Metta for All in the Orlando Shootings

[Martpr72]

It's such a shame that this is my first post on the forum.

Metta to all those involved and affected by the terrible events. Indeed we are all affected by this.

Gassho,
Mart

Sat2Day


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[Kyonin]

Thank you Jundo.

Sitting for all victims of the divisive mind.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Joyo]

Metta to the Orlando victims, metta to the 19 women who were burned last week by ISIS.

This world can be an unbelievably cruel place. Sitting, and painting, in honour of all victims of such tragedies.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[lorax]

In light of Jundo's observation. "We sit and offer Metta for a future time and world in which such events will not happen, and none of this will be necessary." I have added the following which was a post I made on FB to try an express the idea that what happened in Orlando is not something new, it is an action that has occurred before and will occur again. We can only hope we can contribute to a future time when greed, frustrations and disagreement will not have violence as a failed solution.

I’m usually not very political on social media, but I have to vent. While shocked and troubled by the events in Orlando I keep having problems with the headlines of all the news services, ”Orlando Nightclub Attack Was Deadliest Mass Shooting in U.S. History”. Almost immediately the events at Sand Creek Colorado in 1864 came to mind. An expanding country was frustrated with the Native Americans occupying the best land for settling. Things had to change, and when resistance to resettlement was met, violence was the chosen tool. The Colorado Volunteers in less than eight hours shot, killed and mutilated over 120 old men, women and children. The rational? Open the planes to settlement.
The events at Orlando struck me more like Sand Creek Massacre than the terrorism motive espoused by the press and our politicians. A young man finds that a segment of our society offends him or is in opposition to his beliefs of what society should be, and finds justification for a violent response.
So much is on social media promoting extreme views, “my way or the highway” views, need for civilian militia, etc. How far are we from the mentality of the Colorado Volunteers in their rational to effect complete anialiation of the Cheyenne peoples encamped at San Creek?
Something to contemplate anyway, Peace

SAT TODAY

[Meishin]

Gassho
Meishin
Sat today

[Eishuu]

Metta to all those involved and I really hope that people do not respond to this with yet more intolerance and hate.

Gassho
Lucy
Sat today

[Daitetsu]

What a terrible tragedy.
Will sit for the victims and their families.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

[Emmet]

"Thinking about the people of this floating world
far into the night-
My sleeve is wet with tears."
Ryokan

[Ongen]

Ongen

Sat TOday

[Jakuden]

Already seen the "response to terror" video too many times. We are all one. Metta to those who suffer, whether they be perpetrators or victims of violence. May they be at peace.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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[Gokai]

Thank you Jundo,

Metta to all the victims and their families.

Gassho,
David

Sattoday

[Ishin]

Metta to all. A friend of mind said she was praying for the victims, and I responded that everyone here is a victim even the perpetrator of such awful actions. Think about what awful ignorance and hatred must fill an individual to do such a thing. She said she hadn't reached "the level to pray for the victim too". I don't really see it as a competition or leveling up but maybe awakening. Either way I just let her sit with what I said, I didn't push it. But I do think as Buddhists we need to see through the entirety of these situations. Everyone involved, all of us even who found out about it are suffering on some level.

I hope we can learn to live and let live.

Gassho
Ishin

[Jundo]

The SZBA (Soto Zen Buddhist Association), where most of our Priests-In-Training and I are members, just issued the following Statement. We join in with the others.

------------

Soto Zen Buddhist Association Statement on the Orlando Tragedy

As members of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association — along with communities and
practitioners of all faiths — we stand in solidarity with those who seek to live in peace
and nonviolence, and grieve for the loss of life in Orlando. In particular we extend our
heartfelt compassion to Orlando’s Latino and LBGTQ communities, their friends and
families.

In the Dhammapada Shakyamuni Buddha, says: “Hatred does not cease by hatred at any
time. Hatred ceases by love. This is an eternal law.” While we cannot untangle the
thoughts and emotions of the shooter, quite aside from political dimensions, this is a
crime motivated by delusion. Our world will never be free from conflict, but we yearn for
a human culture in which one person’s views will not lead to another’s death.
We reflect, too, that mass shootings in Orlando, Paris, San Bernardino, Aurora, Newton,
and throughout the world are facilitated by the ready availability of assault-style
automatic weapons. These weapons, designed for military application not for sport, do
not belong on our streets.

In the name of those below, and all victims of gender violence, hatred, racism, and
homophobia — our sisters and brothers — we call for people and our elected leaders to
wake from delusion and vow to resolve our differences with the strength of nonviolence.
In this spirit we call the names of the dead in Orlando:

Stanley Almodovar III, 23
Amanda Alvear, 25
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Antonio Davon Brown, 29
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
Luis Daniel Conde, 39
Cory James Connell, 21
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22
Paul Terrell Henry, 41
Frank Hernandez, 27
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
Kimberly Morris, 37
Akyra Monet Murray, 18
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33
Martin Benitez Torres, 33
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
Luis S. Vielma, 22
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
Omar Mateen, 29

With palms together,
Hozan Alan Senauke
President, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

To see photos and read brief stories of those who died at Pulse:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/12/481785763/heres-what-we-knowabout-

the-orlando-shooting-victims

[Geika]

Thank you, Jundo. The list of names makes this bigger than a headline.

Gassho,
Sat today

[Meian]

Please also remember that this is not about one group of people ... it is about one extremist and disturbed individual of a certain religion, not about all who share that religion or the religion itself. If we fail to remember this, if we overreact or feel anger ourself toward a whole diverse group of people, we may also end up also targeting or victimizing innocent people for who they are, their religion, race, beliefs, ways of life. Let us also offer Metta for all Muslim people who must be equally ashamed and scarred by this tonight.

Finally, please recall that terrorists wish us to feel terror. The best and healthiest response is not to give them what they are hoping for ... (Unfortunately, it seems I post this message too often):

SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: The Wise Response to Terror - Staying Calm -

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?13960-SIT-A-LONG-with-JUNDO-The-Wise-Response-to-Terror-Staying-Calm

I realize that much of what I have written above is completely upside down and opposite from how most folks usually think about and react to such events these days.

Gassho, J

SatToday

Thank you Jundo. I really appreciate your posts on this. I think i mentioned before that most of my friends are Muslims and they are suffering from this, especially with it being Ramadan. As an ally and an advocate, it can be very hard for us to deal with the increased hatred and fear from people during these times, but I appreciate and agree with your approach here, and the approach to violence and hatred that Buddhism takes. Your advice and teaching here have given me perspective and also give comfort in an otherwise senseless tragedy.

<deep bows>

Gassho
Kim
Sat today

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