Christa's Land Our walk to Downtown Windhoek

Christ'a Blue Prints Oshivambo Women in Settlements Drying Meat

<---A speck of what is Haukahana (havana 1, 2, 3)

“The buddha’s teachings offer a wide-ranging conception of the human person as complete entity having a diversity of need which all must be met to ensure happiness and wellbeing. These needs fall into a well-defined hierarchy of importance, which we might here consider as threefold. At the base of the hierarchy is the physical need for the basis requisites of existence: clothing, food, a comfortable dwelling, medical care, transportation, energy, tools, and so forth. At the next level are social needs: for education, family, friendship and personal intimacy, participation in a community, and meaningful work. At the highest level are spiritual needs: for moral rectitude, mental development, and wise understanding of the true nature of life.”

I do this thing where I randomly open books and start reading. Today this is what I read. It is from the book “Facing the Future” which is a book about Buddhism and the future. It is quite apparent from this that if the base of the structure is not strong, then the rest will not hold together, it will not be whole. If one is constantly trying to fit together, to fill in the cracks that exist, then how do you expect to maintain the top? Lets assume at this point that when talking about the physical needs, it is the basic needs that are met and the bare minimum that is given to maintain a healthy and comfortable way of living. If this is met, and the base is as solid as it can be, then the next step would be social needs. But in reality, especially for many here in Namibia, the base of this structure is filled with huge holes and cracks that even climbing up to the next level can be a challenge. How is a child, for example, expected to do well in school when they are have to learn on empty stomachs, all a while worrying about the health of their relatives as well as all the troubles that their homes as well as their communities face. While we were driving away from Haukahana, Christa was telling us how the road lines up with children marching to school in the morning. Many are swaying back and forth because they are very weak from not eating anything that morning as well as days on end. In some instances, there are reports of children being hit by cars because they stumble out onto the road due to extreme dehydration and starvation. Having to travel long distances to and from their homes just to school and then expected to perform well is intolerable at best. Therefore, in some way, you can see how this hierarchy is relevant to Namibia. In addition to this is the moral rectitude that is lacked among many people in the settlements. It is not that they choose to be this way, in fact, I am quite positive that if given the resources many would not resort to such actions, but many are forced to do things that they otherwise wouldn’t do. In order to eat, they must steal. In order to send their children to school or afford things, many women sell their bodies, hence spreading and perpetuating HIV/AIDS. Poverty causes this continual cycle of sickness and desperation and until something is done to address why people are remaining in these conditions, this cycle with revolve and persist into generations to come. There has be a time when people can take no more, when they stand up and say “NO, I refuse to accept my conditions and I will do whatever in my power to change things not only for my self, but for my community and people of the world”. Individually I can see this starting, but in order for things to really take hold, there must be a mass mobilization in order to be heard and to achieve some sort of success. People must stand up so that their base is met, so that they can worry about the next level. If one is too worried about where they will get their food for the day; if they have a reasonable place to sleep as well as if one can even afford to visit a doctor, then how can one achieve success in the other areas? It is a question that will continue to plague my mind until something happens to appease the people and meet their needs.
This is not just happening here in Namibia, it is a global phenomenon that needs to be addressed.
I could go on and on how this quote is relevant to Namibia.
To ensure happiness and well-being, it is important to have a solid and comprehensive hierarchy. If one part is missing, chipped, cracked or there remains gapping holes, then it is hard to ensure one’s happiness and well-being. No wonder people have lost touch with themselves and resort to actions as well as chemicals to compensate for what is missing.