Dear Lu
Feel like we're standing on a different horizon from when I wrote last letter. Are you still in Israel? I heard that Israel has taken quite strict measures by the government. How are you doing? Many systems were out of service in Japan as well, but it become returning little by little.
I'll write about what I'm thinking about recently, this time. I believe it has connected with the topics as "love" and "dance", which we have been talking about.
First of all, I felt strong discomfort with some discourses as the Covid-19 was considered to be "the enemy of humanity". The virus and organisms were born at about the same time, and have lived together for a long time. Meanwhile, sometimes a lot of organisms have been lost (killed), and sometimes they have been taken virus inside themselves and have evolved. All the organisms have strengthened their immunity and resistance along with this virus crisis, and have renewed/transformed themselves over the years.
Off course, viruses are massive menace to humanity. It's "a uncanny, unknown, incomprehensible, and transcendental stranger". Since modern times, humankind has tried to exclude incomprehensible and inconvenient strangers from the social system, and have forgot fear and humility for the awesome things (include nature, invisible existence).
Recently, many people said that the environmental pollution has been improved, and the activities of animals have become more active, because of part of human activities have stopped. I also heard that a breast cancer patient was hospitalized at the Covid-19, and when she had healed, the cancer cells had disappeared as well!
There is no perfect "good" and "evil" in the natural world. I think that what we should really be scared is, actually not the virus, but the "division between humans", "justified discrimination and violence", and "strong totalitarianism" that result from the crisis.
What really important thing is to keep our imagination and sensitivity to "a uncanny and incomprehensible strangers" and "physically/ socially invisible and vulnerable beings". At the same time, however, we don't have to forget that there are far more things that our imagination can't reach, and don't judge with "human-centered rules". Without such imagination and sensitivity, human beings are too weak and selfish.
We also need to reconsider the concept of "Symbiosis", I think. It may not always be a harmonious, peaceful and friendly like its typical image. "Symbiosis" in the nature world could go far beyond "human ethics".
It has been repeated many times in organism history that, for example, most of the races are destroyed by the massive distraction, and only accidental survivors adapt to the opponent. In this process, I think that some of each other's body system may be newly arranged (transformed).
We have to remember that there is actually an "overwhelming force" in the nature world which cannot be "Symbiosis". Our life is on the horizon where many extinctions and slaughters have been repeated. We have to look at things, with imagination for "unnamed dead, those who will be born, and those who could not be born", including nonhuman.
Also, most important thing now, is not only to make these things our philosophy, but also to radically ask our own way of life, I feel.
These topics may give us a new perspective on the issue of "Love" we have talked about. "Love" also has a peaceful and inclusive impression as "Symbiosis", but now, I doubt it may be just limited aspect.
Let me jump to the conclusion; I think "Love" and "Violence" are both sides, even in the human world. Both are two extremes of the fundamental "force" that works in the universe. For instance, from ancient times, there are many examples like using poison as a curing or healing tool.
Also, in the long long history of organisms, it has been repeated that the hidden potential of organisms has been brought out with massive power which possibly destroy the subject, and the new phases of life have been opened up because of it.
How can we position the principle of "Love" here?
Off cause, we can simply say that "power of creation/ rebirth" is "Love", and "power of distraction" is "violence". But, if we think radically, it's quite difficult to divide clearly. It is beyond Good and Evil.
In particular, if we think about this in connection with our "dance", we need to deepen the fundamental "force" includes both "creation/ rebirth" and "distraction" through our body, without specializing in "Love". Otherwise, we can only see the ideal side, which convenient for the human "Ethics".
These might be issues beyond "Love" and "Symbiosis". But now, I feel that it is more essential to start thinking from here.
Finally, in addition, we often try to exclude "a uncanny, unknown, incomprehensible, and transcendental stranger" from our daily life, but safety "home" which formed in this way is an illusion.
It is important to understand that these strangers and crisis are not only on the outside, but also in our own bodies. We have to think about "home" without illusion, specific land, and belongings. The "home" could be appearing anywhere as long as our body is there. At this time, the key must be dance, music, and gravity for me. (I also remember that Buddha's words, "Make yourself an island, rely on yourself, not rely on others")
It became a long letter again, so I'll stop here... I wanted to write on a new moon day in this time, because it's the day when a new moon is born. With Love.
Ari
