How does our Zen Practice blend with taking a stand? Do we stay "beyond the fray" or speak out for what is right? I have been wrestling with this lately, like many folks. I have advocated leaving "politics" outside the door of our Treeleaf Sangha (LINK). In principle. I still believe so, and that we should speak civilly and gently to each other in the Sangha, agreeing to disagree, leaving most political debate outside. We must keep our eye on that transcendent realm beyond all opinions, beyond war and peace, me and you, right and left, rich and poor, need and satisfaction. One way to "rescue the sentient beings" is to teach the "sentient beings" to see this fact beyond all dualism.
Nonetheless, we must live in this world of rich and poor, war and peace. So, let us take a stand to help the poor and bring the peace. That is "rescuing the sentient beings" too. 'Nirvana' and 'Samsara' are Not-Two, Baby!
I say below that I "oppose" certain things, but I vow to do so in a non-angry way, in a gentle voice, advocating, marching and protesting perhaps, possibly some civil disobedience, but never violence. I also vow to never lose awareness of the Way beyond all opinions, beyond "me" and "you", to hold gently those opinions I do hold, and to keep the knowledge that we all share this world and deserve respect even when we disagree.
Not all Buddhists need agree with my views, and I believe that there are "Good Buddhists" who can be so with very different views. For example, while I support (with regret, as a necessary evil) the "right to choose", others may seek to preserve life by a "right to life." That is but one example.
But my view of the Precepts, Compassion, the Bodhisattva Vows and simple humanity call on my heart to advocate and work for the following general principles:
- I will work for a reasonable immigration policy, welcoming of people willing to work, contribute and live peaceably in my country.
- I will work for my country to welcome and offer aid and protection to innocent refugees fleeing war, oppression and disaster around the world.
- I will work against the persecution or singling out of any group or individual based on religion, socioeconomic class, nationality, race, age, non-violent creed, gender, sexual orientation or physical ability.
- I will work for greater income and living standard equality in my own country and around the world so that all people have access to safe housing, healthy food and sufficient clothing, good educational opportunities as well as high level health care.
- I will work for wise and compassionate governance by our leaders free of their personal corruption, the influence of money and vested interests over the good of general society, political oppression, the unjust use of violence, torture and imprisonment, denials of basic civil and human rights, and like injustices.
- I will work for greater protections for the environment, opposing aspects of our modern capitalist economies and addictive consumer society that have run to excess and threaten the health of this planet.
- I will work for peace and the elimination of war, including the elimination of nuclear, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction.
- I will work and call for all ethnic peoples of this world to have a place to call their home, equal economic opportunities and access to resources, and freedom from oppression and discrimination at the hands of other ethnic groups or peoples.
- I will work against the influence of hate groups and the spreading of unjustified fear in our societies.
- I will work for peace, tolerance and respect for all living beings.
- I will work for the enlightenment and well being of all sentient beings.
In such light, I advocate the following specific policies in my own country of birth, the United States, or in other places around the world:
- I will oppose the “building of a wall”, the shutting out of refugees, and the scapegoating of all Muslims or any group, and advocate a fair and realistic immigration policy.
- I will work for a fairer distribution of wealth and access to resources and opportunities in the American economy and worldwide.
- I will oppose attempts to weaken or abolish needed environmental protections, misuse of public lands and the like.
- I will oppose attempts to slash funding for education and assistance for the economically disadvantaged in their access to education.
- I will oppose the denial of basic housing, food, education and health care assistance to people who are at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
- I will support national health insurance, including access to high level health care for all those with economic need or pre-existing conditions which might deny them such access.
- I will support equal treatment, marriage rights and freedom from discrimination for people of all religions, socioeconomic levels, nationalities, races, ages, non-violent creeds, genders, sexual orientations or physical abilities.
- I will support common sense regulations on guns and, ideally, their treatment as a public danger to be highly restricted.
- I will support programs to combat substance abuse, and sufficient funding for public mental health programs in general.
- I will support programs to combat child abuse and domestic violence.
- I will support basic labor protections and a decent minimum wage and level of benefits for all workers.
- I will oppose the suppression of scientific research, be it on climate change or any other issue.
- I will support access to birth control for all and decent women’s health care, and (with some regret) abortion in the early months, or in cases of rape or to protect the life of the mother.
- I will oppose war unless clearly necessary for the protection of the greatest number of innocent lives and of civilized society, and will support the taking instead of all other reasonable means and measures to avoid war that are possible.
- I will oppose the influence of money on our political elections and governments, and advocate for campaign donation reform.
- I will oppose statements by politicians that make use of hate, scapegoating and the fanning of unnecessary public fear.
- I will oppose attempts to weaken the Geneva Convention or any denial of basic civil and human rights by any government or group.
- I will support a fair and just court and penal system, the humane treatment of prisoners and the abolition of capital punishment.
- I will oppose the violent and hateful actions and statements of organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, Nazi Party and other racial supremacists, or attempts to normalize their hatred.
- I will oppose attempts to demonize a functioning free press, and also oppose the attempt by certain groups of the “alt.right” posing as news media to engage in hate mongering, propaganda, the creation of fake or twisted stories and the like for purposes of political ideology, and will support professional and diligent conduct by the news media of all political views. I honor the generally high standards of our professional press corps.
- I will oppose the elimination or reduction of ethical oversight at any level of government.
- I will support more humane treatment of animals in farming.
- I believe that all people any place in the world, including in the Middle East, should be entitled to their own homeland should they desire, and access to resources and opportunity, so that all may live in peace.
- I will seek a world in which, someday, the Western countries do not support as allies tyrants and dictators in other countries
…. and more to be added to this list …
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
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