Hope and Healing for Japan with Love

First thoughts of spring to me invariably are of the serene sights of Japanese Cherry Blossoms, yes – the ones celebrated during the famous cherry blossom festival in the east coast especially in Washington d.c and New York. Each time I witnessed them, it felt as if there is nothing more pleasing to the eyes to ring in the spring  as much as the pretty in pink petite blossoms on long almost-chocolate-brown stalks.

Spring this year however seems far removed from pretty even amidst the freshly blossoming trees. I can barely think of the cherry blossoms as there’s only one thing on my mind, Japan.

Even as I go about my daily routine, my heart is heavy with pictorial rewind of  a catastrophic disaster struck Japan, lurking threat of a possible nuclear meltdown, pain and loss of the people as they struggle for existence. At times, I am even stricken with guilt for my own safe-being, for the food on my plate, for the comfort of my home.

It is hard to even fathom what they are going through even as we witness on TV. I have no words to express how much their fortitude amazes me. My salute to the resilient people of Japan for their ‘Gaman‘ even amid life threatening crisis, to the virtuous Fukushima Fifty dubbed ‘The Suicide Squad’ for their self-less larger-than-life act of courage of conviction and character.

For Japan with Love a blogger movement started by the thoughtful bloggers of Ever Oursand Utterly Engaged is in two parts – Blogger’s Day of Silence (March 18th) and Fund Raising.

Touched by their gesture to reach out, help and spread the word in a sincerely thoughtful way, I felt the urge to do it myself. I could not express my support through participation last friday, so I simply observed ‘Blog Silence’ (no posts).

For the Fund Raising:

Excerpt from Ever Ours For Japan With Love has a direct link on the website to our fundraising page for ShelterBox. ShelterBox was one of THE first organizations asked by Japan to help and were on hand on the Saturday after the quake. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.”

If you have felt the need to do something for Japan in crisis, please join us there and help. No contribution is small.

Last but not the least,

Let us pray for love, healing and hope for a better tomorrow for Japan, Libya and wherever crisis prevails..

Here’s a small prayer (in Sanskrit), also a profound vedic chant brimming with a meaning deeper than its translation.

असतो मा सद्गगमय

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय

मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय

ॐ शांति शांति शांति – बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद् 1.3.28.

Transliteration

Asato Maa Satgamaya

Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya

Mrutyor Maa Amritamgamaya

Om Shantihi Shantihi Shantihi

Translation

Lead Us From the Unreal To Real,
Lead Us From Darkness To Light,
Lead Us From Death To Immortality,
Aum (the universal sound of God)
Let There Be Peace Peace Peace. – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28.

courtesy: vedantabheri.com