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42 EASTERN HORIZON | FEATURE
A Guiding Light
By Sergio León Candia
Turmoil. This word can encompass the world. The different outcomes
what we see around us today. of the virus situation and the way
it has been handled have caused
The COVID-19 pandemic has
discontent in many places.
shown us both the underlying
unwholesome tendencies present What is this telling us? Are we
in society and the most encouraging listening? Compassionately
stories of mutual support and and actively listening? Or are
Sergio León Candia was born compassion. we evaluating our actions and
in Santiago de Chile, South understanding the impact of our
America. He Holds a Bachelor However, it is not only the pandemic choices?
in Education degree and is a P.E in front of us, but also several
teacher and Personal Trainer. different situations stirring that Let us review a few of the major
Passionate about language he state we used to call “normal”. issues being discussed worldwide
in terms of important social matters
later became a TEFL English It is not an alien situation. that are increasingly mentioned
teacher. In 2011 he came to Throughout human history, we see throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Thailand and went on different moments of relative peace followed
meditation retreats. He holds by chaotic periods of turmoil, like Firstly, we have seen that many
a Master’s degree in Buddhist it was nature balancing itself in sectors of society are demonstrating
Studies from the International a compensatory “chaos vs order” against the inequality of the system
Buddhist College in Thailand. He dynamic. Now it is no different. they live in, and sometimes in some
received a Permaculture Designer Although one can argue about places, more violently. It would be
Certificate and was the founder the harshness of the different easy to simplify the reaction against
and director of an ecological difficulties, which as humans we it. However, have you noticed the
outrageous amount of evidence
have confronted at different times,
project in Chile. Currently, he 2020 has been a year that has showing the corruption, abuse, and
works for One Yoga Thailand, forced us into retreat, into looking intolerance coming from the very
where he shares Ānāpānasati at things differently - perhaps for same institutions that constitute the
meditation and Dhamma the first time. core of our society? If you were to
talks. From August 2020, he be directly affected by it (we all are,
will study at the International Before the pandemic hit, we cannot but some people are in situations
Buddhist Studies College of say that the old “normal” was more affected than others), can you
Mahachulalongkorn University peaceful and quiet. It was somehow tell what your reaction would be
in Thailand pursuing a Ph.D. in working, yes. However, was it with total accuracy?
Peace Studies. working okay?
Social harmony, social balance,
Different episodes of social uprising
and human settlements are what
took over the news for most of
we need to value, cherish, and
2019. Hong Kong, France, Chile,
take care of as one of our most
Venezuela were some examples.
precious treasures, though they are
Now we can add more cases around
sometimes achieved after much
