Regardless of Roots is a space that recognizes the inherent spirituality sourced throughout our lives, inviting us to explore the depths of our collective human experience. This space will offer an understanding of how humans are all connected in their sameness, while also celebrating that it is possible to be both the same, as well as beautiful and unique individuals with our distinct backgrounds and stories. I hope to be part of a system of thought that wishes to see the world evolve beyond stereotypes: a world that is tolerant of difference, accepting of change, forgiving of past grievances, and willing to work together at overcoming the many difficult challenges we face every day. This vision encourages a profound sense of empathy and compassion, fostering connections that transcend superficial boundaries and unite us in our shared humanity.
The work that you will find in this space describes a way of seeing the world that reflects the habitual pattern of judging people based on what is portrayed in a consumerist culture, and then choosing to witness individuals for who they truly are beyond these stereotypes. It aims to shift perceptions and promote understanding, encouraging us to look deeper and recognize the rich tapestry of experiences that inform each person’s journey, ultimately creating a more harmonious and inclusive society.
Experience
The idea for this writing project began with the word regardless. We live a life of experiences: we grow attachments, perceive form through our senses, and shed off layers of what no longer serves us. We all experience life, and regardless of our living we are still human and make human choices.
Let Go
In Buddhist thought, suffering is caused by longing, which is a desire to cling to experiences as though we are permanently attached to them. These attachments follow us through our lifetime and become patterns of attachment from one generation to the next. These patterns twist throughout our histories, just as roots grow deep into the earth. And like roots, experiences become etched in our bones and the bones of our ancestors.
Create
Regardless of our histories, humanity shares in the experience of suffering. Out of suffering, we may also share in the experience of healing. The act of creation is a spiritual act of compassion that helps us understand our personal patterns of human suffering and healing. Regardless of Roots begins with a writing project, and I hope to contribute to an understanding that we are all in this experience of living, together.
“[A] chair can only exist in a non-chair context. If we look carefully at a chair we can see the trees from where the wood came, the human race from where the carpenter came and so on.”
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Raft is Not the Shore 1975, page 113.
