Have you heard of Daheshism? Me neither. Not until Abu Imad mentioned Dr. Dahesh (“Astounder”) in passing the other day.
Apparently, a “Daheshist believes that all of creation is spread out over a multidimensional universe divided into three principal realms, each divided into 150 levels.” I don’t know about that, but it does sound a little bit like Lebanon.
Layer upon layer upon layer. Destroyed and rebuilt again and again, usually worse than before. And yet it endures. Now that’s truly astounding.
I’ve been binging on local news in this week of speedy developments; first, a new president, now a surprise prime minister, both promising a new chapter in Lebanon’s history, the first barely veiled as western facing, the other, slightly more complex and cryptic — all dominoes tumbling in the aftershock of Assad’s fall.
Many are elated. Many are promising the moon. But Hezbollah isn’t happy. And yet they seem to be realistic about the strength of their hand. They beat their chests but offer minimal challenge to the actual course of events. I find great wisdom in that.
It’s weird to hope. Might this tired place catch a break? Will people’s life savings finally amount to more than funny money some day? I’d like to hope. But I’m typing these words as the sound of Israeli drones is buzzing in my ear; they’ve been circling somewhere overhead for hours. What hope can coexist with that noise? Maybe I’ll get a clue before I leave.