[ENGAGED] Non-political, political kindness

[Ankai]

With the world going increasingly crazy, there are still some things we can do for people who are being marginalized in one way or another by all the things happening politically.

We can let the LGBTQ community know that they're safe with us. We do not have to comment in any way shape or form on what any of us happens to think of other people's sexual identity. All we have to do is let them know that they can talk to us and we have no interest in looking at them as anything other than people.

The immigrant Community is frightened. We don't need to go into personal or individual thoughts about immigration in and of itself. What we should be doing is looking at these folks as people. They may be afraid to go out of their homes. They may be afraid to do simple things. We can do things like go to the grocery store for them, so that their kids don't go hungry. We can pick up their medication for them and drop it off. We can let them know, quietly, that if their kids are on their way home from school and something is happening they can come to our homes and be safe until it ends.

There are probably a lot of other things we could do, but these are things we could do just for other human beings without even really giving any thought to the political issue involved.

The price of gas at the pump is going through the roof. People who have the means might want to think about offering to pay for the person behind them at the gas pump. Certainly not everyone can do that, but for those who can, imagine how great it would feel to pull up to the pump and find out it's already taken care of.

With the cost of everything from gas to groceries to electricity going through the roof, it is very likely that the cashier at the grocery store or Walmart has been taking some serious abuse. They're understaffed, underpaid, and the price of everything they sell is going crazy. A simple pause to look one of these people in the eye and say something like, "thanks, you're doing a great job" could be huge.

I'm not saying anything new, and this isn't a particularly comprehensive list. Just suggesting putting our aspirational Bodhisattva-hood at the forefront.
Basically, we can embrace the principle that basic kindness isn't political.

...but- maybe, just maybe, it can be contagious

ST
LAH

[Jundo]

Lovely. Beautiful advice on a person to person level.

I remind folks that it is not about how we might feel regarding this social policy or that.

It is simply a matter of, when seeing a hungry or scared being, offering food and comfort to a fellow being if one can.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Hoseki]

With the world going increasingly crazy, there are still some things we can do for people who are being marginalized in one way or another by all the things happening politically.

We can let the LGBTQ community know that they're safe with us. We do not have to comment in any way shape or form on what any of us happens to think of other people's sexual identity. All we have to do is let them know that they can talk to us and we have no interest in looking at them as anything other than people.

The immigrant Community is frightened. We don't need to go into personal or individual thoughts about immigration in and of itself. What we should be doing is looking at these folks as people. They may be afraid to go out of their homes. They may be afraid to do simple things. We can do things like go to the grocery store for them, so that their kids don't go hungry. We can pick up their medication for them and drop it off. We can let them know, quietly, that if their kids are on their way home from school and something is happening they can come to our homes and be safe until it ends.

There are probably a lot of other things we could do, but these are things we could do just for other human beings without even really giving any thought to the political issue involved.

The price of gas at the pump is going through the roof. People who have the means might want to think about offering to pay for the person behind them at the gas pump. Certainly not everyone can do that, but for those who can, imagine how great it would feel to pull up to the pump and find out it's already taken care of.

With the cost of everything from gas to groceries to electricity going through the roof, it is very likely that the cashier at the grocery store or Walmart has been taking some serious abuse. They're understaffed, underpaid, and the price of everything they sell is going crazy. A simple pause to look one of these people in the eye and say something like, "thanks, you're doing a great job" could be huge.

I'm not saying anything new, and this isn't a particularly comprehensive list. Just suggesting putting our aspirational Bodhisattva-hood at the forefront.
Basically, we can embrace the principle that basic kindness isn't political.

...but- maybe, just maybe, it can be contagious

ST
LAH

That was wonderful!

I think sometimes in our individualist societies we feel like we're personally responsible for fixing every problem and taking a stand on every issue. I think it's OK to just be a helper. If we don't take a stand on every issue or not have a particularly strong opinion on this or that. There are already plenty of people doing that. One less person isn't likely to be noticed. But when someone needs help one person may be able to make a big difference. If you feel like have to take a stand try to think of it in terms of reducing the suffering of those involved.

I write this for myself and anyone else who feels overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction taking place all around us.

Gassho,

Hoseki
sattoday/lah

[Tairin]

Wonderful Ankai I really like what you wrote. Thank you.

I often come back to the “All of Life is our Temple” myself. It is a great approach to Life-Practice


Tairin
sat today and lah