[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

[Ankai]

[ENGAGED]

I think a way we can be engaged is by using our own Treeleaf motto as a personal slogan, a challenge, a reminder, even a mantra...

"All of life is our temple."

For most of us who grew up in families that were in any way religious, on Sunday, or on the Sabbath, whether we went to a church a synagogue a mosque, a kingdom hall, or wherever with our families, the conduct of just about everyone involved was different. Dad didn't curse at church very often. Mom was dressed to the nines. And I was expected to behave in a way that was nearly impossible to achieve anywhere else. Every other kid in my neighborhood was the same. Come Sunday morning, there we would all be in our "church clothes," clean, smiling, polite, well behaved, even if it was on pain of death because grandma was watching from the row behind us...

All of life is our Temple.

How would I behave in the temple? How would I speak? How would I comport myself? How would I be dressed? What sorts of conversations would I be engaging in? To whom would I be defferential?
... Should that not be my behavior now?

I have mentioned before that I consider the sort of work I do an extension of my priesthood. If I truly believe that all life is our Temple, then this is the field in which I work, a ministry that I am called to. I don't think that's different for anyone.
All of our jobs supposedly require our full attention while we're on the clock. Treat it as practice. Parenthood certainly requires a greater level of dedication than almost anything else in the whole world. We can treat that as practice.

There's a verse that we recite when we put on our robes...
"Robe of liberation boundless, field beyond both form and formless, wearing the Tatagatha's teachings, vowing to save all sentient beings..."
I have to dress a particular way for work. I have to deliberately choose to wear clothes that make me look as non-threatening and non-authoritarian as possible. I put these things on so that I can be of greater service to other people. And I see nothing about that that is any less sacred or different than putting on my robes or my Rakusu. "... Allowing to save all sentient beings..." When I dress for work, even if it's just doing virtual counseling online, I've gotten in the habit of reciting that verse. Why not?

If I really believe that all life is our temple, what is different between me putting on my Kesa and a doctor putting on surgical scrubs? What's different from me putting on my Rakusu and a waitress putting on the apron that she wears to feed rooms full of strangers, and, more importantly, provide for her own family?

If all life is our temple, then every aspect of it can be a sacred, even a holy thing. "Chop wood, carry water..." Anything, done for others, is fulfilling our idea...
All of life is our temple.

Now ... If only I can start remembering that when I'm in traffic, or watching the news....

These are just my thoughts, not a teaching. I'm just another guy, figuring it out as I go. If I said something that works for you, great. Take everything I say with a big grain of salt...

ST
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