Hosting The Pain Of The World
Acogiendo el Dolor del Mundo--por Thomas Huebl
Cuando empezamos a acceder a los ámbitos del trauma colectivo para iniciar junt@s el proceso de sanación, a menudo nos damos cuenta de quienes han fallecido, frecuentemente en circunstancias violentas. Su presencia puede ser palpable en el tejido social hasta que quienes viven han asumido la transgresión, permitiendo que estas almas descansen en paz. Habitualmente, las sociedades intentan ocultar o ignorar este dolor colectivo, por lo que el proceso de integración se estanca. Ignorar el dolor significa que no podemos estar presentes l@s un@s con @os otr@s; metafóricamente, estamos dispers@s en el espacio y el tiempo.
Cuando, como humanidad, no estamos plenamente presentes ante lo que sucede ahora y lo que no se ha resuelto en el pasado, nos obsesionamos con mirar hacia adelante. Nos hipnotiza la idea de construir o alcanzar un mundo mejor en el futuro porque no podemos estar con el mundo tal como se está desarrollando ahora. Este es un importante mecanismo de defensa que nos ayuda a no sentir el dolor ni a lidiar con las transgresiones del pasado. Sin embargo, si no las examinamos conscientemente, permaneceremos fragmentados y se volverá a revivir el trauma. La única manera de construir un mundo mejor es construirlo en este mundo. Necesitamos aprovechar cada momento para cocrear el mundo en el que deseamos vivir, en lugar de desear que suceda mañana.
En un mundo traumatizado, la redención llega después: La mirada hacia el futuro es la encarnación perdida en el ahora, donde integramos el dolor en la presencia para recibir la bendición del futuro real, el mundo que descargamos junt@s como presencia y en la presencia. La verdadera innovación siempre ocurre ahora.
Preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Qué opinas de la idea de que debemos reapropiarnos de las transgresiones pasadas para permitir la sanación y la paz para quienes sufrieron y para los vivos? ¿Podrías compartir una historia personal de alguna ocasión en la que sentiste la necesidad de confrontar el dolor del pasado para estar verdaderamente presente y avanzar? ¿Qué te ayuda a permanecer anclad@ en el presente, especialmente cuando el atractivo de las posibilidades futuras parece abrumador?
Excerpted from here.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you make of the notion that we must re-own past transgressions to allow healing and peace for those who suffered and for the living? Can you share a personal story of a time you felt the need to confront past pain in order to be truly present and move forward? What helps you remain grounded in the present moment, especially when the allure of future possibilities seems overwhelming?
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18 Past Reflections
On Oct 31, 2025 Tatvi Shah wrote :
I was afraid to come to the hostel, especially after hearing about the Kolkata rape case. Such incidents shape our perceptions and make us anxious about safety. Along with this, we carry many expectations about hostel life—how it should feel, what we should get from it. When these expectations are not met, we feel unsettled. Writing things down helps me release some of these expectations. It lowers the pressure and allows me to see the situation more clearly, making space to experience hostel life as it really is.
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On Sep 9, 2025 Anne wrote :
"Being with each other in the present moment": in which mode? observing, watching, in awareness, in compassion? This deserves to be pondered and explained.
1 reply: David | Post Your Reply
On Sep 9, 2025 Anne wrote :
"Being with each other in the present moment": in which mode? observing, watching, in awareness, in compassion? This deserves to be pondered and explained.
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On Sep 9, 2025 ade wrote :
This notion that we must "re-own" (and thereby re-live, then re-process) seems paradoxically painful. Whatever happened to "let go"...and get on with your life? Acknowledging the (past) hurt (trauma) and finding a way to work through - work it out (of the system) seems healthy, helpful and healing. From my own personal circumstances the painful dissolution of my marriage caused trauma , emotional and psychological breakdown I have re-owned (re-lived) - re-visited too many times over the last 30 years. This has done nothing to lessen, resolve and/or relieve the pain that has stunted my emotional vulnerability (ability to trust and love fully). Only when I remember to "let go" of the re-living, re-processing, "re-owning" the trauma can I get on with my life. Indeed, over the years (when I could afford it), I have sought counseling and/or therapy ; read many self-help books and attended my "healing groups" - only to find the re-telling, re-living, re-processing the trauma makes my ... [View Full Comment]
2 replies: David, Carol | Post Your Reply
On Sep 9, 2025 Ruth wrote :
A traumatised world seeks ways of denying and taking responsibility for itself and its ills. The most common way is to blame a small group of people who are made to bear the burden of all the ills - the scapegoat - and punish them - so the trauma continues. We have to become aware of how we do this first of all. And then refuse it. And then healing can begin.
1 reply: David | Post Your Reply
On Sep 5, 2025 David Doane wrote :
Huebl writes about collective trauma and healing. I believe trauma isn't just about their trauma but also ours, responsibility for past transgressions isn't just theirs but ours, and healing is not just theirs but ours. We may be able to do some healing and establishing of peace individually, but full and real healing and peace takes all of us. In various relationships, it was necessary for me to be open and honest with myself and with the other and take responsibility for my part in our pain for us to begin to heal and move forward. What helps me stay grounded in the present moment is seeing that the present is all there is, I'm not controlled by the past, I can't know or control the future, and for me to be honest and committed to what I see as right action without guarantees of any outcome, and to trust the process. Like it or not, we're in this together. All affects one and one affects all.
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On Sep 5, 2025 Allie wrote :
The ways in which thoughts from the past or qualities of engagement from current moment, awareness are able to combine and transform at a collective level, feels very much like the call to an expanded consciousness at a collective level. As we constellation the future through contemplative and continuous moments Resting and being, the quality of connection increases. It’s in this expanded space in place that I feel we all might feel truly held by the potential of conscious awareness, sharing where and how we are wandering Wayfinders… Together
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On Sep 4, 2025 Victoria wrote :
I believe that as we do our individual healing work, we help to heal our ancestors. So any work that we do that allows us to release the past, heal wounds, calm and bring peace to trauma's and or forgive ourselves or others, brings great benefit not only to ourselves but to the many many in our generational line. And then loving ripples extend out from ourselves and the many othes and that brings benefit to animals, plants, minerals and our world. So I see this work of re-owning past transgressions and allowing healing and peace for those before us that suffered as well as our own suffering to be work of great value, great love, great compasssion and endless benefit.
1 reply: Barbaras. | Post Your Reply
On Sep 4, 2025 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
As individuals or members of the world we create transgressions and we and members of the world suffer for our self-created transgressions. It is our duty and responsibility to become aware of such transgressions and take steps to allow wounds to heal.. We all are connected with each other and we are all responsible for transgressions. In order to heal the wounds of ourselves and of our fellow brothers and fellow sisters we all need to work for healing all.
The past is gone. The future has yet to come. Present is the only reality. We all need to join our hands and work together to heal the wounds of the past. We learn from the past and create new paths to save us and the world at large.
There were times when I hadI created emotional wounds in my life and in the lives of the people connected with me. When the truth dawned I learned that nature and all of us are intrinsically connected with each other. I woke up and worked to heal the wounds and not to create further wounds.
Life ... [View Full Comment]