The Brazilian crisis and the dark dimension

10/06/2018 Leonardo BoffDeixe um comentário

The over-all Brazilian crisis, that affects every sector, can be understood in different ways. The sociological, political and historic interpretations have prevailed up to now. I will try to present an interpretation derived from the C. G. Jung categories of his illuminating analytical psychology.
I have already advanced the hypothesis that the present situation is not a tragedy, no matter how perverse the consequences of establishing a ceiling on expenditures (PEC 55), that is more than a freeze are for the majority of the poor and the future of the country; it signifies the impossibility of creating a Social State and, with that, disposes of the common good, that includes everyone.
A tragedy, as the Greek tragedies show, always ends bad. I do not believe this is the case of Brazil. I believe we are in the middle of an unprecedented crisis of the foundations of our society. The crisis refines, purifies, and allows a qualitative leap towards a higher level of our historic evolution. We will be better and with a more integrated identity when we emerge this crisis.
Everyone, including those who revel in their history, among others, recognize two dimensions: the dimension of darkness, and that of light. Others speak of the demens (demented) and the sapiens (wise) or of positive and negative forces, of the order of the day and the order of the night, or of the thanatos (death) and the eros (life), or of the repressed and the enlightened. These dimensions always come together and coexists in each other.
The current crisis has revealed the darkness, and all that our society has repressed for centuries. As Jung would observe «to recognize the darkness is indispensable for any type of self realization and, because of that, it is generally met with powerful resistance» (Aion &14). The darkness is an archetype (guiding image of the collective unconscious) of our scars and wounds and of the repugnant facts we try to hide because they fill us with shame and guilt. It is «the dark side of the vital force» that touches persons and entire nations, the psychologist from Zurich observes (&19).
Thus, the scars and wounds that constitute our repressed and shameful acts, such as the genocide of the indigenous peoples throughout our history and to the present; the colonization that made Brazil less than a nation, but a great international enterprise of exportation that, to tell the truth, also continues to the present. We could never create our own autonomous project because we always accepted being dependent or because we were restrained. When such a project began to be formulated, as in the recent progressive governments, it was soon attacked, slandered and forestalled by yet another coup by the moneyed classes, descendants of La Casa Grande, a coup always hidden and disguised such as the coups of 1964 and 2016.
Slavery is our main shame, because for centuries we bought and sold millions of human beings brought forcefully from Africa, and treated as “things.” Once liberated, those human beings received no compensation, land or tools for work, or housing; they live in the favelas of our cities. Blacks and mestizos constitute the majority of our people. As Jesse Souza very well showed, the contempt and hatred directed against the slaves has been transferred to their descendants of today.
According to Darcy Ribeiro and Jose Honorio Rodrigues, the people in general, have given us the best of our culture, language and arts, but as Capistrano de Abreu well underlined it, the people were «castrated and castrated again, bled and bled again», considered useless and ignorant and therefore marginalized to the point that they would never get out.
In A Portrait of Brazil: an essay on Brazilian sadness, (Retrato de Brasil: ensayo sobre la tristeza brasilera,1928), in an exaggerated form but partly true, Paulo Prado writes about this dark aspect of our history, and concludes: «We live sad in a radiant land», Interpreters of Brazil, (Interpretes de Brasil, vol.2 p.85). This reminds me of Celso Furtado’s question that he carried to his grave without an answer: «Why are there so many poor people in such a very rich country?» We now know why: because we were always dominated by elites that never had a plan for a Brazil for everyone, only a Brazil for themselves and their wealth. How can it be possible that 6 multi-millionaires have more wealth than 100 million Brazileans?
The current crisis has caused our darkness to explode. We discovered that we are racists, prejudiced, that we are living a social injustice that cries to God, and that we have not yet been able to re-establish a different Brazil on other bases, principles and values. Hence the irruption of rage and violence. It does not come from the majority of the Brazilian poor. It is spread by the dominant elites, supported by the means of mass communication that form the Brazilian imagination with their soap operas and disinformation. To Jung «the totality that we want is not perfection, but a complete human being» (Ab-reação, análise dos sonhos e transferência & 452) that does not repress the darkness, but integrates it into a dimension that is greater than light. That is what we wish for, as a way out of the present crisis: do not repress the darkness, but include it, consciously, in our everyday life, overcoming antagonisms and exclusions, to live together in the same Brazil that Darcy Ribeiro used to say was «the most beautiful and smiling province of the Earth».

Leonardo Boff Eco-Theologian-Philosopher Earthcharter Commission

Free translation from the Spanish sent by
Melina Alfaro, alfaro_melina@yahoo.com.ar.
Done at REFUGIO DEL RIO GRANDE, Texas, EE.UU.

The Brazilian crisis and the dark dimension

04/06/2018 Leonardo Boff1 comentário

Everyone, including those who revel in their history, among others, recognize two dimensions: the dimension of darkness, and that of light. Others speak of the demens (demented) and the sapiens (wise) or of positive and negative forces, of the order of the day and the order of the night, or of the thanatos (death) and the eros (life), or of the repressed and the enlightened. These dimensions always come together and coexists in each other.

The current crisis has revealed the darkness, and all that our society has repressed for centuries. As Jung would observe «to recognize the darkness is indispensable for any type of self realization and, because of that, it is generally met with powerful resistance» (Aion &14). The darkness is an archetype (guiding image of the collective unconscious) of our scars and wounds and of the repugnant facts we try to hide because they fill us with shame and guilt. It is «the dark side of the vital force» that touches persons and entire nations, the psychologist from Zurich observes (&19).
Thus, the scars and wounds that constitute our repressed and shameful acts, such as the genocide of the indigenous peoples throughout our history and to the present; the colonization that made Brazil less than a nation, but a great international enterprise of exportation that, to tell the truth, also continues to the present. We could never create our own autonomous project because we always accepted being dependent or because we were restrained. When such a project began to be formulated, as in the recent progressive governments, it was soon attacked, slandered and forestalled by yet another coup by the moneyed classes, descendants of La Casa Grande, a coup always hidden and disguised such as the coups of 1964 and 2016.

Slavery is our main shame, because for centuries we bought and sold millions of human beings brought forcefully from Africa, and treated as “things.” Once liberated, those human beings received no compensation, land or tools for work, or housing; they live in the favelas of our cities. Blacks and mestizos constitute the majority of our people. As Jesse Souza very well showed, the contempt and hatred directed against the slaves has been transferred to their descendants of today.
According to Darcy Ribeiro and Jose Honorio Rodrigues, the people in general, have given us the best of our culture, language and arts, but as Capistrano de Abreu well underlined it, the people were «castrated and castrated again, bled and bled again», considered useless and ignorant and therefore marginalized to the point that they would never get out.

In A Portrait of Brazil: an essay on Brazilian sadness, (Retrato de Brasil: ensayo sobre la tristeza brasilera,1928), in an exaggerated form but partly true, Paulo Prado writes about this dark aspect of our history, and concludes: «We live sad in a radiant land», Interpreters of Brazil, (Interpretes de Brasil, vol.2 p.85). This reminds me of Celso Furtado’s question that he carried to his grave without an answer: «Why are there so many poor people in such a very rich country?» We now know why: because we were always dominated by elites that never had a plan for a Brazil for everyone, only a Brazil for themselves and their wealth. How can it be possible that 6 multi-millionaires have more wealth than 100 million Brazileans?

The current crisis has caused our darkness to explode. We discovered that we are racists, prejudiced, that we are living a social injustice that cries to God, and that we have not yet been able to re-establish a different Brazil on other bases, principles and values. Hence the irruption of rage and violence. It does not come from the majority of the Brazilian poor. It is spread by the dominant elites, supported by the means of mass communication that form the Brazilian imagination with their soap operas and disinformation. To Jung «the totality that we want is not perfection, but a complete human being» (Ab-reação, análise dos sonhos e transferência & 452) that does not repress the darkness, but integrates it into a dimension that is greater than light. That is what we wish for, as a way out of the present crisis: do not repress the darkness, but include it, consciously, in our everyday life, overcoming antagonisms and exclusions, to live together in the same Brazil that Darcy Ribeiro used to say was «the most beautiful and smiling province of the Earth».

Leonardo Boff Eco-Theologian-Philosophe and of thr Earthcharter Commission

Free translation from the Spanish sent by
Melina Alfaro, alfaro_melina@yahoo.com.ar.
Done at REFUGIO DEL RIO GRANDE, Texas, EE.UU.

Encounter with Lula in prison: spirituality and politics

19/05/2018 Leonardo BoffDeixe um comentário

As of May 7th, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had spent 30 days in prison. For the first time, he was allowed to receive visits from his friends. I had the honor of being the first to visit him, due to our friendship of more than 30 years, and that we share the same Causa: Liberating the impoverished, and reinforcing life’s spiritual dimension. I fulfilled the evangelical precept: “I was in jail and you visited me”.

I found him as we knew him before he was imprisoned: the same face, hair, beard… only somewhat more slender. Those who hoped to see him angry or depressed must be disappointed. He is filled with energy and hope. His cell is large, very clean, with built-in-cupboards, and a bathroom and shower in an enclosed space. The first impression is good, even though he lives in isolation because, other than his lawyers and children, he can only talk with the guard, who is of Ukrainian origin, gentle and attentive, who has become his admirer. He brings Lula his food tray, more warm or cool, and coffee whenever he requests it. Lula does not accept the food his children bring him, because he wants to eat as the other prisoners do, without any privileges. He has his time to take in the sun. But lately, when he does that, drones appear overhead. As a precaution Lula leaves, because the purpose of those drones is unknown: to take photos of him, or perhaps something more sinister..

Among our discussions of politics, the most important was our conversation on spirituality… Lula is a religious man, but of the popular religiosity, for which God is existential evidence. I found him reading one of my books, The Lord is my Shepherd, (from editorial Voces) a commentary on the famous Psalm 23, the most read of the Psalms, which is also read by other religions. He felt fortified and confirmed, because the Bible is generally critical of pastor/politicians, and praises those who care for the poor, the orphans and the widows. Lula feels that he belongs in that line, with his social policies that benefited so many millions. He does not accept criticism as being a “populist.” Lula says: “I belong to the people, I come from the people and direct my policies, as much as I can, towards the people”.

At the head of his bed there is a crucifix. He uses the time of solitary confinement to reflect, meditate, to review so many things in his life, and to deepen the fundamental convictions that give meaning to his political actions, all that his mother, Lindu (whom he considers his protector and inspiring angel), often repeated to him: always be honest, and struggle and struggle more. Lula sees in that the meaning of his personal and political life: a struggle that everyone may have a dignified life, and not just a few at the expense of the others. “The greatness of a politician is measured by the greatness of his Causa”, he emphatically told me. And the Causa must be to make a life for everyone, starting with those who have the least. For that reason, Lula does not accept definitive defeat. Nor does he want to fall on his face. He does not want to fail, but to remain always faithful to his basic purpose, and to make of politics a great tool for organizing a life of justice and peace for all, especially for those who live in the hell of hunger and misery.

This dream has an undeniable ethical and spiritual greatness. It is in the light of these convictions that Lula maintains his tranquility, because he says and reiterates that he lives for that interior truth, one that possesses its own strength, that one day will become evident. “I only hoped”, he commented, “for it to happen after my death, but it is already happening, even now, while I am alive”. He becomes profoundly indignant at the lies spread about him, based on which they have mounted the triplex procedure. He wonders: “How can these persons consciously lie and sleep in peace?” He challenges Judge Sergio Moro: “show me a single shred of evidence that I own the triplex of Guaruja; If you show me one, I will renounce my candidacy to the Presidency”.

He asked me to pass a message on to the press and the people in the encampment: “I am a candidate. I want to carry on with rescuing the poor, and to create social policies in their favor, State policies, and that the costs –that are investments– are in the budgets of the Union. I will radicalize these policies for the poor, with the poor, and to dignify our country”.

Meditation has made him understand that prison has a meaning that transcends him, me, and the political disputes. It must be the same price that Gandhi and Mandela paid, with prison and persecution, to reach what they accomplished. “This I believe, and hope”, he told me, “that this is what I am going through now”.

I who came to encourage him, left encouraged. I hope that others are also encouraged. and shout “Free Lula!”, against a Justice that does not manifest justice.

Leonardo Boff Eco-Theologian-Philosopher anda of theEarthcharter Commission

Free translation from the Spanish sent by
Melina Alfaro, alfaro_melina@yahoo.com.ar.
Done at REFUGIO DEL RIO GRANDE, Texas, EE.UU.

I was in jail and you didn’t let them visit me

05/05/2018 Leonardo Boff1 comentário

There is a very dramatic scene in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, dealing with the Last Judgment, namely, when the final destiny of every human being is revealed. The Supreme Judge does not ask to what Church or religion the person belonged, whether the person accepted the dogmas, or how often the person attended the sacred rites.
That Judge will look to the good and tell them: “Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: I was naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to see me… every time you did this for one of my little brothers and sisters, you did it for me…and when you did not do it for one of the smallest ones, you did not do it for me” (Gospel of Saint Matthew, 25, 35-45).
What counts in this supreme moment is what we do for those who suffer in this world, and not the preaching. If we have cared for them, we will hear those blessed words.
This was experienced by 1980 Argentinian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel, (1931), who is an architect and well known sculptor, a great activist for human rights and the culture of peace, as well as being profoundly religious, and my supporter. Perez Esquivel asked the Brazilian judicial authorities permission to visit former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his friend of many years, in jail. I personally witnessed the events noted here.
Perez Esquivel called me from Argentina and on Twitter the conversation is summarized, in sort of a youtube. We would go together, because in 2001 I had received the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize (The Right Livelihood) from the Swedish Parliament. But I told Perez Esquivel that besides embracing a friend of more than 30 years, my visit was to fulfill the Gospel precept, “visit the one who is jailed”. I wanted to reinforce the tranquility of the soul Lula has always maintained. Shortly before he was arrested, he assured me: my soul is serene because nothing accuses me, I feel like a carrier of the truth that possesses its own strength and will manifest itself in due time.
Perez Esquivel and I arrived in Curitiba at different times, on April 18th. We went directly to the great auditorium of the Federal University of Parana, that was already filled with people, for a debate on Democracy, Human Rights and the Brazilian crisis that had culminated with Lula’s jailing. There were university authorities, Celso Amorim, the former Minister of Foreign Relations, representatives of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Sweden, and other countries. Beautiful Latin American songs were sung, especially those sung by the magnificent voice of actress and singer Leticia Sabatella. The Afro-descendants danced and sang in their outfits of beautiful colors.
There were several speeches. As if by magic, the general discouragement gave way to an aura of goodwill and hope that the parliamentary-juridical-news media coup would not succeed in determining the future of Brazil. Better yet, that a cycle of domination of the backwards elites would close with the opening of the path to a democracy from below, participant and sustainable.
Before the meeting we had been told that Judge Catalina Moura Lebbos, the right hand of Judge Sergio Moro, had forbidden the visit we wanted to make to President Lula.
Judge Lebbos did not realize the great significance of being a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. That person has the privilege of traveling all over the world, visiting jails and places of conflict, to promote dialogue and peace. This is supported by the 2015 Document from the United Nations called “The Mandela Rules”, about the Prevention of Crimes and Criminal Justice. That Document also touches on visits to prisoners. Brazil was among the most active countries in formulating The Mandela Rules, but does not follow them in her own territory.
But it was in vain. Judge Lebbos stood firm. The following day, April 19th, we arrived at the encampment where hundreds stood in vigil at the Federal Department of Justice, were Lula is jailed. They shouted to him, “Good morning, Lula”, “Lula free!” and other words of encouragement, hoping that he could hear them perfectly from his cell.
There were police everywhere. We tried to talk with their chief, seeking an audience with the Superintendent of the Federal Police.
The answer was always the same: you cannot, orders from above. After insisting, with telephone calls coming and going, Perez Esquivel received an audience with the Superintendent. He explained the reasons for the humanitarian and fraternal visit to an old and dear friend. But no matter how Perez Esquivel argued and referenced his title of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, recognized and respected worldwide, he always heard the same old song: You cannot. These are orders from above.
And so, dejected, we returned to be with the people. Personally, I insisted that my visit was purely spiritual. I had planned to give him two books, The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing, a detailed commentary that really nourishes trust. And one by Carlos Mesters, our most articulate exegeta, The Mission of the People who Suffer, describing the helplessness of the Hebrew people in the Babylonian exile, how the Prophets Isiah and Jeremiah consoled them, and how those Prophets fortified the meaning of their suffering and hope.
The Federal Police Department prohibited everything. Not even a note could be sent to President Lula.
Among the people who spoke were representatives of several groups that support Lula’s candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize, especially a couple from Sweden. Perez Esquivel and I also spoke, reinforcing the hope that in the end, it is this powerful energy that sustains those who struggle for justice, and a different type of democracy. Perez Esquivel announced that he had launched a worldwide campaign to propose Lula as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. There are already thousands of signatures from all over the world. Lula meets all the requirements for the Prize, especially for his social policies that lifted millions of people out of hunger and misery, and for his consistent work for social justice, the basis for peace.
There were many interviews by national and international means of communication. Photos of the event began to be published worldwide, and solidarity came from many countries and groups.
There we came to understand that in effect we live under a regime of exception, in the form of a “golpe blando” that confiscates freedom and denies fundamental human rights.
The spiritual pettiness of our Judges of the Lava Jato and denial of the guaranteed right of a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate to visit his prisoner friend in the spirit of pure humanity and warm solidarity, shames our country. This only corroborates the fact that we effectively are under a regime of exception that negates democracy.
But Brazil is bigger than her crisis. Purified, we will come out better, and proud of our resistance, of our indignation and, starting in the streets and the elections, our courage to retake a rightful State.
We will never forget the sacred words: “I was in jail and you didn’t let them visit me”.

Leonardo Boff Eco-Theologian-Philosopher and of theEarthcharter Commission

Free translation from the Spanish sent by
Melina Alfaro, alfaro_melina@yahoo.com.ar.
Done at REFUGIO DEL RIO GRANDE, Texas, EE.UU.