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It seems to me that many people leave few traces in the world. A couple may spend a lot of time and money on their house and furnishings, and the next occupant sends everything to the recycling and remodels. An aircraft engineer spends months measuring out vibration loads in an aircraft, only to say, it’s ok. A Zen monk spends hours sitting zazen and then stands up and there is no trace.

Like a dream, a mirage, a wave in the ocean or clouds in the sky.
We leave no traces because we are not that.

Form is like a glob of foam;
feeling, a bubble;
perception, a mirage;
fabrications, a banana tree;
consciousness, a magic trick —
this has been taught
by the Kinsman of the Sun.
However you observe them,
appropriately examine them,
they're empty, void
to whoever sees them
appropriately.

Beginning with the body
as taught by the One
with profound discernment:
when abandoned by three things
— life, warmth, & consciousness —
form is rejected, cast aside.
When bereft of these
it lies thrown away,
senseless,
a meal for others.
That's the way it goes:
it's a magic trick,
an idiot's babbling.
It's said to be
a murderer.[1]
No substance here
is found.

Thus a monk, persistence aroused,
should view the aggregates
by day & by night,
mindful,
alert;
should discard all fetters;
should make himself
his own refuge;
should live as if
his head were on fire —
in hopes of the state
with no falling away.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.095.than.html

The traces we leave
So when we have an extraordinary experience, would you not feel that it should be passed on?

In a sense, we are all teachers and students of life's wonders...We are continually learning things from each other's experiences...

Which reminds me...

When the student is ready, the master will appear

When the student isn't ready, will the master still appear?

What separates one person from another.
Is there really anything that one does that isn't a communication of some form or another?

It seems to me that many people leave few traces in the world. A couple may spend a lot of time and money on their house and furnishings, and the next occupant sends everything to the recycling and remodels. An aircraft engineer spends months measuring out vibration loads in an aircraft, only to say, it’s ok. A Zen monk spends hours sitting zazen and then stands up and there is no trace.

On the forums too, there are things that are current, and then a long trail is left that few people look at again. It is all just footsteps in the sand, washed away by the next high tide. You can try as you like - make websites, write books, write blogs - it is all impermanent, and most things even vanish from view within our lifetimes.

So when we have an extraordinary experience, would you not feel that it should be passed on? I think that anyone who has an experience of this sort should become a kind of teacher for a while, passing the wisdom of his experience on to his tribe. Unfortunately in this day and age so few people truly listen.

@person said:
Just started 3 Body Problem on Netflix and I'm instantly hooked, it hits all my buttons. Its a sciency-supernatural-mystery-thriller. A similar sort of genre to Dark if anyone is familiar with that one. On top of that the Chinese Cultural Revolution plays a part in the story, an intense part of history on the sort of scale of the holocaust but scarcely portrayed in popular media.

I’m watching it too… slowly in 20-minute segments…

I always wonder, seeing your pictures, how the air feels, how it smells, in your part of the world - and all the things that the dimension of photography cannot capture.

The Security Council approved a resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Draft Resolution -
Algeria, Guyana, Malta, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland: draft resolution

The Security Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,

Reiterating its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in this regard deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism,

Expressing deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,

Acknowledging the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, aimed at reaching a cessation of hostilities, releasing the hostages and increasing the provision and distribution of humanitarian aid,

1. Demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable ceasefire;

2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs, and further demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain;

3. Emphasizes the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to and reinforce the protection of civilians in the entire Gaza Strip and reiterates its demand for the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale, in line with international humanitarian law as well as resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023);

4. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

The 10 non-permanent members (E10)-proposed draft was adopted today (25 Mar) in a vote of 14 favour and one abstention (United States).

Speaking after the vote, Algeria’s Ambassador Amar Benjama said that today’s resolution conveys a clear message to the Palestinian people: “The international community, in its entirety, did not abandon you.”

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations said, “Once such atrocities are being committed in broad daylight against defenceless civilians, including women and children, the right thing to do the only thing to do morally legally, politically, is to put to put an end to it. There can be no justification for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Accepting any justification for such crimes is renouncing our humanity and destroying the rule of international law beyond repair.”

He also said, “This must be a turning point. This must lead to saving lives on the ground. This must signal the end of this assault of atrocities against our people. A nation is being murdered. A nation is being dispossessed. A nation is being displaced for decades now, but never at this scale since the Nakba.”

Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan said, “It should be very clear that as long as Hamas refuses to release the hostages in the diplomatic channels, there is no other way to secure their return other than through a military operation.”

He concluded, “Sadly, it's for the same reason why you can condemn terror attacks in Russia and Iran, but not in Israel. To this council is Israeli blood is cheap. This is a travesty, and I'm disgusted.”

Following the Security Council meeting, Ambassador Pedro Comissario, Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations, read a joint statement on behalf of the E10 Group (Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Switzerland) regarding the adoption.

He said “We are happy that the council has successfully adopted the much-needed resolution to demand the immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. It also demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons that they detain.”

Also addressing to the press, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, stated, “Security Council resolutions are binding and if Israel is not going to implement it, then it is the duty of the Security Council to use chapter 7 to take measures and punitive measures in order to make them obey the resolution of the Security Council.”

Briefing journalists, UK ambassador Barbara Woodward, said, “All barriers to aid delivery need to be lifted. We have not yet seen the improvements that we need to get more aid in. The council's message today is an important one and I reiterate, we call for it to be implemented immediately.”

Hamas's response regarding the immediate Ceasefire resolution

The Palestinian group Hamas said it was committed to the conditions of the resolution and said Israel must be held accountable in adhering to it. “It is the role of the international community to oblige Israel and to end this double standard,” Basem Naim, a senior official in Hamas's political bureau, told Al Jazeera.

What ideas or solutions are being put forward about what Israel should do about Hamas and its security overall? What they are doing now is having dire consequences but a large part of the motivation is security and the elimination of Hamas rather than a wish to genocide Gazans. So just telling them to stop doesn't address this deeper need. Offering an alternate solution allows Israel to take greater care of Gazans without totally giving up on their own legitimate concerns.