Meditation Brings Down Walls:
Resisting Border Violence Through Spiritual Practice
On September 18, members of IMT organized and took part in a morning of meditation as part of a week-long inter-faith vigil called "Resist the Wall, Strengthen the Spirit" at the U.S.-Mexico border near Ambos Sasabe. More than 20 meditators gathered on a Friday morning to do silent and lovingkindness meditation at the site of border wall construction/destruction to bear witness to border violence, sitting in solidarity with Hia-Ced O'odham land and water defenders protecting Quitobaquito Springs to the west.
"I have been thinking about yesterday and had a great time mostly by getting to connect more deeply with you guys and feeling how that collective power amongst us may have been similar with other historical and more significant moments with equal rights for minority groups. How a collective nonviolent critical mass gets so large in numbers that it starts to impact media, politics, laws, and more importantly hearts of everyone…For me it was a first step in awhile off of my cushion and in general. I hope there are other opportunities to do this again."
~ Chris
"As I sat and looked at the wall and then with closed eyes, heard the trucks roll by us. Terry’s voice came and whispered “this moment is like this”. I envisioned the whole IMT sangha and the experienced softened a bit. At one point I looked down to the ground and saw ants, lots of them. One ant in particular caught my eye, they had a piece of a leaf. Carrying it and tumbling over the desert I asked “Where are you going?” and I smiled softly.
~ Steve
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