WAR AND THE SOUL

Each person measures his territory in concrete or ephemeral terms.  The perimeter of our spiritual boundaries are our personal integrity, our authenticity, our convictions and our humanity.   Our physical territory is not just a place, but a space in which our values, domain and will can be exercised.

The morality of war lies in the belief systems of all sovereign nations, and the patriotism of its citizens. War is not always a last resort, and usually not a lasting solution. War is a comment, a lapse, an imbalance of egos and resources and a punishing cycle of hardships for those drawn into conflict.

Warfare is not always conducted with a weapon or a phalanx of soldiers.  It can be conducted in subtle ways by all of us in our lack of generosity to others, concerted, competitive efforts to sabotage the happiness of others, and is often the result of injuries so secret and suborned that none but ourselves know of them.

Our souls are sovereign, like the states of the world. We can wall ourselves off to protect our tender and innermost motivator, or we can send off missiles of self righteous indignation and conflict to begin a preemptive salvo. These actions are undertaken that again insulate against real communication and real knowledge. 

Our essence is a free and expansive one.  Our natural state may be flawed, but our spiritual well being depends on being fluent in the language of forgiveness, and tolerant and proactive in the negotiation of our oneness with others.