world. But within a few weeks, the effect of the earthquake - in terms of health, poverty, sanity, environment, cultural dilemmas (many of these countries have been at war or in conflicts for decades), the number of children orphaned, and the total lack of housing and clean water - will continue to be overwhelming. The grief of loss monumental. We can help in the massive relief efforts through our storytelling. Two things come to mind: one, the arousal of global compassion on the scale it is flourishing at the moment offers a small medicine in the midst of complete horror. How can we with our storytelling increase the presence of compassion so it does not close down; and, as we know from story and myth - the existing and repeated shifts in the earth and in our lives - is more normal then not. Telling stories in which such existing phenomena occurs allows for a broader picture, offers some help. How do we help people deal with the enormity of continued misery and aggression, fear and grief that inescapably effects us all at present. The amount of sheer misery being broadcast must effect young people everywhere. How does natural capacities for resilience receive support? I think that we can not overlook this aspect of what we are offering in the reciprocity of storytelling: to still the trauma for a moment, bringing inner rest; to open the world's stories to include us all; to help dissolve conflicts and the attachment to conflicts and differences. I am sure in this remarkable array of heartful minds the list of benefits can grow. Immediately after September 11th, I called upon storytellers throughout the world to help me choose tales that eventually became NOURISHING THE HEART OF OUR CHILDREN. More than half of those stories are on our healing story website. I would like to now think about the many cultures, and ethnicities, involved in the tsunami calamity: thailand, south india, malaysia, indonesia, sri lanka, somalia, - and see if we can find tales from these places as well as other stories from throughout the world, that have to do with earthquake and tsunami. Stories that will help us relieve suffering and overcome obstacles to tolerance, and strengthen the heart. In the event of storytelling the state of mind that is generated relieves stress and preoccupation, but it also opens wide the source of connection and compassion that in its very arising can radiate outward and benefit others. PRACTICE OF BENEFIT;
I would also like to introduce into our practice of storytelling, an ancient
buddhist (and probably so many traditional cultures) of the dedication
of merit. By dedicating the merit, or sharing the blessing of peacefulness
aroused through the living event of storytelling, we can help increase
the love and kindness that self exists and is always available, in the
world. These more intangible aspects of "aid" are invaluable.
Every time we tell a story from the heart, we can expose, support, awaken,
radiate, increase and share this sanity and stability of mind. I suggest
that over these months we commit ourselves (those who want to do this)
to offering the joy and peacefulness that we feel during and after our
storytellings for the Laura Simms |