Photographer’s Note: Dakshinkali, ( Southern Kali ) near Kathmandu, is a sacred place of great natural beauty and where animals are brought for sacrifice. Twice a week, animals are killed in gruesome scenes difficult to watch. This is why I preferred more peaceful scenes such as this lady performing a ritual.
This wonderful photograph and the explanatory note highlights many of the contradictions in human existence.
In a place of beauty, there is barbarity and cruelty. There is religious ritual combined with the sacrifice of innocent animals. There is the purification of fire and the darkness of death and evil.
Wherever humans are, peace it seems, always has to coexist with its opposite.
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo151003.htm
in times gone by, humans too were sacrificed. (and you could also say that the thousands of iraqis killed due to the invasion of their country were also sacrificed.) i wonder what makes one human capable of willingly killing an animal for some ritual, as opposed to another who couldn’t even kill a fly. what kind of psyche lies beneath the hand of the killer?
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David G Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 6:37 am
It seems the urge to spill blood or to see it spilled is common to most humans, Coco, and sacrifices of animals and virgins to appease mythical gods has always been popular.
Perhaps humans are little better than dangerous, carnivorous animals who, like wolves in sheep’s clothing, wear suits and dresses!
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Peace is a place that exists within. Very rarely does it show its face to the world, without.
I prefer the Tibetan ritual of impermanence. They create an intricate sand painting that takes intensive work over many days,even weeks – to be used in a ritual where it is destroyed – to demonstrate the impermanence of life.
Art, for me, is one way I feel peace. The single-pointed focus of my mind, makes me forget my human pains.
We have a real problem with Moths around here. I do kill moths on the regular. However, I do pray for each one. I say, Moth, return to your maker, be at peace in Moth Heaven and Forgive me. How’s that for animal sacrifice!
Inner peace leads to outer peace.
Peace on Earth. Goodwill toward all.
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Grace, that you pray for each moth you kill is very kind. However, I’m not sure that the harmless moth recognizes your kindness!
The Buddhist idea of not killing anything does appeal to me. Such a position does seem to enhance them.
Cheers.
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I agree with Grace. Peace is an internal experience. It exists within. It is subjective.
The “Peace on Earth’ mantra of the religious in the winter months is no more than wishful thinking and hypocritical at least as many of them oppose other religions’ beliefs.
I maintain a bug zapper in the summer months as I’m in a heavily wooded area and the house would be overrun in the night if I didn’t us it to attract night insects away from the windows. I have no air-conditioning and therefore most use expandable screens which don’t really seal the window. I observe a balance though in that bees, ants and earwigs come to feast on the droppings of the zapper, eventually cleaning most of it up.
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Buckle up!! Just can’t express how strongly I feel there is a contrived main event coming up. Possibly next few days. For the sake of all sane people in the world I hope I’m mistaken. BTW corporate news will not support the truth. Peace and Goodwill to All!!
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Grace Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
76 Water, Yesterday they put the “Times Square Bomber” in for a life sentence. I feel certain that he was a paid fall-guy. His family is probably ‘set for life’ for his sacrifice. I feel it was an “Off-Broadway” show. What is next? There is some plan in place. They are purposely letting things get bad – so they can come in for a solution – not necessarily the final solution, but somethig unsavory. I don’t have the same knowledge or certainty thart you have, but I also would not be suprised either.
David, You reminded me that the greatest peace and even bliss I have felt was after a day in unadulterated nature. Pure nature.
Thanks all. Peace too.
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David G Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Grace, as mentioned below, while in the park the peace outside just swept over me. It pushed out the dark thoughts I had. There were ducks feeding, patches of light on the water, a quietness, a warm breeze, the river running slowly, I could feel the rhythm of life,
its simplicity.
The thing that was missing was evidence of human existence.
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Amerika, I just came back from the park by the river and, during the hour or so I was there, I experienced peace.
It did not come from inside me but came instead from the scene before me. The peace, which was almost palpable, pushed itself inside me and eventually overcame the feelings of anger and despair which I had brought to the park. I reached a stage of happy delirium so strong was it.
Life is interesting.
76-water, I hope you’re wrong but nothing would surprise me. One thing I never have to worry about is being surprised by something good happening!
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David, I understand what you’re saying, but I still maintain that peace is a “reaction”; and internal emotion, created and brought to fulfillment from within. Call it chemical, electrical, biological, whatever.
We can observe all the trials and tribulations surrounding us and feel anger, frustration, etc. But that is only our reaction to the surroundings. It is our emotions, our observances. It’s the human ego saying “the world isn’t working the way I want”, which causes the anger and frustration.
Certain Buddhist teachings tell us that there is no good or evil; that it only exists in how we react to it; how we view it. “It’s not good, it’s not bad, it just is….” is approximation of what it teaches. There’s a story that goes with that, but I forget it. Practicing and nurturing that mindset is what can bring about an experience of ‘peace’ while in turmoil. A difficult practice to be sure.
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Grace Reply:
October 9th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
“It’s not good, it’s not bad, it just is….”
Thanks.
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It’s an interesting area, Amerika, one about which there are many theories. Surely it would be fair to say that the environment one is in can affect the human mood in various ways, both positively or negatively. It would also be fair to say that, via meditation or blocking out certain thoughts, humans can influence their mood.
Cheers.
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76-water. ^5. Late Oct to early Nov. They’re getting ready to try and pull the wool over our eyes again.
Good will to all who show good will.
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I would have to disagree with above statements. Peace is not obtainable as long as humans exist in this world. It is in our nature to fight. People will always dispute and disagree on one thing or another. We have been destroying this planet ever so slowly and have spread like a plague across it. I see no way that people will be able to discuss this and allow their inner nature to overcome the masses of people that refuse to recognize they even have it. There’s only a slight possibility for a temporary peace while people exist on this planet and that would be a severe conflict that would force people to ignore there differences/desires and unite. However like things have happened in the past (ie. ww1 ww2 ect…) people regress and conflict begins anew. Only by eliminating the human factor will our planet achieve true everlasting peace.
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David G Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Can’t agree more, Vaun. We humans seem to be a lost cause.
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