Make America Zen Again! (and Treeleaf's Take on Things) ...

[Jundo]

It seems to me that we'd do well in this day and age to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. The art of taking a position and being able to defend it in a principled way has been lost to insults, half-truths, and stubborn refusal to compromise - on all sides of the political spectrum. With that being said, I would hope that here at Treeleaf we could be both open to everyone regardless of their political views, and at the same time require respect and civility in all of our dialogues. Just my two cents.

Gassho,
Tanjin
SatToday

Well said.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Jishin]

Hi,

The world is comprised of people, comprising cities, which make up states, which make up countries, which make up continents, which make up planet earth, which make up the universe, which make up the Big Bang and beyond. The people from you to the Big Bang have spoken and voted for Trump. If you don't like the Big Bang and beyond, move!

So, like it or not, YOU voted for him.

DEAL with it and quit whining because YOU did this to yourself.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Kyonin]

Hi all,

Just to add in a couple of thoughts about expressing and speaking out the things that go against the Precepts in politics and in the world.

Here in my country and with the government we have now, speaking out could get you killed or mysteriously "disappeared". At the beginning of 2017 prices on gasoline, food and life in general went sky high as Trump becomes a threat to Mexico and corruption is out of control. Things got ugly because people went out to protest and tried to take the streets, but the government sent out a wave of goons to pillage stores, rape and spread fear. The protests calmed down because of this, but now sadness and despair are deep in everyone's mind.

How to protest? What to do? Are questions that people make to me on a daily basis. You cant' protest but life needs to go on and families have kids to feed!

Here's my answer and it could be seen as naive or stupid, but I think it works.

We can't suddenly change the things we don't like in the planet. We can't expect that a revolution and civil war will change things because history shows us that in most cases revolution leads to even more corrupt governments to take place. However, people forget that all it takes to change a system or a biological entity, the force behind evolution, are the mutants. Yes, like the X-men. A mutant is a cell or an individual that is different from the pack. It sees things in a different light, has different ways to do things and is better suited to stir things up in the benefit of the whole organism.

The power of one, a tiny little mutant that is willing to work for the benefit of the system can change things now and plant the seeds of change. Working for the community, teaching kids to be compassionate and generous, pulling up hopeless people and encouraging them to keep on going... all that won't do anything to change the present. But will create a better future for a lot of people. Those actions create ripples and affect life in a positive way.

An insignificant mutant here teaching kids teamwork, another tiny mutant there teaching people how to knit sweaters for the winter, another teaching a language, other helping the elder, another one spreading the word of compassion and generosity. All without failing, without breaking.

In my deluded and naive mind, these little actions are much more important that an armed revolution. This is a way to surf the waters of evil presidents, child abuse and all the things we know they need to be transformed. It takes time, sure. But as part of Mother Nature, what's the rush?

Of course people looking for immediate change laugh at me and forget what I say. But, hey I keep on trying.

Sorry for the long post.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Jundo]

We can't suddenly change the things we don't like in the planet. We can't expect that a revolution and civil war will change things because history shows us that in most cases revolution leads to even more corrupt governments to take place. However, people forget that all it takes to change a system or a biological entity, the force behind evolution, are the mutants. Yes, like the X-men. A mutant is a cell or an individual that is different from the pack. It sees things in a different light, has different ways to do things and is better suited to stir things up in the benefit of the whole organism.

The power of one, a tiny little mutant that is willing to work for the benefit of the system can change things now and plant the seeds of change. Working for the community, teaching kids to be compassionate and generous, pulling up hopeless people and encouraging them to keep on going... all that won't do anything to change the present. But will create a better future for a lot of people. Those actions create ripples and affect life in a positive way.

Lovely. It is my hope and expectation that the human race will grow, evolve, out of this phase. Someday we will turn to laugh ... probably cry ... at how ignorant and misguided we once were. It is much as we now look back at the narrow mindedness of the ages of slavery or flat-earth or god-kings or witchcraft (all still go on in this world, by the way) and shake our heads. Someday, our children (I hope) will look at us and our times just so.

Yes, it all evolution begins with small new seeds that spread.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Mp]

Hi all,

Just to add in a couple of thoughts about expressing and speaking out the things that go against the Precepts in politics and in the world.

Here in my country and with the government we have now, speaking out could get you killed or mysteriously "disappeared". At the beginning of 2017 prices on gasoline, food and life in general went sky high as Trump becomes a threat to Mexico and corruption is out of control. Things got ugly because people went out to protest and tried to take the streets, but the government sent out a wave of goons to pillage stores, rape and spread fear. The protests calmed down because of this, but now sadness and despair are deep in everyone's mind.

How to protest? What to do? Are questions that people make to me on a daily basis. You cant' protest but life needs to go on and families have kids to feed!

Here's my answer and it could be seen as naive or stupid, but I think it works.

We can't suddenly change the things we don't like in the planet. We can't expect that a revolution and civil war will change things because history shows us that in most cases revolution leads to even more corrupt governments to take place. However, people forget that all it takes to change a system or a biological entity, the force behind evolution, are the mutants. Yes, like the X-men. A mutant is a cell or an individual that is different from the pack. It sees things in a different light, has different ways to do things and is better suited to stir things up in the benefit of the whole organism.

The power of one, a tiny little mutant that is willing to work for the benefit of the system can change things now and plant the seeds of change. Working for the community, teaching kids to be compassionate and generous, pulling up hopeless people and encouraging them to keep on going... all that won't do anything to change the present. But will create a better future for a lot of people. Those actions create ripples and affect life in a positive way.

An insignificant mutant here teaching kids teamwork, another tiny mutant there teaching people how to knit sweaters for the winter, another teaching a language, other helping the elder, another one spreading the word of compassion and generosity. All without failing, without breaking.

In my deluded and naive mind, these little actions are much more important that an armed revolution. This is a way to surf the waters of evil presidents, child abuse and all the things we know they need to be transformed. It takes time, sure. But as part of Mother Nature, what's the rush?

Of course people looking for immediate change laugh at me and forget what I say. But, hey I keep on trying.

Sorry for the long post.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

Wonderful Kyonin, well said thank you.

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

[Jakuden]

Thank you Kyonin, an inspiring start to the day to read this. Will go out and try to nourish the seed here in Upstate NY

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Jishin]

Hi,

The world is comprised of people, comprising cities, which make up states, which make up countries, which make up continents, which make up planet earth, which make up the universe, which make up the Big Bang and beyond. The people from you to the Big Bang have spoken and voted for Trump. If you don't like the Big Bang and beyond, move!

So, like it or not, YOU voted for him.

DEAL with it and quit whining because YOU did this to yourself.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/trump-inauguration-protest-rally

My wife will be at this place:

January 21: Women's March

The Women's March on Washington, which started as a Facebook page after the election, will be by far one of the biggest events after the inauguration. The march's organizers say up to 200,000 people could attend, and the event has drawn such enthusiasm and support that additional Facebook pages have been set up for parents who are bringing their children, as well as a "MarchBnb" website for people in need of housing.

Other marches inspired by the Women's March are also being held in other cities in the US and worldwide.

How about you? Where will you be?

Gassho, Jishin, ST

[Shugen]

Hello Jishin,

My wife will be going to the march in Cincinnati with one of our sons. I will be taking our other son to a college basketball game we were given tickets to as a Christmas gift.

Kyonin,
Wonderfully said.

Gassho,

Shugen

Sattoday


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jishin]

Hello Jishin,

My wife will be going to the march in Cincinnati with one of our sons. I will be taking our other son to a college basketball game we were given tickets to as a Christmas gift.

Kyonin,
Wonderfully said.

Gassho,

Shugen

Sattoday


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You are like me then. I will be having a good time hanging out with my sons.

Gassho, Jishin, ST

[martyrob]

Hi Dairmuid,

“Trees are just trees.” Yes, until we start saying some are doughty English oaks, sterling Scots pine and some are foreign, invasive species and need to be thinned out. Then we have to ask are trees just trees?

The SFZC comment

:*"You are welcome here despite your act of hatred, just as I am welcome here despite my many and daily acts of hatred" and "We recognise that we are all guilty of acts of hatred and subsequently everyone is welcome here".

Was clumsy and your re-writing of it much more emollient and effective.

I have no idea what all Trump supporters - as distinct from Trump voters – would sign up to, perhaps they would endorse the Treeleaf credo. I make an assumption that when people cheer on a man making incendiary comments against a whole slew of minorities that they would struggle endorsing a sentiment that is entirely contrary to those comments. But I might be wrong, I often am.
I am sorry that you feel you that your vote has been mis-interpreted. Your argument against the EU – one, incidentally, that I share – was drowned out by the immigration argument because that was based on fear and fear wins elections. It was an appalling campaign on both sides, I felt ashamed.
I know many people who voted Leave; good, kind, generous people, people who are my friends and family and people I work with. I'm sure you know many such people who voted Remain. I'm sure the same obtains in the US between Trump and Clinton voters. Trees are just trees. But now an ugly and bellicose rhetoric is at large that says some of the trees need cutting down, that some of the trees are not British and we have to make a decision now, reluctant as we might feel: do we stand up for all the trees or do we say, “Trees are just trees?”


Martyn

Sat today.

[Diarmuid1]

Trees are just trees. But now an ugly and bellicose rhetoric is at large that says some of the trees need cutting down, that some of the trees are not British and we have to make a decision now, reluctant as we might feel: do we stand up for all the trees or do we say, “Trees are just trees?”


Martyn

Sat today.

I understand your fears and your despair. Personally, I think we stand up for all the trees by acknowledging that trees are just trees with our words and our deeds. A muslim is just a person, a terrorist is just a person, a police officer is just a person, an angry mob is just a crowd of people, Trump is just a person, May is just a person, the guy who shouts at me on my bike is just a person, the co-worker who is causing so much pain is just a person...

So glad that we can have this space to discuss in peace!

[Sekishi]

Our editor-in-chief recently issued a direct call to conservative Buddhists so that their voices might be better represented. We expect more responses will be forthcoming; here are some of those we’ve received thus far.

http://www.lionsroar.com/conservative-buddhists-speak-part-1/

Gassho,
Sekishi #sattoday

[Hoseki]

http://www.lionsroar.com/conservativ...-speak-part-1/

Gassho,
Sekishi #sattoday

Hi Sekishi,

Thanks for posting this. I got a vibe of hurt feelings, a sense of being persecuted, and some mild lashing out. Before I even finished reading I was arguing with imagined versions of the authors. I think the impulse to argue with these people stems from the same feelings I detected in the writing. O.o

Gassho
Hoseki
Sat today

[Myosha]

Hello,

Thank you for the link.

Discussing politics reminds one of an interviewed anthropologist by Barbara Walters (U.S. media personality) in the 1970's:

B.W. - Professor, do you believe women can reach the level of men?

Prof. - Yes, if they want to lower themselves enough.


Gassho
Myosha
sat today

[Risho]

hahhhahhahahahaahahhah Thanks for sharing that Myosha

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday