We need a revolutionary movement of left wing, right wing and center together. Yes, it sounds impossible, even counter-intuitive.
How can so many different people of different values change the world together?
In fact, Buddhism may offers some lessons how.
In a monastery, a Sangha, people of all political persuasions, backgrounds and personal beliefs come together and live together, practicing in peace and cooperation, working as a single body. They are often very different people, and there can be frictions, but differences are put aside. The Buddha and the old Zen Masters taught rich and poor and all classes, kings and peasants and in between, all very different yet all welcome to practice and learn.
In fact, the whole universe contains left, right, center and all directions, and is boundless too, holding all ...
... what Buddhists of old called "Dharmas (things) in the Ten Directions."
So, I would like to see a political movement like that. Though Buddhist inspired, it need not even be only Buddhist, for people of all religions, all creeds and no religion or particular creed would be welcome. You are even welcome if you believe that your God is the right one and other Gods are not, that your social views are the right ones and others are dead wrong, that your opinion on sex or marriage is right and other ways sinful. People of all colors, all nationalities, LGBTQ and folks who personally believe there are only two sexes, those who believe in "right to choose" and others who support "right to life," Israelis and Palestinians, Ukrainians and Russians ... room for all even if convinced that those who disagree are misguided.
All will fit under a single roof. It sounds nearly impossible! HOW COULD THAT BE!?
Actually, all will fit under a single roof ...
.
.
-IF- we agree on a few basic principles.
What are those?
223 is inspired by the Buddha's Teachings in Dhammapada Verse 223, emphasizing peace, goodness, charity and the avoiding of dishonesty. Other religions and philosophies profess much the same.
First, there has be non-violence and non-aggression in words and actions even when we agree to disagree. Civil discussion and calm, respectful debate must return to our society in discussing things. In fact, the only folks banished from 223 would be those who engage in angry violence, hateful disparagement, and disrespect of others. Monks speak calmly among themselves, and abide in harmony, even where viewpoints disagree. We know how to see beyond opinions, free of "me vs. you."
Second (this is hard for many today), we should respect true expertise, education, science, evidence and calm reasoning when conducting our discussions and debates. We must value truth, not merely victory in argument, innuendo and manufactured memes. That does not mean that all need agree, but we must value reputable and well-grounded information from respected sources without an agenda beyond truth. In the monastery, those with many seasons of practice, with a reputation for being balanced, compassionate and wise, are valued over those who are new, dishonest or shallow.
Third (this is also hard for many today), we must each be allowed to practice our own beliefs, lifestyles and values in our own safe place, even if you do not agree with someone else's choices. If consenting adults there by choice, if nobody is being hurt, everyone should be allowed to love and live with others as they choose. That does not mean that I must approve of your lifestyle, whether alternative, traditional, dull or downright antiquated, but neither should I make it my business. If I do not like how you love, I should simply look away. If there is some place where your values might be thrust upon me, we must work out ways to minimize such things, with a spirit of patience and compromise. (I heard a joke recently: "How do people of 5 different genders share two bathrooms?" ANSWER: "Take turns. Like people of two genders and one bathroom.") In fact, this is not like the monastery much, where all were celibate. But it is like our sitting places, with mine here and yours there, each person with their own place.
Fourth, even if we disagree on the methods to achieve so, we must all work together so that the poorest and most vulnerable in society and the world do not fall too low, and that all people have a basic right to food, water, equal educational opportunities, access to good medicine, decent work in a healthy environment, their own home (and homeland) where they can reside by choice in a safe place free from violence. All people of this world should be treated with respect and dignity by all others who share this world. We can disagree on how to attain these goals, with different economic or political policies. However, we should agree to work for such a society. In the temple, all have a right to a safe place to sit, sleep and practice, healthy food, clothing, medicine, opportunities and education, ideally to be bestowed fairly. Like monks cleaning a temple, we should also vow to protect this planet, keep it clean.
Fifth, because we will disagree on the details, we must build political systems that we can trust. Money should be removed from politics, and replaced instead by decency, with leaders who are not out for themselves, but instead, have the people's best interests truly in heart. This will be the place of true revolution, overturning the present state of affairs. My simple method (all too simple, just a dream) would be to appoint a "Senate of Elders," an "upper house" of scientists, economists, historians, philosophers and other scholars, church leaders from dozens of varied denominations as well as skeptics with no religion, award winners in their respective fields in the arts, literature, architecture and social causes. Create an A.I. system to select them fairly, with balance and diversity. Seats would be reserved for voices from across the political spectrum too. Prime minister and cabinet would be drawn from there. There would also be a "lower house" popularly elected by all citizens, one person one vote. However, in this system, policies would be determined exclusively by the wise people of the "Senate of Elders," with the popular, lower house granted only veto power over upper chamber membership and the decisions of the same, enough to stop, delay or bring change. (This notion is, in fact, inspired by the traditional governance structure of Asian monasteries in which elder priests make the decisions, but the entire body of monks will check and protest any abuse by group voice and consensus.)
While far from a perfect system, it would be better than what exists in any country today.
If we can play together by a few rules like that, we can all share our family, friendships, work place, town, country and whole planet with the folks with whom we disagree, even strongly.
Master Dogen spoke of a universe holding all directions and beyond all directions, left right and everyway. In Shobogenzo-Tsuki he wrote of the moon's Wholeness which shines and holds all things, all differences and all directions ...
,
The Ancient Buddha said, '
One mind is all dharmas and all dharmas are one-mind.
Therefore, the mind is all things. All things are one mind.
Because the mind is the moon, the moon is the moon ...
the entire universe is the entire moon. The whole body is the whole moon. ...
The ten-direction world is the up and down,
the left and right of the moon.
The present activities in our daily lives are
the bright hundred grasses [all variety and differences] within the moon ...
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Gassho, J
stlah
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