Karma, Kindness and Neo-Nazis

[Jundo]

The famous quote attributed to Buddha in the Dhammapada ...

"He insulted me, hit me, beat me, robbed me" — for those who brood on this, hostility isn't stilled. "He insulted me, hit me, beat me, robbed me" — for those who don't brood on this, hostility is stilled. Hostilities aren't stilled through hostility, regardless. Hostilities are stilled through non-hostility: this, an unending truth. (Verses 3-5, Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu)

Gassho, J

STLah

[Hoseki]

Hi guys,

I think its our role in the greater scheme of things is to try to deescalate conflict. But what do we do when we feel anger at an injustice? Fascism certainly leads to injustice. For example, we are experiencing an ecological crisis with climate change and yet we have politicians who deny it currently but in the past have said its an issue. How do we handle that? What do you do with people who argue in bad faith? Or who want to create policies that will lead to the suffering of others?

At the end of the day I don't want anyone to suffer. I just don't know what to do with people who do?

Thoughts?

Gassho
Sattoday/lah

[Mp]

At the end of the day I don't want anyone to suffer. I just don't know what to do with people who do?

How quickly do you remove a bandaid? Whether fast or slow, you are still going to create suffering and/or pain. But this is not your intention. Intention I feel is this most important. Right intention comes from a heart that is compassionate, empathetic, open, accepting, kind, patient, etc ... when we come from that place of equanimity we are looking at the end "goalless goal" if you will and not the current outcome(s).

Sometimes we have to be stern in that moment (parenting is a great example for that) ... in doing so not all folks will like it, but if are intention is for the benefit of ALL, then that sternness is what is needed at that time.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Hoseki]

How quickly do you remove a bandaid? Whether fast or slow, you are still going to create suffering and/or pain. But this is not your intention. Intention I feel is this most important. Right intention comes from a heart that is compassionate, empathetic, open, accepting, kind, patient, etc ... when we come from that place of equanimity we are looking at the end "goalless goal" if you will and not the current outcome(s).

Sometimes we have to be stern in that moment (parenting is a great example for that) ... in doing so not all folks will like it, but if are intention is for the benefit of ALL, then that sternness is what is needed at that time.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Thank you Shingen,

Gassho
Hoseki
Sattoday/lah

[Daiyo]

Sorry for bumping this, but there is something really important about to happen in South America these days.

Brazil, one of the most important countries in the region, and the biggest economy, is electing its president next Sunday.

The candidate who has more chances to win is well known (and voted) for his hatred speech; he has said that he would prefer a dead son than a gay son, has spoken ill about the LGBT community and threatened to jail, or kick all opposition out of the country.
He has told a former minister that he would not rape her because she didn't deserve it, has spoken against women's equality of rights and many awful things more, even speaking in favour of torture and saying that Brazilian military dictatorship fell short of killings, that they tortured too much and didn't kill enough. All of this is documented and got viral in the social networks. His campaign gesture is to put his hands as two guns pointing and of course he is in favour of death penalty and the use of weapons among the citizens. He has many supporters in Argentina too. Europe is also seeing a rise of right wing movements.

How can one cope with this kind of situations when the majority of people around are so influenced by the mass media that they would happily choose murder to fight alleged theft?
Should one just ignore everything for the sake of acceptance? How to avoid feeling despair?

I'm finding really hard to focus on practice with all of this happening around me and that is one of the reasons I gave up for some months. The world was always a violent place, but now I'm hearing the gunshots in my neighbour's backyard.
On the other hand, I know that practice helps me to cultivate equanimity, which is much needed, so I need to figure out what to do.


Gassho.


ST

[Kyoshin]

Sorry for bumping this, but there is something really important about to happen in South America these days.

Brazil, one of the most important countries in the region, and the biggest economy, is electing its president next Sunday.

The candidate who has more chances to win is well known (and voted) for his hatred speech; he has said that he would prefer a dead son than a gay son, has spoken ill about the LGBT community and threatened to jail, or kick all opposition out of the country.
He has told a former minister that he would not rape her because she didn't deserve it, has spoken against women's equality of rights and many awful things more, even speaking in favour of torture and saying that Brazilian military dictatorship fell short of killings, that they tortured too much and didn't kill enough. All of this is documented and got viral in the social networks. His campaign gesture is to put his hands as two guns pointing and of course he is in favour of death penalty and the use of weapons among the citizens. He has many supporters in Argentina too. Europe is also seeing a rise of right wing movements.

How can one cope with this kind of situations when the majority of people around are so influenced by the mass media that they would happily choose murder to fight alleged theft?
Should one just ignore everything for the sake of acceptance? How to avoid feeling despair?

I'm finding really hard to focus on practice with all of this happening around me and that is one of the reasons I gave up for some months. The world was always a violent place, but now I'm hearing the gunshots in my neighbour's backyard.
On the other hand, I know that practice helps me to cultivate equanimity, which is much needed, so I need to figure out what to do.


Gassho.


ST

Hi Daiyo,
I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you're having. I don't really have much to offer in terms of nice comforting things to say that make you feel better. Though if anyone else does, I wouldn't mind hearing it myself. But in terms of practice during these hard times, I can offer this talk from angel Kyodo Williams where she lays out an interesting perspective on practice in the face of oppression and hard times. The talk is ostensibly about Zen in the USA, but she talks for a bit about how the practice helped her. She describes how learning equanimity and accepting the reality of injustice allowed her to find the courage and motivation to work for change. I think it's a good perspective and pertinent to the challenges you're talking about. Hope you find it valuable. The link is here: https://youtu.be/mmO7RT_AOSE
Gassho
Nick
Satlah

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Mp]

Sorry for bumping this, but there is something really important about to happen in South America these days.

Brazil, one of the most important countries in the region, and the biggest economy, is electing its president next Sunday.

The candidate who has more chances to win is well known (and voted) for his hatred speech; he has said that he would prefer a dead son than a gay son, has spoken ill about the LGBT community and threatened to jail, or kick all opposition out of the country.
He has told a former minister that he would not rape her because she didn't deserve it, has spoken against women's equality of rights and many awful things more, even speaking in favour of torture and saying that Brazilian military dictatorship fell short of killings, that they tortured too much and didn't kill enough. All of this is documented and got viral in the social networks. His campaign gesture is to put his hands as two guns pointing and of course he is in favour of death penalty and the use of weapons among the citizens. He has many supporters in Argentina too. Europe is also seeing a rise of right wing movements.

How can one cope with this kind of situations when the majority of people around are so influenced by the mass media that they would happily choose murder to fight alleged theft?
Should one just ignore everything for the sake of acceptance? How to avoid feeling despair?

I'm finding really hard to focus on practice with all of this happening around me and that is one of the reasons I gave up for some months. The world was always a violent place, but now I'm hearing the gunshots in my neighbour's backyard.
On the other hand, I know that practice helps me to cultivate equanimity, which is much needed, so I need to figure out what to do.


Gassho.


ST

Hello Daiyo,

First, these are the times when practice is most important!!! We cannot control the actions of others, we can only influence others through our own actions. Politics is a hard game to play and can such the energy out of us, can make our minds go in so many directions. So really, the best for you to do and for others is to sit with all this uncertainty - it doing this you are going to work on you and how you interact and are affect by all of this political unrest.

Then when you are done sitting, done with finding stillness in your own heart, clarity in your own heart, you go out into the world and help people see and understand that clarity. But as you already know, we can lead a horse to water, but we cannot make it drink. It is what we do that makes a difference, not always the outcome of that effort (as we don't have full and total control).

I hope this helps ... but please remember, it is times like this that we need to practice, not only for others, but ourselves.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Kyonin]

Hi Daiyo,

Yes, what's happening in Brazil will make ripples in history and I know how hard it is to focus on practice… but you see, political problems and all those things we don't like about the world are also part of practice!

It's very natural to feel powerless and used when you see the news, but please keep in mind that the power of one and benevolence can change the future of humanity. If there's a lesson here is that we can't stop practice and our service. By helping others, donating time or money to organizations, by getting involved and teaching the young ones about kindness and compassion, you'll feel less helpless and more focused on our Bodhisattva vows.

So chin up, brother. We have a lot to do

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Jishin]

Hi Dayo,

Brazilians like Argentinians can be dramatic. The Romance languages are more expressive and passionate. His language is inflammatory but Brazilians settle their differences over soccer matches. It’s aggressive talk but that’s all it is. Just talk.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Daiyo]

Hi Dayo,

Brazilians like Argentinians can be dramatic. The Romance languages are more expressive and passionate. His language is inflammatory but Brazilians settle their differences over soccer matches. It’s aggressive talk but that’s all it is. Just talk.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

Hi Jishin, I wish I could be as optimistic as you are.
A woman was killed a few months ago in Rio de Janeiro because of her LGBT activism.
And there were many other violent incidents. The far-right candidate was stabbed himself during the campaign and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital.
I think that sort of things do not get solved over a soccer match, that sounds a bit underestimating. We can be dramatic but we do not have high school shootings.
However, violence in the region is escalating and it will be worse once they get the power.
Perhaps the candidate himself will not do such deeds, but his speech empowers a number of people to shift from words to action.

Gassho,

ST

[Shokai]

the candidate himself will not do such deeds, but his speech empowers a number of people to shift from words to action.

Sounds very familiar

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Jishin]

Karma, Kindness and Neo-Nazis

Hi Jishin, I wish I could be as optimistic as you are.
A woman was killed a few months ago in Rio de Janeiro because of her LGBT activism.
And there were many other violent incidents. The far-right candidate was stabbed himself during the campaign and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital.
I think that sort of things do not get solved over a soccer match, that sounds a bit underestimating. We can be dramatic but we do not have high school shootings.
However, violence in the region is escalating and it will be worse once they get the power.
Perhaps the candidate himself will not do such deeds, but his speech empowers a number of people to shift from words to action.

Gassho,

ST

Hi Dayo,

In many parts of Brazil a man is not considered gay if he is not a “bottom”. This is specially true of transgenders. I am sure the same holds true for Argentina and other Latin countries.

Crime and violence has risen in general in Latin countries due to increased concentration of wealth. This is not a local but a global problem.

History predicts the future and Brazil is extremity pacific regarding wars with other countries or civil revolutions. I can’t think of any wars with other countries or civil revolutions where blood was spilled but it has been 37 years since I studied Brazilian history. Maybe several hundred years ago when it gained independence from Portugal. Coup d'etats have been peacefull. “Soccer” is the weapon of choice.

I think that energy is better spent locally where I can make a difference.

2 days ago I voted to make a national impact which will make a global impact. It works like this. I can’t make a global impact, that makes a national impact that then impacts me. It begins locally.

Don’t worry so much about over there and worry about over here although here and there are all one.

Cheers! \ (•◡•) /

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Kokuu]

Perhaps the candidate himself will not do such deeds, but his speech empowers a number of people to shift from words to action.

I think this is a worrying trend. Both the election of Donald Trump in the US and Brexit vote in the UK has caused a rise in race based violence. When you have a leader, or leaders spouting anti-immigrant rhetoric, it empowers people to think they can take action. At the top there is usually a disavowal of the violence in spite of the words they have used but violence begets violence and hatred begets hatred.

I am sorry for the path that Brazil appears to be taking. As citizens in any country we have to help and support each other as much as we can and stand up for targetted minority groups. This seems to be a difficult time in the history of our planet (although I am not sure there has ever been a truly easy one) and kindness is more needed than ever.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-