Socially Engaged Buddhism

[Amelia]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

:lol:

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

But on a tangent, I'm so happy Socially and Buddhism are getting marrrrieeed. Isn't that SWEET!

Me, too. I'm really pulling for those kids......

Personally, I'll take a look at what Stephanie was doing, and I totally understand that we don't want to push anything on anyone. What I was thinking was something that would say, "we're from Treeleaf, a Soto Zen Sangha, and we support........". For example, and I'm just spit-balling ideas here, but I am extremely moved by the suffering in Darfur. So, perhaps a pamphlet could be made, approved by Jundo and Taigu, that gave a description of what's going on over there, the names of some charities or organizations providing aid and relief (having been thoroughly researched first of course) and what people can do by way of writing to politicians or such to try and spur action. Our sangha website address could be on the back saying something like, "Distributed by Treeleaf Sangha in the hope of compassion." with the web address below that. Maybe we could find something like that that we are moved by and each of us, in our individual countries, could pick a day and a public place to sit shikantaza with a sign and some pamphlets about the cause we are supporting.

Something like that. But let me look at the Stephanie thing and I'll see if I am qualified or capable....

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

We don't "proselytize" (at least, I don't wish to) or pull people in off the street with promises of a free toaster

Pro........prose.......pr......what? :lol:

[Amelia]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

Being an online sangha, we probably have a very diverse array of things we would like to support and do, and we will probably not all be able to agree on a single big thing to focus on for the year or month, although we may come pretty close.

We can represent the sangha and our teachings socially by just answering questions when we are asked, living the teachings, and perhaps taking up our own cause whenever we see fit.

We can discuss our actions with each other, and invite each other to join in, if they wish.

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

Being an online sangha, we probably have a very diverse array of things we would like to support and do, and we will probably not all be able to agree on a single big thing to focus on for the year or month, although we may come pretty close.

We can represent the sangha and our teachings socially by just answering questions when we are asked, living the teachings, and perhaps taking up our own cause whenever we see fit.

We can discuss our actions with each other, and invite each other to join in, if they wish.

There probably would be some discussion around what to support, but I think that we could come to a satisfying conclusion. If not, Jundo and Taigu could be the tie breakers, perhaps. Or we flip a coin. Or perhaps we focus on things in our own communities like helping the homeless or something. I respect living the teachings as a way to "lead by example", but I feel that this approach may be a bit too passive. The purpose of Socially Engaged Buddhism is to be engaged. Living the teachings and leading by example in our communities, to me, should be more of a.......side effect almost.....of our practice. We learn the Way, read the suttras, and hear the teishos, we practice the Way and imerse ourselves in the dharma, allowing the dharma to move through our veins and into our bones. The result of which is that we live our lives by the teachings, because what else could we possibly do? What I'd like to see is a more active approach to really do some good in the world. Something that speaks with the mouths of our Zen ancestors, with perhaps a little of the old Bodhidharma bluntess to it.

[Jinyu]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

The purpose of Socially Engaged Buddhism is to be engaged. Living the teachings and leading by example in our communities, to me, should be more of a.......side effect almost.....of our practice.

This is very interesting!
But it is also important to try to help others at our "own level", with our own possibilities... To stay down to earth and try to give or help people in a way that is useful!
I'm saying this because I tried to help associations and people I've met ... but very often my help wasn't really needed because I gave what I thought they need. I didn't really took the time to think about their needs and that is a pity because it is just a waste of time and energy for everyone!
Being useful to others, in a lot of cases, is, above all, listen to what people have to say! And I've found it way more difficult than trying to give the help they might need in my mind!

Sorry it is a bit out of the subject, :roll:
gassho,
Jinyu

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

Always wise, Jinyu.

Many bows.

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

We don't "proselytize" (at least, I don't wish to)

Jundo,

I just wanted you to know that I had to Wikipedia that word. ops:

But in seriousness, no I don't want to try to convert anyone or go knocking on doors like some of the churches around here do (had a real interesting conversation with a couple of gents who did just that). But I'd like to do something that makes a difference in the lives of those who need it, while at the same time providing information on our Way for those who want it. Free copies of some of Aiken Roshi's books, or the Heart Suttra or the Diamond Suttra, but mostly free blankets for the freezing, free sandwiches for the hungry, free compassion for those who need it.

[Hogen]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

The purpose of Socially Engaged Buddhism is to be engaged. Living the teachings and leading by example in our communities, to me, should be more of a.......side effect almost.....of our practice.

This is very interesting!
But it is also important to try to help others at our "own level", with our own possibilities... To stay down to earth and try to give or help people in a way that is useful!
I'm saying this because I tried to help associations and people I've met ... but very often my help wasn't really needed because I gave what I thought they need. I didn't really took the time to think about their needs and that is a pity because it is just a waste of time and energy for everyone!
Being useful to others, in a lot of cases, is, above all, listen to what people have to say! And I've found it way more difficult than trying to give the help they might need in my mind!

Sorry it is a bit out of the subject, :roll:
gassho,
Jinyu

I think this is spot on. We all look to live the precepts and in turn engage our world. In many ways, it is not the active and undertaking of large-scale social engagement; but the willingness to give what is needed, when it is needed, in the amount or means that is needed.

I remember living in Boston straight out of college and there was a homeless woman who sat out near an ATM near my apartment. On some says, she would ask for change, and if you had none, "how about a joke or a story then?" I always obliged. Once she asked for change, and when I said I didn't have any, she replied "well, I don't either". Her needs changed.

[Saijun]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

Or perhaps we focus on things in our own communities like helping the homeless or something. I respect living the teachings as a way to "lead by example", but I feel that this approach may be a bit too passive. The purpose of Socially Engaged Buddhism is to be engaged. Living the teachings and leading by example in our communities, to me, should be more of a.......side effect almost.....of our practice.

Hello,

Couldn't it be both? This very conversation is 'engaged Buddhism.' However, I'm curious to know what isn't: if one is a practicing Buddhist, and engaged in the day to day world, then the result is 'engaged Buddhism,' no matter what one is doing, right?

The desire to do something big can be motivated by great compassion. It can also be an outlet for ego: "Look at all the good I'm doing!"
Maybe it's just as good to buy a hungry man a sandwich as it is to open a soup kitchen. I think it all depends on skill, means, and motivation. Some people are capable of working on a grand scale, some on a more minute one. Maybe the question shouldn't be so much one of 'advertisement' (sorry, I know it's a poor word choice, but it's the only thing I can think of at the moment) as genuine good works.

I think, deluded as I am, that first and foremost we have to live the teachings. Everything else follows that. The first person one has to be compassionate to is oneself. Eventually, that great compassion will burst out like a dam giving way and spill in all directions! The precepts can transform us in both gross and subtle ways, if there is trust and sincere practice.

Ungan asked Dogo, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion (Kannon) use so many hands and eyes?”
Dogo said, “It’s just like a person in the middle of the night reaching back in search of a pillow.”
Ungan said, “I understand.”
Dogo said, “How do you understand it?”
Ungan said, “All over the body are hands and eyes.”
Dogo said, “What you said is all right, but it’s only eighty percent of it.”
Ungan said, “I’m like this, Senior brother. How do you understand it?”
Dogo said, “Throughout the body are hands and eyes.”

Much metta,

Perry

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

Hello,

Couldn't it be both? This very conversation is 'engaged Buddhism.' However, I'm curious to know what isn't: if one is a practicing Buddhist, and engaged in the day to day world, then the result is 'engaged Buddhism,' no matter what one is doing, right?

The desire to do something big can be motivated by great compassion. It can also be an outlet for ego: "Look at all the good I'm doing!"
Maybe it's just as good to buy a hungry man a sandwich as it is to open a soup kitchen. I think it all depends on skill, means, and motivation. Some people are capable of working on a grand scale, some on a more minute one. Maybe the question shouldn't be so much one of 'advertisement' (sorry, I know it's a poor word choice, but it's the only thing I can think of at the moment) as genuine good works.

I think, deluded as I am, that first and foremost we have to live the teachings. Everything else follows that. The first person one has to be compassionate to is oneself. Eventually, that great compassion will burst out like a dam giving way and spill in all directions! The precepts can transform us in both gross and subtle ways, if there is trust and sincere practice.

Sure, it could be both, the difference is impact. When we live the teachings, we can make an impact in the lives of some of the people we touch, and lets say out of every 100 people you interact with in a day, perhaps one is moved enough by it to do some good for others. Now, on the other hand, you live the teachings every day (because, truly, how else could you live?) and once a month, you distribute blankets to the homeless. Or sandwiches. Or you read a book at the children’s cancer ward. Or you march on Washington and sit with 10,000 others in peaceful zazen as a statement against tax cuts that benefit the rich but not the poor. How many could you reach, truly reach, then?

It isn’t a question of walking around in our kesa and rakusu, waiving pamphlets and books, “Suttras! Suttras! Get your Suttras, here!” But when I think about how many people out there espouse that they are Buddhist, if it is true, and the teachings fill them from teeth to toenails, how much good, real tangible suffering alleviating good, could be done? We practice for all beings, to whose salvation from suffering we dedicate the merit of our practice, but as Aitken Roshi once said, “Sentient beings cannot survive on merit alone.”

It is a fine line between doing good to do good and stroking the ego, but I believe that as practitioners of the Way, we would make sandwiches for the homeless with Kannon’s hands. And to my mind, the Precepts are not so much transformative as they are reflections of what is already in our hearts.

[Keishin]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

hellos to those posting here

So much to read, I skimmed and so do not have detailed responses for specific posters: just an observation

why not date buddhism for a while and then consider going steady before getting engaged?


While on one retreat I realized walking around empty-handed, my hands were always free and available to help wherever I happened to be and whatever circumstance I found myself in. My hands were also free to do nothing.

In my 'civilian' life with purse and carryall, my hands are already full, or mostly full: they are not doing much, but they are busy, and not free to help unless I set aside what I am carrying.

In some ways this seeking of worthy endeavors to engage oneself in as a buddhist is carrying around an idea of responding to needs.
The need to be needed. The need to be seen as a good buddhist being good, doing good as a buddhist.
Talk about stink!!

Get rid of buddhism, get rid of good. These are ideas.

A full breast doesn't consider itself to be 'buddhist' The infant's cry of hunger--is not a buddhist infant or a buddhist hunger, the flowing milk has no concern with the buddhism of the breast it flows from or the mouth/belly it flows into; nothing buddhist about the milk of human kindness.

If I'm not too preoccupied in my thinking, then I can see, hear, feel what is around me and respond/act appropriately with and to others. If something is beyond my ability alone, then sure, organize with another/others.

[chicanobudista]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

Personally, I admire all the good work the people at Zen PeaceMakers are doing (http://www.zenpeacemakers.org/). I'd say it is an example to follow. Pity there is not anything similar in Barcelona...

As an aside, just as a reminder, we should support with what we can (time, bling-bling, etc) to those groups we think are worth the investment. From an email fund raising I received from ZPM, they were hurting for funds and will be selling their Montague Farm Zen House. Invest. A tree needs sustenance to grow. So do our organizations that carry their work at the grassroots level.

[Heisoku]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

Hi Keishin,
I personally cannot compare to your description of socially engaged Buddhism....my giving is and has not been that selfless...however I have committed to someone who does act that selflessly...who doesn't 'smell' of religion... and knows when to step in and what to do.
We were socially engaged, then married, still are!!
I think you are wholly right..each individual being an individual doing the right thing at the right time can only serve to inspire others...even on a small scale. I know I have been. It only needs this to reach a critical point to generate wider change. I think it was a Theravadan monk who pointed out to me that 'social engagement' isn't Buddhism, but something that accords more with universal law.
I think when you are open to your surroundings and the people around you, then you 'know' how to respond appropriately...I have experienced this at times, but I need to try taking zazen out more!

Thank you for reminding me of this really important point.

Gassho Nigel

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Socially Engaged Buddhism

I think you are wholly right..each individual being an individual doing the right thing at the right time can only serve to inspire others...even on a small scale.

I could not possibly agree more. But that's the thing though, isn't it. Each individual doesn't "do the right thing" (even though there is no right or wrong thing to do, and no one doing). That's really my whole point. If the teachings were more widely disseminated in the West, maybe more people would individually "do the right thing" or rather, do that which coincides with their original Buddha nature, free from the delusions and attachments of the self that cause them to act for their own benefit. And what better way to introduce the teachings then by living them by example, and activily engaging in things that will allieviate some of the suffering in this world?