How not to go under

[Bob-Midwest]

Conscious of keeping this short and on point:

What is offered in the teachings about being aware/with the overwhelming suffering of others (human, animal, planet); doing what we can to help; and yet not turning away voicing well worn platitudes or becoming overwhelmed?
I am reminded while reading "The Circle of the Way" - a history of Zen - that humans slaughtering humans is just what we do over and over. Now Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, US nationalism, etc.
I will abandon a practice before I use it as Mao's "Opiate of the masses."
I regularly sit Zazen, try to curb my own interior violence, volunteer and speak out. Is that it?

Bob
Sat/LAH

[Shinshi]

Conscious of keeping this short and on point:

What is offered in the teachings about being aware/with the overwhelming suffering of others (human, animal, planet); doing what we can to help; and yet not turning away voicing well worn platitudes or becoming overwhelmed?
I am reminded while reading "The Circle of the Way" - a history of Zen - that humans slaughtering humans is just what we do over and over. Now Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, US nationalism, etc.
I will abandon a practice before I use it as Mao's "Opiate of the masses."
I regularly sit Zazen, try to curb my own interior violence, volunteer and speak out. Is that it?

Bob
Sat/LAH

Hi Bob,

Well, to me that is the start. To me, Zen provides a solid foundation for deciding how to move forward - How to take action. We drop our attachments and try to see clearly the causes that produce the suffering. And then we decide what path we feel is best to follow. We vow to save all Sentient Beings but, for me, Zen doesn't proscribe exactly how that will be done. I think Zen helps us to see how we might impact the causes of the suffering that we see.

For me this has led me to try and work on helping folks that don't have enough food for example - and access to clean water. These are things that I feel I can have some impact on given my current life situation. Your path is likely something different.

I would say, just try to stay open to opportunities that might arise in your life. Take a plunge as they say at Zen Peacemakers.

Don't worry if it is the perfect path. Just start somewhere. None of us can fix the worlds problems. But maybe we can help fix a corner close to us.

To me the most important thing is to just keep showing up. Even if things don't work out in one area, try another. Just keep showing up.

I don't know if this helps, but this is how I deal with these questions.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Meishin]

Gassho
Meishin
stlah

[Bion]

I regularly sit Zazen, try to curb my own interior violence, volunteer and speak out. Is that it?

Allow me a few modest words here, please...
I think it is important to remain grounded in the reality of existence. The first Noble Truth is that suffering exists and that will not cease to be so. We only have our own actions, our own lives and practice to use to lead others to no suffering, so, as long as we use these well, we do enough. There is a wonderful verse in the Dhammapada that puts things in perspective nicely: "Hold not a deed of little worth, thinking 'this is little to me'. The falling of drops of water will in time fill a water-jar. Even so the wise man becomes full of good, although he gathers it little by little". Training ourselves in kindness, compassion, restraint, mindfulness, keeping the precepts, engaging in zazen, speaking up, volunteering... these are all tiny drops of water. All that's needed is constant dripping. The intriguing and engaging part of it all is that our practice is a continuous investigation of the myriad ways in which enlightenment can be manifested in each moment of existence... Our bodhisattva vows reflect that nicely when they speak of inexhaustible delusions we need to transform and infinite dharma gates to enter, or in other words, a boundless reality to perceive. Drip, drip, drip, my friend.. let your bucket fill up

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

Excellent responses from the folks above. Very very nice.

I would just add that we have had many members, and I have known other Zen practitioners, who are also social workers in Africa, E.R. physicians, fire fighters and police, urban social workers with the homeless and addicted, and many other jobs where they must take action to help people, and are also at risk of burning out.

I advise them to know the calm heart of a surgeon, relaxed and dedicated, calm within, fighting the disease even as they accept the disease profoundly.

In our way, we rediscover a way to know this world beyond me and you, friend or enemy, need and want, war and peace, life and death ... a Wholeness where nothing lacks, nor is ever lost, and there is no conflict possible. This is the other "faceless face" of our world.

Yet, we must act in this world of war and peace, life and death, lack and problems.

The Zen person comes to realize that the two faces of this world are not two, like two sides of a no sided coin. One comes to see the death and lack of this world as also deathless and ever whole. The Bodhisattva knows the evil doers of this world as like children who need correcting. There is no problem from the start, yet problems to fix ... together in the same instant.

It is this Peace and Wholeness which holds all the broken and bloody pieces of this world that Zen Wisdom and Compassion brings into our hearts.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Mujin]

Excellent responses from the folks above. Very very nice.

I would just add that we have had many members, and I have known other Zen practitioners, who are also social workers in Africa, E.R. physicians, fire fighters and police, urban social workers with the homeless and addicted, and many other jobs where they must take action to help people, and are also at risk of burning out.

I advise them to know the calm heart of a surgeon, relaxed and dedicated, calm within, fighting the disease even as they accept the disease profoundly.

In our way, we rediscover a way to know this world beyond me and you, friend or enemy, need and want, war and peace, life and death ... a Wholeness where nothing lacks, nor is ever lost, and there is no conflict possible. This is the other "faceless face" of our world.

Yet, we must act in this world of war and peace, life and death, lack and problems.

The Zen person comes to realize that the two faces of this world are not two, like two sides of a no sided coin. One comes to see the death and lack of this world as also deathless and ever whole. The Bodhisattva knows the evil doers of this world as like children who need correcting. There is no problem from the start, yet problems to fix ... together in the same instant.

It is this Peace and Wholeness which holds all the broken and bloody pieces of this world that Zen Wisdom and Compassion brings into our hearts.

Gassho, J
stlah

This exactly, Teacher. More and more, from sitting Zazen, I am seeing the whole suchness of the no sided coin through both eyes. One eye seeing the beauty and perfection , the Buddha view, of all things. The other eye seeing suffering, especially in the teens I counsel in a high school setting, some of those so young yet wanting to commit suicide. I embrace the one and act to save those being with the other.

Gassho,

Mujin

SatTodayLAH

[Bob-Midwest]

Just sit when sitting.
Just help when helping.
Heart still breaks for those without option of another view.

bob
sat, lah

[Jundo]

Just sit when sitting.
Just help when helping.
Heart still breaks for those without option of another view.

bob
sat, lah