Should Zen practitioners be politically active?

[Jundo]

Were this a Sangha in which we were all meeting and sitting together in the same physical space, I would admit nobody who was not fully vaxxed (as a matter of fact, I ask all participants in our Zendo in Tsukuba if they are fully vaxxed, and if not they cannot come in. Perhaps they might sit outside).

However, I would make an exception if someone was not vaxxed because their doctor advised them not to do so because of their personal physical condition. Fortunately, that is not too many people.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[JohnS]

And that would be your prerogative. Mine would be to happily not attend. I'm curious, do you also demand flu shots? Im not being sarcastic, it is a legitimate question. You don't really need to answer it, because, again, it is your prerogative. You are doing what you think is best, I just strongly disagree. Hopefully we can do that without me being condemned as a bad or non Buddhist.

Gassho

John

satlah

Were this a Sangha in which we were all meeting and sitting together in the same physical space, I would admit nobody who was not fully vaxxed (as a matter of fact, I ask all participants in our Zendo in Tsukuba if they are fully vaxxed, and if not they cannot come in. Perhaps they might sit outside).

However, I would make an exception if someone was not vaxxed because their doctor advised them not to do so because of their personal physical condition. Fortunately, that is not too many people.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Jundo]

Having lost two family relatives who died of Covid (my uncle and an in-law), plus friends and acquaintances, plus individuals who appear to have suffered long term effects from Covid, plus my reading of what reputable (emphasis on reputable) sources were advising (from Johns Hopkins, as of last summer) ...

Flu: The World Health Organization estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die of flu-related causes every year worldwide.

The COVID-19 situation continues to change, sometimes rapidly. Doctors and scientists are working to estimate the mortality rate of COVID-19. At present, it is thought to be substantially higher (possibly 10 times or more) than that of most strains of the flu.

... I believe that, during much of the pandemic, Covid was much more dangerous than the flu (there have been an estimated 7 million Covid deaths worldwide since the pandemic began). Now, thanks to vaccinations and other measures and treatments, that risk appears to have dropped somewhat.

I did not emphasize flu vaccines until Covid began. Since Covid began, I treat flu vaccines and Covid vaccines the same. Both are required to enter the Zendo, plus masks and distancing. I also want my child to go to school with other kids who have been vaccinated against such diseases as polio, measles, rubella and the like.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Jundo]

Hopefully we can do that without me being condemned as a bad or non Buddhist.

If you cannot take the vaccine because of a health condition, and your doctors advice not to, then I would not criticize.

If you will not take it when you could, but choose not to for reasons which disregard the indirect and direct risk you place on others, including the elderly and frail, I will condemn it. I would condemn it in the same way that I condemn drunk driving or shooting firearms in a crowded square ... because it places others at risk.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Jacob Janicek]

Living in Florida during the pandemic was like being in a madhouse. Everyone was telling you different things. Wear a mask, don't wear a mask. Quarantine, don't quarantine. Get the vaccine, don't get the vaccine. Businesses closed down while not being under any actual mandate to do so, other businesses refused to shut down while also not being under a mandate to do so. You would see exactly half of the people in any grocery store wearing a mask and the other half unmasked.

Me and my wife got the vaccine early since she works in healthcare and was able to pull some strings, I got a severe adverse reaction from the second dose, had to lay in a bathtub to stop the shaking. My wife developed appendicitis and needed surgery that same week, we'll never know if it was related to the vaccine or just a coincidence.

That being said, I've continuously encouraged my family to get vaccinated and still continue to do so, but two family members remain actively employed in the healthcare field with religious exemptions to this day. I can't help but sympathize with anyone who refuses to get vaccinated, being that social media algorithms will perpetually reinforce any cultural divisions and conflicts that generate engagement. I think it would be less of an issue if it weren't jobs and reputations being used as collateral.

Not to throw fuel on the fire, these are just my experiences. When I got the vaccine my attitude was it couldn't possibly be any more harmful to my health than some of the ridiculous things I did in my late teens/early 20s. And it most certainly wasn't.

Gassho,
Sat today

[Tokan]

When I got the vaccine my attitude was it couldn't possibly be any more harmful to my health than some of the ridiculous things I did in my late teens/early 20s. And it most certainly wasn't.

Hey thanks for that perspective Jacob

You know I work in health care, now and through the pandemic. With a bit of the black humour that often accompanies a job in healthcare, I could not help but laugh when people would enthusiastically tell me they would not put "that foreign substance" in their body, because "no-one knows what it'll do to you", while at the same time smoking crack/meth or any other substance they could lay they hands on.

This is exactly why we have the bodhisattva vows - no more need be said

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Shinshi]

Just one little point. History will write as it will. This has been a challenging time with many people trying to do there best under difficult - life threatening - conditions.

One thing to keep in mind is that attachment leads to Dukkha. And we can get attached to all kinds of things, including ideas and notions.

Just try to hold things lightly, and treat folks with different ideas gently.

If you think you know the "truth" you are probably wrong.

At least that is what I think today.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Will001]

To respond to the original qs, I think you should pursue the noble 8 fold path the best and most earnest way you can. If you've taken the precepts, the same.

If for you that means being politically active, then do that. There are lots of ways to embody buddhist ideals. I think the challenging part is not assuming that your way is best or that you have arrived at the correct answer.

Today it could be feeding a street dog, tomorrow it might be getting enough sleep ro properly take care of your family, next week it might be marching in the streets to protest state violence. It's specific to each one of us.

Sat

W

[Amelia]

To respond to the original qs, I think you should pursue the noble 8 fold path the best and most earnest way you can. If you've taken the precepts, the same.

If for you that means being politically active, then do that. There are lots of ways to embody buddhist ideals. I think the challenging part is not assuming that your way is best or that you have arrived at the correct answer.

Today it could be feeding a street dog, tomorrow it might be getting enough sleep ro properly take care of your family, next week it might be marching in the streets to protest state violence. It's specific to each one of us.

Sat

W

I like this. Thank you, Will.

Gassho
Sat, lah

[Kaisho]

As I get older and get deeper in practice and study in the dharma I've allowed my practice to inform my activism more. It's mellowed from radicalism to a much more productive form where I am informed by the compassion that arises from practice rather than a reactionary knee jerk response to talking heads. I find that the two, for me, are but one purpose though they are two separate and distinct things.

I would hope that politicians are able to tap into practice to be able to make clear and level headed decisions that go beyond trying to keep their job and actually helping the people in their area.

Gassho
Kaisho /Chelsea
Sat lah

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[Rich]

Since everyone is sharing their vaccine opi nions I’ll jump in. I am fully vaccinated. I feel safe in the crowd and have confidence in my immune system. I feel that vaccination is a personal choice and I don’t try to convince others of its benefits. If someone is not vaccinated, I don’t feel threatened by them and welcome them. I do feel sad for the millions that died because the vaccines were not available or they chose not to receive them

Sat/lah


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[Ankai]

I think the important distinction is whether we're talking about being "politically active" as simply being vocal about partisan politics, shouting at FOX or CNN as if it were a team sport, or, being politically active in the sense of using our ideals and ideas as part of practice to better the lives of those around us.
One could call politicians, Tucker Carlson or Rachel Maddow "politically active," but one could also call Bernie Glassman, Thich Nhat Hanh or Wavy Gravy the same.
There may be a way to do both, but my own preference is, in a world of Tucker Carlsons, I'd rather be a Wavy Gravy.

Sat.
Gonna sit.
On my way to lend a hand.