Reflections on a Tragedy

It seems like from the beginning, Seung Cho never had a chance. His family, relatives and classmates all describe his inability to relate and communicate that began basically from the time he was born. There are a lot of things we don't know about Seung and his mental/physical history that apparently caused him to brutally kill so many people. He appeared to be quite delusional, and may possibly have suffered from Asberger's Disorder, which is marked by severe impairments in social interaction manifest by a failure to develop peer relationships and an inability to share and interact with others. Nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures, are typically also impaired. By most accounts, those appear to have been some of his symptoms.

We can only speculate. In the end, we just don't know. All we know is that Seung Cho became hell-bent on destroying everything in his path. What possibly could have helped this young man? More psychological help? Some form of meditation or other spiritual practice? I've asked myself this, and of course no answers have appeared. It is entirely possible that nothing would have or could have stopped him.

Perhaps then, we should turn the tables and ask, how about our own meditation or spiritual practice? What is it good for? Why do we do it? And who do we do it for? Maybe that is what we should be questioning. Because ultimately, his failings are our failings. His suffering is our suffering. There is no "Seung Cho" apart from ourselves. Somehow I feel there will be no understanding until we realize this.