Question

How did you find out about the September 11th attacks? What went through your mind? Did you use any Dhamma reflection at that time?

Answer

Actually we happened to be in Washington, DC when it happened. How did we find out about it? We were in an discussion with someone and the television was on when it was happening. What went through my mind? I'll try to remember. There was awe at the ignorance of people, awe at the immensity of wrong view in the world, concern for the world at that time, Compassion for all the people in the plane, all the people at the Pentagon. We had to be on the roads actually. The roads were choked. I think there was a little bit of numbness going on, too. Shock at the people being so attached to a view that it causes them to do things like this. Trying to feel compassion, certainly, for the people who were the victims of the attack. There was also some thought about the bigger picture. America is a very powerful country. So, concern about what the results of that was going to be. The Dhamma reflection. Yes, it appears that I was reflecting on what ignorance and wrong view can do to cause people to do such things without contemplation of the results of such things. A lot of compassion was arising, and a certain amount of resolve, making the resolution within myself to try to lessen the wrong view within myself.

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