Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I was listening to my Buddhist teacher's dharma talk about honoring all things. He is part of a group building a stupa in the Big Sur area, and first these teachers wished to thank and honor the indigenous people whose land it previously was. He described how grateful they were for the stewardship and custodial care Ntive Americans bestowed on this beautiful place. And he feels it is necessary to know the history of a place, so that our darker past is not hidden and therefore unknown. He talked of reconciliation and healing, and I'm hopeful that right now our country is beginning this process. Maybe not all feel this need, but I certainly do, and I understand that South Africa's process, as well as Germany's, unified and cleansed the people. While we deny, we cannot flourish. We don't need to feel shame and guilt, but we need to not keep secrets. Issues talked about openly can resolve or at least ease the trauma. He spoke of the Inauguration, and our dark history that needs a light shone on it. Truth makes us settle with ourselves in a deep way, and we have more energy to do brave and selfless acts. I'm really praying this happens for us all.