In case you’ve missed my last seven weeks of writing here on Substack or my posts on Instagram, I want you to know where I stand on Israel’s War on Palestine—and why.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I know of your work from beloved Sebene, and wildly respect you contribution to the world. Grateful that dharma teachers are speaking up (and even contemplating this) when so many have been silent! 🙏🏻
Chelsea, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I'm not sure if you mean that you'd like ME to show up in yoga spaces like this, or others. But both are essential, and thank you for saying so!
There are many uncomfortable truths here -- as in, there are many atrocities being committed by Israel and have been for some time. But to claim that this has nothing to do with Hamas and to absolve them and Palestinian-Arab leadership of any responsibility in creating and maintaining this conflict is ignorant, and to frame your own historical relationship to the Holocaust without acknowledging the hundred of years that Jews were expelled from and persecuted in other lands prior to the creation of Israel is just as biased as anything we’ve seen. As my father often says to the anti-Zionists, “we’ll see you at the gas chambers.”
I'm often struck by the absolute moral depravity of "reflections" that begin with "there are many atrocities being committed by Israel and have been for some time, BUT..." which betray an absolute insincerity and which pretend at intellectual rigor, as though you've actually considered the atrocities Israel has committed not just in this genocidal war, but for decades. I'm also struck by the way people such as yourself (and Zionists in general) must misread anyone who objects in an intelligent, informed way to Israel's morally reprehensible actions as being "pro Hamas" or "pro terrorism." Because my work is so well-researched, you have no intelligent discourse, and must reduce yourself to misreading my clear condemnation Hamas's actions as a "claim that this has nothing to do with Hamas" and as an absolution of "them and Palestinian-Arab leadership" because this is the only (mis)interpretation that makes it palatable for you to then excuse Israel's moral depravity. And it's the only way you can absolve Netanyahu of his role in bolstering Hamas since the 1980's so he could undermine the very Palestinian-Arab leadership you then decry. And I'm always struck at the frequency with which Zionists overlook, deny, and minimize the many other genocides that have occurred over the past several hundred years, continually centering themselves, so as to overlook the blatant racism in their worldview, and Israel's oppression of Palestinians, and the other military conflicts Israel has aided in countries with Black and Brown people over the last several decades. And of course, I'm amazed at the glee and wish fulfillment you and others derive from the "see you at the gas chambers" type of comment (like the abovementioned sexual threats), which also serves to bolster the mistaken idea that Israel is committing genocide to ensure its "safety" and that anyone speaking out against it is antisemitic. My work is about liberation; yours, clearly, is not. Many wishes!
You're right that I'm not the only one with intellectual rigor- I'm just the only one with intellectual rigor in THIS conversation. This is not Israel's war on Hamas; if it were, it would be fought much differently, in a surgically precise way, and without dropping more (and dumb) bombs on Palestine than have been used in any other conflict in the modern era. (In fact, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Israel has dropped more than 25,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip since October 7, equivalent to two nuclear bombs.) Your points are so inarticulate as to be undeserving of reply, except to say that your work may be about liberation, but for ONE people only (Israel) and at the expense of others. And this, as any child can tell you, is not liberation at all. That you don't see the clear racism in Zionism, and in your world view, is not surprising, but deeply disappointing.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, Hayley! I should've known you'd be in favor of this standpoint. (And I think most of my followers that are against have already unsubscribed, LOL.)
So thoughtful, articulate and thorough. I wish I had written this. Your strength and bravery inspires me, and likely many others, to give voice to deeply fraught, controversial positions. Thank you. Love and blessings to you!
Thank you so much, Bo, for speaking out so clearly on this issue. I'm still baffled to see many so-called yoga/mindfulness teachers choosing to remain silent about this genocide, or saying platitudes about peace for all, tell you "should stick to yoga", or even proudly standing with what is clearly the oppressor. I'm no expert in yoga philosophy, but I don't see the point in studying and practicing yoga if not to learn to live in and with yourself with what you've been given, so that you are better able to go out into the world and do your damn best towards actual justice and equality for all, especially when it feels unconfortable.
Joana, Thank you for taking the time to read so thoughtfully, and for your reflections. I agree with you 100% about the purpose of yoga, which is about liberation (for all). The three categories you mention (choosing to remain silent, offering platitudes or "all lives matter" tropes, or siding with the oppressor neatly capture the ways in which collusion and complicity occur. It's about business and dollars, and also the attempt yet again by these teachers and practitioners to obscure the racism behind their lack of education and their inaction at every turn. Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I know of your work from beloved Sebene, and wildly respect you contribution to the world. Grateful that dharma teachers are speaking up (and even contemplating this) when so many have been silent! 🙏🏻
Bless you. Bless this work. Bless the truth-telling, no matter what it costs.
Hi Liddy, Thank you for coming to read, and for taking the time to comment, and to advocate eloquently for truth and justice.
Please show up like this in yoga spaces. So necessary.
Chelsea, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I'm not sure if you mean that you'd like ME to show up in yoga spaces like this, or others. But both are essential, and thank you for saying so!
I agree with you, every word. I support your right to say it all and to be heard.
Thank you for reading, and caring enough to comment!
Brave words. Wise words. Thank you.
Steve! Long time! I hope you and Claudia are well, and send you each big blessings. Thank you for coming to read and comment.
Thank you for writing and sharing this.
PJ, thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
Thank you for this article.
Nick, thank you for taking the time to read and comment here.
Thank you Bo 🙏🏻
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Audrey!
There are many uncomfortable truths here -- as in, there are many atrocities being committed by Israel and have been for some time. But to claim that this has nothing to do with Hamas and to absolve them and Palestinian-Arab leadership of any responsibility in creating and maintaining this conflict is ignorant, and to frame your own historical relationship to the Holocaust without acknowledging the hundred of years that Jews were expelled from and persecuted in other lands prior to the creation of Israel is just as biased as anything we’ve seen. As my father often says to the anti-Zionists, “we’ll see you at the gas chambers.”
I'm often struck by the absolute moral depravity of "reflections" that begin with "there are many atrocities being committed by Israel and have been for some time, BUT..." which betray an absolute insincerity and which pretend at intellectual rigor, as though you've actually considered the atrocities Israel has committed not just in this genocidal war, but for decades. I'm also struck by the way people such as yourself (and Zionists in general) must misread anyone who objects in an intelligent, informed way to Israel's morally reprehensible actions as being "pro Hamas" or "pro terrorism." Because my work is so well-researched, you have no intelligent discourse, and must reduce yourself to misreading my clear condemnation Hamas's actions as a "claim that this has nothing to do with Hamas" and as an absolution of "them and Palestinian-Arab leadership" because this is the only (mis)interpretation that makes it palatable for you to then excuse Israel's moral depravity. And it's the only way you can absolve Netanyahu of his role in bolstering Hamas since the 1980's so he could undermine the very Palestinian-Arab leadership you then decry. And I'm always struck at the frequency with which Zionists overlook, deny, and minimize the many other genocides that have occurred over the past several hundred years, continually centering themselves, so as to overlook the blatant racism in their worldview, and Israel's oppression of Palestinians, and the other military conflicts Israel has aided in countries with Black and Brown people over the last several decades. And of course, I'm amazed at the glee and wish fulfillment you and others derive from the "see you at the gas chambers" type of comment (like the abovementioned sexual threats), which also serves to bolster the mistaken idea that Israel is committing genocide to ensure its "safety" and that anyone speaking out against it is antisemitic. My work is about liberation; yours, clearly, is not. Many wishes!
You're right that I'm not the only one with intellectual rigor- I'm just the only one with intellectual rigor in THIS conversation. This is not Israel's war on Hamas; if it were, it would be fought much differently, in a surgically precise way, and without dropping more (and dumb) bombs on Palestine than have been used in any other conflict in the modern era. (In fact, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Israel has dropped more than 25,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip since October 7, equivalent to two nuclear bombs.) Your points are so inarticulate as to be undeserving of reply, except to say that your work may be about liberation, but for ONE people only (Israel) and at the expense of others. And this, as any child can tell you, is not liberation at all. That you don't see the clear racism in Zionism, and in your world view, is not surprising, but deeply disappointing.
I want you and me and many others to show up with this social justice lens. May our practices serve the liberation of all beings.
Thank you always for your labour here Bo and your vulnerability. It is so so appreciated in this realm.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, Hayley! I should've known you'd be in favor of this standpoint. (And I think most of my followers that are against have already unsubscribed, LOL.)
So thoughtful, articulate and thorough. I wish I had written this. Your strength and bravery inspires me, and likely many others, to give voice to deeply fraught, controversial positions. Thank you. Love and blessings to you!
Lucille! Thank you, my friend, for taking the time to read this, and for your generous words. Much love and many blessings right back!
Thank you so much, Bo, for speaking out so clearly on this issue. I'm still baffled to see many so-called yoga/mindfulness teachers choosing to remain silent about this genocide, or saying platitudes about peace for all, tell you "should stick to yoga", or even proudly standing with what is clearly the oppressor. I'm no expert in yoga philosophy, but I don't see the point in studying and practicing yoga if not to learn to live in and with yourself with what you've been given, so that you are better able to go out into the world and do your damn best towards actual justice and equality for all, especially when it feels unconfortable.
Your words and work are an inspiration. 🙏
Joana, Thank you for taking the time to read so thoughtfully, and for your reflections. I agree with you 100% about the purpose of yoga, which is about liberation (for all). The three categories you mention (choosing to remain silent, offering platitudes or "all lives matter" tropes, or siding with the oppressor neatly capture the ways in which collusion and complicity occur. It's about business and dollars, and also the attempt yet again by these teachers and practitioners to obscure the racism behind their lack of education and their inaction at every turn. Thank you for your kind words.
This is Yoga in the 21st century....embodying Ahimsa. Thank you for inspiring, teaching and reminding us. Bless you 🙏
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.