the situation in burma

[Gregor]

I'm decided that I want to join the USCB ( United States Campaign for Burma) they have individual memberships, but also the opportunity to create a community chapter.

Would anyone be interested in creating a Treeleaf Sangha chapter? I'm not sure how well things would work out considering how spread out we are, but it might be a great way we can join together for dana/Samu purposes. If anybody is interested let me know either via this forum or email me (address is on my profile) --- If enough people are interested I'll email the folks at USCB, and see if they are up for it. Perhaps it wont work because we are not a localized group. . . If not, those of us interested can just join as individuals. Just an idea but I'd like to keep moving ahead on this issue and not turn away from it.

gassho,

Greg

[Jundo]

Most of the time my actions have the wrong effect. Most of the time my head is clouded with things that I should do. Unfortunately I am at a point in my practice where I am unsure of what to do.

If you witnessed a small child run into the middle of a busy road, your instinct likely would be to do something to save it. Most people would agree that doing so is the 'Right' or 'Moral' thing to do. Yet, years later, that child you saved could turn into a human monster, responsible for the deaths of many people and great suffering. Or, that child could become a great healer, responsible for helping many hundreds of other people. You do not know. In other words, we cannot see the distant results of our actions, no matter how well meaning.

All we can do at any instant is ask ourselves whether, in our hearts, we believe our actions will likely do harm to ourselves and others, be helpful to ourselves and others, or be neutral. All we can do is take our best guess, following our hearts, knowing that helpful conduct will be perhaps more likely to be helpful, harmful conduct more likely to do harm. We should know too that no action will bring about results purely good or bad, for everything is a mix.

When it comes to doing what is right, the only way to do that is through practice. In my practice I am not at the point where I can write letters or take action. My practice at the moment is learning to be mindful.

Perhaps I will go back to the mountain and pick up some of the garbage for samu

Gassho Will

We do not know the consequences of our actions. Sometimes, taking no action is the right course, and taking action is the wrong course. (For example, at the time of the Tian'anmen slaughter, I was a lawyer in the US and had just come back from China. I helped get permits for demonstrators in the US, helped some of the student dissidents in the US with some immigration issues, even hooked up some anti-Castro groups in Miami with the Chinese students, thinking that the Cubans could teach the Chinese kids a thing or two on working the political system in Washington and media. When in law school in China, I had also taught a course on the American constitution, secretly, to a group of Chinese law students, one of which was killed or disappeared during Tian'anmen. I do not think my little class was anyhow responsible for Tian'anmen, don't get me wrong, but I may have helped along that bunch of kids getting themselves in trouble or killed. Years later, I came to regret it ... My reasons are complicated, but to make a long story short, I came to no longer believe that China was then ready for some naive form of democracy as the students were advocating at that time, that China did and still does require a firm hand and a slow evolution to reforms, that the students would have only brought chaos ... not democracy. If I had it to do over again, I do not think I would have done it the same way. My 'best guess' on how to act would have been different)

Now, Will, for your situation ... our practice is 'non-doing', it is not 'not doing'. Sometimes, it is perfectly good for us not to involve ourselves in some things that other people involve themselves in (for example, sometimes our Buddhist response to political debate should be to take NO opinion ... having no stance IS a stance).

However, our Practice should never be an excuse for running away, laziness and being passive. That is why "Samu' involves going out and taking what, we believe, is helpful action AND doing so in a way we somewhat resist. So, do not ever take Zazen as an excuse to sit on your fat, lazy ass.

Yes, you should go back out to that mountain and pick up some garbarge. That, or some equivalent work that is rather against what you would want to be doing (e.g., riding your skateboard). Do it BECAUSE IT HURTS a little.

Our Way is one of moderation, so no need to give your life to that mountain, quiting your job to become a park ranger. But, yes, you should do daily and weekly work that you believe helps people.

Greg, if you believe that the USCB might be helpful conduct, please do gather information for us.

Gassho, Jundo

[Gregor]

Greg, if you people that the USCB might be helpful conduct, please do gather information for us.

Sorry Jundo, not quite sure what you're saying there?

But, I'll send them an email in the morning asking if they think a community chapter would work for us.

[Jundo]

Hi Greg,

Should read ...

Greg, if you believe that the USCB might be helpful conduct, please do gather information for us.

We also never now for sure what our fingers will type despite our mind's best intent.

Gassho, J

[Gregor]

Okay, I guess I got the jist anyway.

I'll write them in the morning, gotta get my butt into bed.

[will]

Then, what is right action Jundo? Does that exist?

Gassho Will

[Jundo]

Then, what is right action Jundo? Does that exist?

Gassho Will

Hi Will,

Yes, it most certainly exists. 'Right Action' is an action which we sincerely believe in our hearts is likely not to do harm, and hopefully to be helpful, to ourselves and others.

In other word, 'Right Action' is usually seen as action which is intended to be in keeping with the Precepts. Since the Precepts are guideposts to helpful and healthful conduct, and since our heart is the only true judge of a person's intent, the heart defines 'Right Action'.

If you are thinking that your Buddhist Practice will always tell you whether to order Item A or Item B on the Menu of Life, it will not. It might help you get a better grasp on what is 'harmful' and 'healthful' conduct (e.g., that promiscuous sex is very likely to be harmful, same for excessive smoking, meat eating, alcohol drinking), but it will provide few specific answers in many gray areas of life (Should I be a vegetarian or eat a little meat?). The heart can only make its best guess, I think.

That is 'Right Action'.

If you want more specific answers, with more black&whites and fewer gray areas, please talk to a Theravada practitioner, the Pope, a Wahhabi Muslim, or an Ultra-Orthodox Jew. They will give you much more specific 'do's' and 'don'ts'.

Gassho, Jundo

[Jundo]

Someone wrote to ask about a person who thinks in their heart that they are keeping the Precepts, but may not be ... for example, some Buddhists who supported of the Japanese military during WWII and who equated killing Chinese in the war effort as no violation of the Precept against Killing.

Guess what: It is another gray area!

In their hearts, if they were sincere, we might say that they were maintaining the Precept.

On the other hand, the interpretation is so extreme, that likely something is wrong. For example, they likely did not understand the true meaning of Peace and the value of human life. It is much like someone who is stretching the the Precepts to excuse unlimited drug use and promiscuous sex (hey, it happened during the Hippie 60's of Buddhism). They may be sincere, but it is likely that they have misunderstood the meaning of moderation and 'harm' to body and mind. So, there, they clearly overstepped the outer boundaries of the 'guidelines.' I think.

Gassho, Jundo

[paige]

The latest from Ko Htike's Blog

Telephone conversation with a members of public

Er… they shot… people got killed. Er…but it seems like it wasn't as
bad as yesterday in terms of number of deaths, however we will know
the accurate picture tomorrow. Er… la another disturbing news is
that er… I would like to know if you would inform BBC and CNN about?
(sob!!!) They burned the injured protesters/civilian people in the
YaeWay Crematorium la la . Er… the staff from crematorium told this,
crying, to the people who went to the funeral service. Please let
this known to CNN and BBC. Thank you!!

From The Buddhist Channel

Letter of Appeal from from Venerable Ajahn Sumedho
The Buddhist Channel, Sept 30, 2007

I am making a statement of support and sympathy for the heroic efforts of the Buddhist Monks, Nuns, Students, and all the Burmese Laypeople who are peacefully protesting against the injustice and oppression of the present government of Myanmar.

It is very confusing and distressing to witness a government which claims to respect the Buddhist religion react to a peaceful protest in such a violent and brutal way.

I have always held the Sangha in Burma with great respect. I ask the present government to listen to the Sangha and to seek a way of reconciliation in accord with the Dhamma which will be for the welfare and happiness of all.

I send all my blessings to the peaceful protesters and my compassion to the Government of Myanmar which has strayed so far from the wisdom and compassion of the Lord Buddha.

[will]

Jundo

If you want more specific answers, with more black&whites and fewer gray areas, please talk to a Theravada practitioner, the Pope, a Wahhabi Muslim, or an Ultra-Orthodox Jew. They will give you much more specific 'do's' and 'don'ts'.

I get it. Thanks.

I truly do feel for this situation. My reaction is of shock and sadness, but I don't see how writing a letter will help. Maybe it will. Everyday I meet people and a lot of the time (especially in China) people tend to have a narrow view. Very black and white sometimes. Especially when it comes to "foriegners". This is something I've been dealing with for 5 years. Seeing how people just focus on something. Like I'm not a human being. My practice has helped in this respect, but everyday I see people spitting, and throwing garbage. It has really opened my eyes to how people can be. My practice most of the time is dealing with this. Dealing with the way people presume things because I have different skin color. Now, I live here quite carefree, but sometimes someone will focus on something I'm doing for no other reason than because I have a bigger nose and I find that I start to contract my attention at them instead of opening up. It has been a great leap for me to be able to not care what others think of me.

Today I met some people on the mountain. We smiled at each other. I said Ni Hao. They obviously saw me as a foriegner. I kept walking.

Through my practice I also influence my students to not have such a great divide between someone from a country other than China. My practice helps with this. The more intimate and human I can be, the more my students don't judge me by the color of my eyes. I have seen the progression from foriegner! foriegner! in my classes before to just Will now. Also my teaching has improved as well.

I wasn't using practice as a reason to "sit on my fat ass" I am doing what I feel I should do from my experience. However, thank you for your words.

Most of my days are spent sitting and studying the Dharma. However, today I specifically went to the mountain to practice with nature. To get out. I sat on a rock practicing for 15 minutes and made a video that I will post on the forum. I was open. Lately my practice has been different. My head, stomach and limbs are not so tense and I am not focusing on my thoughts as much. I used to live in my head all the time. Now that is clearing a bit, but I feel that I need to practice more before I can make any decision such as writing letters to Burma.

Gassho Will

[Gregor]

Harry, Jundo et al

I'm sure there are groups all over working to help out the people in Burma, after looking into things I'm not sure if forming a chapter would work out, it seems to work best for a local group. We can still work together to share information, and encourage each other to write letters, ect.

I'm going to join individually and send some money, gonna forgo a new set of fiddle strings in order to send the $60 to help the people in Burma, I also think Amnesty International is a great organization for people interested in the issue of human rights, it offers a lot of opportunity to get involved and support people besides just sending money (writing letters, emails, ect).

I used to get very frustrated and upset looking at the cruelty in this world, but now I just try to forge ahead and do the little that I can to help, clean my house, go to work, maintain my practice ect. Live moment to moment, nothing else is guaranteed.

May you all be happy,

Greg

[Jundo]

Hi,

Some email questions I received today make it clear that I was not clear about something. I will talk about this as the subject of the 'Sit-a-Long with Jundo' blog talk today too.

I said that 'our heart' is the final judge of whether something is 'Right Action', because we judge by the heart that some action is likely to avoid harm, and be helpful. I believe that. However, I should say too that our continuing Buddhist Practice, over days and months, reforms the heart and makes it a better judge ... it makes the heart more likely to be drawn to action that keeps the Precepts.

So, for example, our Zazen allows us to become less angry, less self-centered, less greedy, more peaceful ... and all that results in a heart better able to live a life without anger, greed, sexual misconduct, etc. Something like that. The Precepts support our Practice, our Practice supports the Precepts (via changing our heart).

Also, "following the heart" does not mean that "whatever we like goes" (one person asked if I meant that). Sometimes, for example, we must "bite the bullet" and strive to keep the Precepts even though it is not "fun", even though we might rationalize doing something else, even though my heart might go along. A bit of self-denial is good. So, for example, I avoid sexual misconduct even though my stupid "Little Stupa" in my pants is tempting me otherwise, and even though my brain will try sometimes to 'rationalize' such a breaking of the Precepts. Something like that.

Gassho, J

[Rev R]

Hey Jundo,

Would it be fair to say practice helps cultivate the intent to do no harm (or if the situation demands, as little harm as possible) and that through practice we can get to a point where the deliberation over right and wrong ceases and our natural reaction becomes not to cause harm?

Rodney

[Eika]

Some traditions (maybe the Vajrayana??) say that practice is a way of training one's intuition. So that when confronted with a choice, one is able to intuit the right thing to do. This sounds to me like a similar idea.

Best,
Bill

[Jundo]

Hey Jundo,

Would it be fair to say practice helps cultivate the intent to do no harm (or if the situation demands, as little harm as possible) and that through practice we can get to a point where the deliberation over right and wrong ceases and our natural reaction becomes not to cause harm?

Rodney

Good timing! Please see today's talk on 'Sit-a-Long with Jundo'

http://treeleafzen.blogspot.com/2007/10 ... right.html

I don't know if the hard choices 'cease', as much as we become better judges. Life still presents us with new crossroads, moment by moment.


Gassho, Jundo