Another example of how Metta may have a real and measurable effect across vast distances ... at least from a Buddhist Perspective. Please follow this reasoning (at least, Zen "non-Reasoning" 
), Bryson.
Yesterday, I saw a tragic story in the news which touched my heart. A mother and her two sons were killed when a plane crashed into their house near Washington D.C., leaving a widowed father and one surviving young son. I was heartbroken. There was also nothing I could do to help these people, of course. I do not even know them, and they are on the other side of the world from here in Japan. So, it seems that all I can do is offer "Metta" and such, wishing the survivors to be free of suffering. How ineffectual in purely physical terms!
But then I read this note that the father posted on facebook:
Now, here is the funny thing. First, just knowing that people, even unseen strangers, are offering things like prayers and well wishes seems to offer some small drop of comfort to this family.
Next, my offering Metta may soften my heart such that if, sometime in the future, I see someone in my own community whom I can physically help ... a cold homeless man, another parent and child in need ... maybe I will be able to physically help them in a more "solid" way. There is my chance to actually do something! Wishing well to and feeling compassion for the people across the world, I prepare my heart to take action here where I can.
But next (and here is where the Mahayana "logic-non-logic" comes in ... in a "self and others are not two" way ) ... in a very real sense, the family in Washington, the homeless man and families here in my own community are not two. Helping here, I help there. She is not me nor you, nor is here the same as there (of course!) yet She -is- We -is- I -is- You ... Helping Them, I help All. When I help the homeless man or people in my town, I help the fathers and sons everywhere. I am a "first responder".
Further, in a very real sense, the hands of the "firefighters, police and other first responders" are the hands of the praying and well-wishing "friends, neighbors and the community", your hands and mine. We are that poor family, and they are us and our closest loved ones, not two. I speak not only about us as some shared "community" or as "citizens of the same society" (although there is most certainly that aspect too), but in a most intimate sense from a Buddhist Perspective. They flow into you and you into them.
It is a bit hard to understand, but I wrote this once about Kannon of 1000 Arms ... Kannon is often depicted with 1000 arms and eyes, seeing and reaching out toward suffering wherever it manifests. Truly, those hands and eyes are OUR hands and eyes each time we act with Compassion.
A little more here ...
Gassho, J
), Bryson.Yesterday, I saw a tragic story in the news which touched my heart. A mother and her two sons were killed when a plane crashed into their house near Washington D.C., leaving a widowed father and one surviving young son. I was heartbroken. There was also nothing I could do to help these people, of course. I do not even know them, and they are on the other side of the world from here in Japan. So, it seems that all I can do is offer "Metta" and such, wishing the survivors to be free of suffering. How ineffectual in purely physical terms!
But then I read this note that the father posted on facebook:
Now, here is the funny thing. First, just knowing that people, even unseen strangers, are offering things like prayers and well wishes seems to offer some small drop of comfort to this family.
Next, my offering Metta may soften my heart such that if, sometime in the future, I see someone in my own community whom I can physically help ... a cold homeless man, another parent and child in need ... maybe I will be able to physically help them in a more "solid" way. There is my chance to actually do something! Wishing well to and feeling compassion for the people across the world, I prepare my heart to take action here where I can.
But next (and here is where the Mahayana "logic-non-logic" comes in ... in a "self and others are not two" way ) ... in a very real sense, the family in Washington, the homeless man and families here in my own community are not two. Helping here, I help there. She is not me nor you, nor is here the same as there (of course!) yet She -is- We -is- I -is- You ... Helping Them, I help All. When I help the homeless man or people in my town, I help the fathers and sons everywhere. I am a "first responder".
Further, in a very real sense, the hands of the "firefighters, police and other first responders" are the hands of the praying and well-wishing "friends, neighbors and the community", your hands and mine. We are that poor family, and they are us and our closest loved ones, not two. I speak not only about us as some shared "community" or as "citizens of the same society" (although there is most certainly that aspect too), but in a most intimate sense from a Buddhist Perspective. They flow into you and you into them.
It is a bit hard to understand, but I wrote this once about Kannon of 1000 Arms ... Kannon is often depicted with 1000 arms and eyes, seeing and reaching out toward suffering wherever it manifests. Truly, those hands and eyes are OUR hands and eyes each time we act with Compassion.
A little more here ...
Gassho, J
Gassho,
Bryson
sat today
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