[Engaged] Thank You and More Please

[Seiko]

Hello!

I want to thank everyone who has posted here since I was asked to be caretaker of this corner of Treeleaf.

For reasons unknown the "Engaged and Charitable Projects Center" never really took off before. That's sad because this section could be full of stories of kindness every day. So, please don't go away without posting something here. The hands of Kanzeon are always occupied, through us, through you, doing good works, alleviating suffering wherever it is found. So we need to continually hear about it please. All our small actions do add up to something significant.

New treeleafers join us every day. It is up to us to show them that charity, volunteering, fund raising, compassion are integral parts of Zen practice. It is part of who we are. Let new folks arrive here to a vibrant community of people who care about each other, and strangers, and anyone in need, as well as animals, wildlife, global warming, equality, human rights.

So please don't stop now. Keep telling us about the old things you aways do and the new things you are passionate about. If you posted already, we need to hear more. If you kept quiet, we look forward to your first post.

You can post here directly or send a message to me (Seiko), Jundo, or any of our priests, or you can contact this guy for anonymous posting: https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tre...jo-bodhisattva

We await your stories of kindness. Please share.

Gasshō, Seiko, stlah

[Tensei]

Seiko, thank you for your kind reminders and caretaking!

I often have to remind myself that generosity doesn't have to monetary to be considered 'worthy.' So, along those lines:

I volunteer with a youth outreach organization whose goal is to increase the accessibility of STEM-related activities and programs.

I've also recently started helping with AV at my local Shin Temple.

Gassho,
Tegan
satlah

[Seiko]

Hi Tensei ,
You hit the nail right on the head there

...generosity doesn't have to be monetary...

Giving skills, time, labour (English spelling ) is extremely useful/helpful. Our time is precious. We even have a Precept for this : "VIII. To seek as you can, in this body and life, to refrain from stinginess in bestowing the Buddhist Teachings and all precious things."

My work as a University Chaplain is unpaid too, which is great, because I am not expected to suck up to my manager. Haha!

We'd like to hear about some of those STEM projects? What do you get up to?

Gasshō, Seiko, stlah

[Shonin Risa Bear]

The bit about monetary reminds me that before the Internet was cornered by career sociopaths, its value was produced largely by cheerful volunteerism, and that this is still a thing, as e.g. Wikipedia and this Treeleaf forum.

gassho, sat, some lah today, shonin

[Tensei]

Seiko, the wild-wild-west of University Chaplains!

Canada uses mostly British-English, too, so we have many u's. The word that throws me off is grey versus gray - I can never remember which is which.

Generally speaking, at our chapter we focus on providing resources and expertise to run labs in primary and secondary school classes where they otherwise might not be able to. For example, we recently ran a DNA extraction and antibiotic resistance lab at a local highschool. We brought equipment and reagents and a fleet of undergraduate volunteers to help the students work through the procedure and analyze the results. It was very chaotic, but quite fun.

Shonin - thank you for the reminder. It takes a big of wading through the mess of the current state of the internet, but there are pockets full of good people if you know where to look.

Gassho,
Tegan
satlah

[Seiko]

Tensei, sounds like you are making science fun. That's great.

Our Hindu Chaplain's daughter works at something similar - her role is getting all the right equipment set up in labs, prior to teaching sessions.

Gasshō, Seiko, stlah

[Tenryu]

Dear Seiko,

thank you for these encouraging words and for reminding us how central engaged compassion is to our practice.

I'd like to share a little of my own experience. For a while, I volunteered at our local natural history museum - not because of a professional background, but because during an internship the museum director discovered that I have some rather unusual, very specific interests, such as certain marine fauna from the Jurassic period. Before I knew it, I was helping wherever support was needed: in the collections, in museum education, and even in holiday programs. Introducing kids to dinosaurs is easy - getting them excited about prehistoric sea creatures is a whole different challenge, but it was always great fun. As soon as I have more time again, I hope to return and help out there once more.

At the moment, when time is scarce, I support Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) with small but regular donations. I appreciate their straightforward approach - simply helping where help is needed, without fuss. Because my financial situation is very tight, I used to think that small amounts wouldn't make any difference. That perspective changed after a conversation with a surgeon during an operation (broke my wrist) a few years ago (I tend to refuse general anesthesia and have no fear of medical procedures, so under local anesthesia there was plenty of time for conversation ): he told me that every little bit helps - even a small donation can translate into, for example, a cup of coffee for a tired doctor, sterile gloves, or a pack of medication. Since then, I’ve been happy to give a small part of what little I have to this cause.

Gassho,
Patrick
sat lah

[Jundo]

Just a reminder, for those who prefer anonymity in posting something, we have "Gojo Bodhisattva" who will post your story without name ...
.

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tre...jo-bodhisattva

But name or no name, nobody is taking much personal credit for what they do, big and small. The posts are simply examples to encourage others to do likewise or something like it. Also, big acts have effects, small effects, sometimes small acts have GIANT effects ... so any good task, big or small, has effects and can be a good example.

We'd like to hear from you.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Seiko]

Hi Tenryu I really enjoyed reading your post, thank you. And please keep doing everything you can. I think Médecins Sans Frontières also have a great record of how they put money to use, keeping overheads to a minimum and keeping management costs down. Aren't there websites that publish this information about various charities - Jundo didn't you mention this some time ago?

Patrick I am especially touched by what you said here:

I used to think that small amounts wouldn't make any difference. That perspective changed after a conversation with a surgeon during a few years ago: he told me that every little bit helps - even a small donation can translate into, for example, a cup of coffee for a tired doctor, sterile gloves, or a pack of medication. Since then, I’ve been happy to give a small part of what little I have to this cause.

That beautifully illustrates my point that even the smallest donation is valuable and can be put to good use. We are never helpless/powerless. Thank you for posting.

An aside - by the way, every time I mistype "Gasshō" it comes out as "Gandhi" - this is probably just coincidence, but I like to take it as a reminder that Buddhists should be interested in civil rights too.

Gasshō, Seiko, stlah

[Jundo]

Hi Tenryu I really enjoyed reading your post, thank you. And please keep doing everything you can. I think Médecins Sans Frontières also have a great record of how they put money to use with comparatively low overheads and management costs. I believe there are websites that publish this information about various charities - Jundo didn't you mention this some time ago?

Those charitable rating services (which themselves are reputable services ) are listed in the very top post of our "My Favorite Charities" list ...

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/introducing-my-favorite-charities/3571-engaged-what-is-my-favorite-charities-do-read-this-caution-before-donating

They are ...

CHARITY WATCH: THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHILANTHROPY


CHARITY NAVIGATOR

Gassho, J
stlah

[Dachi]

I had this typed out before the holidays and never hit post! Perhaps the delay will end up piquing someone's interest.

I’ve recently:
• donated money to our local police department and volunteer ambulance squad; a local school for children with learning differences; local food pantries; local library; local legal aid society; a certain online sangha; a public radio podcast production company that produces amazing content for kids (https://brainson.org/)
• helped raise money for the above-noted school
• contributed holiday gifts and daily sundries to families in need

I also devote part of my legal practice to providing pro bono services to a museum, a cycling educational organization, an environmental center, and other non-profit organizations.

Gassho, Jason
sat/lah

[Bion]

I had this typed out before the holidays and never hit post! Perhaps the delay will end up piquing someone's interest.

I’ve recently:
• donated money to our local police department and volunteer ambulance squad; a local school for children with learning differences; local food pantries; local library; local legal aid society; a certain online sangha; a public radio podcast production company that produces amazing content for kids (https://brainson.org/)
• helped raise money for the above-noted school
• contributed holiday gifts and daily sundries to families in need

I also devote part of my legal practice to providing pro bono services to a museum, a cycling educational organization, an environmental center, and other non-profit organizations.

Gassho, Jason
sat/lah

Oh, that is wonderful support you're offering to so many!!!

Gassho
sat lah

[Seiko]

I had this typed out before the holidays and never hit post! Perhaps the delay will end up piquing someone's interest.

I’ve recently:
• donated money to our local police department and volunteer ambulance squad; a local school for children with learning differences; local food pantries; local library; local legal aid society; a certain online sangha; a public radio podcast production company that produces amazing content for kids (https://brainson.org/)
• helped raise money for the above-noted school
• contributed holiday gifts and daily sundries to families in need

I also devote part of my legal practice to providing pro bono services to a museum, a cycling educational organization, an environmental center, and other non-profit organizations.

Gassho, Jason
sat/lah

Thank you Jason. I love your example of using your skills and expertise to help non-profits. Great stuff.

Gasshō, Seiko, stlah