Kufunda Learning Village

Latest Update - June 2008

Reflections on what we are learning

By Marianne Knuth,
A note written to the Shambhala Institute

I remember Margaret Wheatley speaking many years ago of hopelessness - as a positive place from which to be in the world. When we have no hope left we have let go of attachment to outcome. It does not mean that we no longer do the work that we are called to do, or that needs doing, but that we do it without being caught up in how it is all meant to turn out. I feel that in many ways we have been working from this place at Kufunda for many years now. Not a place of despair, but a place of simply doing, not dampened by an external negative context - and in that we have found so much joy and gratitude for small yet enormously meaningful shifts in ourselves, in the people we work with, and in their communities.

These days, I am realising that as the situation has worsened - significantly, in Zimbabwe, it is ever harder to stay in this place of no hope, or perhaps I should speak of it as the place of not needing hope. Because as we see more and more friends, family and people beyond moving into greater and greater suffering something rises in us - something saying Enough! this cannot be. This is wrong. This must be stopped. And with it we feel many things - sometimes anger, sometimes despair, sometimes sheer disbelief at the utter madness we are living through.

A few weeks ago at Kufunda we came back together in circle, realising that though the energy that comes from this can be potent and powerful. It is also not what we want. The energy of opposition.

Instead we need to find ways of continuosly returning to the energy and practices of turning on the light. When everyone is crying over what is being lost, or rallying in anger against the injustice, generating a stronger field of despair, we have seen that we need to stay in the light. Stay with the beauty of what is right now, stay in community, stay present, stay open hearted.

It doesn't mean we wish to pretend that we are good and happy. Sadness and grief can be a part of that too, but when we come together in circle - even in our grief, we find a sweetness - and a different power - of being simply together in a place of love and appreciation. Steven - a young father at Kufunda spoke to what faith is in his church - it is the appreciation of what is not yet, believing it, and what's more, appreciating it, and through this calling it into being.

I think this is what we are learning - struggling to learn - but learning nevertheless.

In the midst of the deepest darkness that we are living through right now - we are learning to appreciate a different way of being with each other; and believing that this light will one day be the way of our land. (But of course it will!) And so our most important task is to stay with that. With a field of light, of companionship, of open heartedness.

It means not wasting our energy on condemning the leaders and people perpetuating violence, but sending them the same love we send the victims of their ways - they may even need it more, lost as they are. I am not saying that punishment and warriorship do not live in this place, but an angry fight against the dark is not what we have time or place for. Rather we need to find ways of nurturing and guarding the light - and see what action will rise from that place.

And action will rise from that place. I am seeing it now. Still amazed at the continuation of work being done by ordinary men and women in communities, taking care of their most needy, of each other (see article below: Community Update. And I trust that if we can energetically continue this shift from fear and anger to love and light more strong action will rise.

Many South Africans have wondered at the passiveness of Zimbabweans. Without it we might have been rid of our government a long time ago - and yet I feel that this is a part of our greatest gift to the world - the kindness, patience and love of the Zimbabwean people. And I trust that as this particular journey unfolds - we shall see how the peaceful quiet dignity of this people will be a part of the lesson to the world.

And so in closing, I, on behalf of all of us at Kufunda, would simply thank the many of you who have been sending prayers and love our way. It means more than you can imagine - and I think it is working in realms that we may not even begin to understand. Please keep it coming. Light your candles, stand at our backs, send love to this country. Let's make use of this moment of darkness to practice warriorship of the heart, bringing more light into this world.

Two poems from the fire

We are coming back together in weekly circle councils. To simply be together, to reflect on what we are learning and to recover our strength. These two poems come out of two such circles.

By Sailesi Lusias

We stand for love and kindness
We stand for the future that we are living now
The future that many of us dream of and hope for

The circle agreements bind us together
We need to practice to be together again
We need to touch our souls again
We need to smile at each other again

I am human when I am here
I am full when I am here

By Tichaona Murungweni

The darkest hour is nearest dawn
The Kufundees are seeing the Bright morning sun
Dawn is coming with morning due

Lets journey on with love joy and peace
Even on a long journey straw is is heavy
Our shoulders are light with hope

Lets be together as one
Oneness is all what we need
Brothers in arms
The more we are together the more we are
We will never go down on our knees

The heart sees further than the head
Our hearts are our weapons
Weapons for survival, the future and tomorrow