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26 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

Letson invited the man he rescued to the studio. Their beautiful impulse my friend has to try to talk to his
conversation is well worth hearing, as it set both of enemies may spring from his deeply-held convictions
them off their moorings. They confront each other and and a sense of his personal power. Yet for those who do
dispute facts, but the fact that Letson’s action granted not share his confidence, any encounter with political
them both the right to exist means that action created opponents may place them too much at risk to chance it.
common ground. His conversation with a man who
would be his enemy captures a rare moment when this The actions we take when we are really disconnected
new trauma they experienced together muffles the ones come from a place of suffering. We can and should
from generations ago that set up this conflict. develop greater compassion for those we consider
disconnected from themselves and the world, those
The way that people talk about common ground, it who propagate hatred or bias. In addition to working on
sounds almost magical, as if one could define a space compassion for the frightened, fearful and disconnected,
and all would come there with open hearts and minds along with building bridges and reducing your own
to build on what they share. In these conflicted times hatred, vote! Aside from anything else we do, we also
our wounds and vulnerabilities, some of which occurred should do everything we can to not foster the power to
generations back, make it difficult for dialogue to create harm. EH
begin or to succeed in creating a feeling of safety. That

Are you searching for a spiritually challenging work?

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masters? Would you like to introduce the latest Buddhist book you read recently?
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the dharma and what the dharma means to you today. Well, if you find all of these
interesting, we can make it spiritually challenging for you too!

In every issue of EASTERN HORIZON, we publish special chat sessions with leading
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please e-mail to the editor at Bennyliow@gmail.com, and we will put you in touch
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Let us share the dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings!