Isti Toq'ah

Link to podcast Isti Toq'ah Klasik ya bahas kemacetan lalu lintas? Trus apa kaitannya sama kesalahan dan kecerobohan diri kita?

A yoga teacher and psychologist with birth name Richard Alpert, Ram Dass, reminded us that vulnerability supposed to not be labeled solely as weakness, yet as both strength and presence. He stated, "We often think that vulnerability is a kind of weakness, but there's a kind of vulnerability that is actually strength and presence." Moreover, this related to the two-sided life compass: conscience and consciousness. Wangari Maathai who fought for environment and political freedom in Kenya held tightly and never let go hope over fear. She voiced out that, "There comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other." (Isti Toq'ah)

When hope is seen as passive notion and pessimistic euphoria, it's actually the most active and optimistic action that ones ever can do in the midst of calamity, misery, and adversity. A writer, feminist, activist, and historian, Rebecca Solnit, believes that hope locates itself in the premises that we don't know what will happen and that in the spaciousness of uncertainty is room to act. (Isti Toq'ah)

A bishop and academic, Stephen Charleston, said "Let the laughter come, even if it has not been heard for a very long time, especially if times are hard and the future uncertain. Laughter is as important in adversity as wisdom and courage." Laughter often overlooked as minor part of life merely during the time of trivial jokes, yet, it's as priceless as smile. Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh reminded this matter too during his life that smile waits no happiness to happen on the first place. Joy is beyond happiness where it can live side by side with sorrow of daily life, according to Kahlil Gibran. No wonder bittersweet is the main flavor of life's seasoning. This makes life be called as life indeed. (Isti Toq'ah)