peace- huh! what is it good for?

absolutely everything.  i haven’t been writing much lately because i have been doing much thinking.  processing- i suppose.  the more things change- the more they stay the same.  human nature.  i have also been reading about chinese buddhism- a book by master hsing yun ‘only a great rain‘- and i am convinced that the ancients were really on to something there.  this planet and this life is filled with chaos and hatred and negativity- and really, it’s only going to get worse as more and more folks suffer.  we have 6 billion people on a planet that can’t sustain that many and we are using up our resources like crazy.  we don’t have much time as a species.

but we can certainly make this life the best one we can- and i respect the buddhists premise that in seeking dharma towards our enlightenment- we must strive to help all other sentient beings get there too.  what a nice idea.  the truth is we need each other.  the buddhist believe everything is interconnected- and science has pretty much proven that idea over and over- and that one cannot exist without another.  john donne said as much when he said ‘no man is an island’- and as times become tougher and resources become scarcer- we will need each other as never before.

there is a gap in our skill sets over the last 100 years.  we have millions of people in this country who believe that feeding yourself involves driving to the grocery store and buying food to take home and cook.  they believe that getting a drink involves turning on your tap or buying water in plastic bottles.  our way of life isn’t sustainable and the few folks out there who know how to build a cook fire or catch rain for irrigation or which vegetable grows well in which season- well, their numbers are dwindling.  family farms are dwindling.  it’s getting to be very depressing to live right now- here  on this planet where everything seems to be going wrong at the same time.

but it doesn’t have to be.  a big part of what i learned working in human services- teamwork.  yep.  one person doesn’t- and shouldn’t- carry the weight for everyone all of the time.  while one person rests, another takes up the burden and we all work together.  president obama cannot do this alone and he is putting together a great team at the top to help guide america through these tough times.  but they can’t carry the insurmountable weight themselves.  we must look at each other with new eyes.  we must see that we are all americans and all fellow inhabitants of planet earth and we must work together to carry the burden.  look at what people accomplished by sharing the load- the great pyramids; grains to feed the whole world; the internet- but we must reach down deep inside for our inner strength.  we must remain positive and strong- we cannot afford to allow fear and insecurity take hold again as we did collectively after 9/11.

we are made of stronger stuff.  we are made of tougher stuff- and quite frankly, there are billions of people on this planet who lived through worse times than we.  when you feel sorry for yourself, or get depressed- remember that there is always someone somewhere worse off than you.  it helps reset the perspective button.

from my google reader:

please keep stoking the embers of positivity

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it’s our world- but we need to share

i wondered what i would post about my first real day back online after summertime company. i have managed to squeeze a few moments here and there to read ‘mindful politics‘ and various blogs and sundry online while my outlaws were here- and friends- and the combination of all of these things has been swirling about in my brain. i am reading news headlines that highlight the greed, violence, fear, hatred, etc. of the human race at large- the wars, famines, prejudices that grace our planet and i have been reading ideas on how to counteract those forces in order to bring peace to myself and hopefully, transfer some to the world around me. i have been reading about forgiveness versus reconciliation and how to reconnect (or perhaps first time connect) with myself and my feelings and how to work through them. and i have been thinking about the world as a whole and how people treat others who are different- and how self righteous and puritanical and full of fear and loathing we are as a species. and then, i read other bloggers and i am amazed at myself for having the good luck to come into contact with actual thinking beings in a world ruled by base emotions.

the free slave is an especial favorite of mine because he puts out real thinking posts. i can’t do that consistently- and i really admire someone who can. i have some back reading over there to do- as i have been offline- but the latest post is a follow up to a previous one written about whether or not animals should have basic rights. so, of course that got me thinking about all of the other reading i have done about buddhism- and how buddhists believe that other living beings have basic rights that we need to honor. maxjulian makes the point:

“Animals are not exactly like humans, but humans are animals. We are more alike than different. And if you truly look at the nature of so-called human atrocities, their root is in the human atrocities we have visited on animals. And first, in our brains, the divisions we’ve created between ourselves and each other. And animals.”

and, i think that point is essential. animals communicate with each other- and with human beings. we are the ones who are unable to understand. we do that with anyone or anything that is different than we are- whether the break down is language, religion, skin color, culture, etc.,- it makes no difference. ‘english only’ that is reverberating around america comes to mind- or the whole debacle that is the ‘obama is muslim’ campaign strategy also comes to mind. that particular one ‘kills two birds with one stone’ so to speak because it slurs people of color and muslims.

anyhoo- please do check out his post. it is my belief that we need to wipe away the veil from our eyes and really see things as they are- and not as we want them to be. human beings are not the superior species. there are many species out there that take in orphans and most don’t go to war with each other. they respect each other’s territories and communicate that quite well. we could learn much from other species. and the reality is- humans do eat each other up- we also spit each other back out. what a waste.

Children are called the future of an adult world
They are born with spirits so innocent
Til we teach them how to hate
Add to the world’s confusion
We teach our kids rules
That we don’t adhere to ourselves
Right or wrong
What example can they take
The people we learn from
Forge the ideas we become

Living in a world they didn’t make
Living in a world that’s filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn’t make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children

Children grow to become our young adults
Problems of the world
They must learn how to confront
Doing drugs and joining gangs to rebel
Colors show they belong
To the social override
Cause they’re living in a space
They feel out of place

Living in a world they didn’t make
Living in a world that’s filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn’t make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children

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summertime

as i drove home after dropping hubby off with a buddy for a night of frivolity (aka having a beer or two downtown), i started smelling summer. it’s funny how very much memory is made up of smells- but i am very in tune with odors so i guess that’s why many of my memories are triggered by smells. freshly mowed yards; fragrant flowers; the heat rising up off the asphalt into the night air- and the sounds of crickets. in the morning, it’s birds- but in the evening- crickets. and for a moment, in spite of myself, i enjoyed the moment.

reality has an ugly way of creeping into life’s lovely moments- and it brings me around to what i am trying to teach myself- the four noble truths. which, of course, led me around to the dalai lama’s visit here in the states:

“Things are not black and white. Things are relative. Things are interdependent. When we look at a situation we have to consider all the factors. … “You cannot look in one direction. In order to see reality, (you) have to see in three or four or seven dimensions” and that this applies in the economical field, political field and international relations.”

which of course led me to al gore’s speech and on and on….

which was only part of this post. we are all interconnected. and i think many are feeling this but not realizing it. i believe it is why bush still has a 28% approval rating and congress a 9%. most of the people of america listen to what al gore has to say- and they watch the ice melt and the oceans die- and they see the prices at the pump– and they know it’s wrong; terribly wrong. but they don’t know what to do.

i recently read the terrific book ‘creating true peace‘ by thich nhat hanh (thanks to bz at intrepid flame for turning me on to that) and it is a simple book with a simple message- peace starts within. we have to be the change we seek. engaged buddhism is simply that- engaging with fellow human beings regardless of politics, race, religion, etc. on a basic human level. yeah. there’s always a catch he told me in the book- that i cannot isolate myself but must engage with the community at large- because we are all interdependent on each other as part of the human species. yep. no divisions as human beings. that’s tough for me. he explains it’s tough for westerners because of our culture of division and exclusion. so, i am living in the moment. life is in a state of flux and life is suffering. but we can overcome that and work together in peace to make the planet a better place for everyone. not just the haves.

not exactly the divisive message that the hard right christians and jews are preaching as they seek to divide and conquer the middle east. and there’s no hidden agenda like getting to heaven because life doesn’t really end. and that makes sense to me because i know matter doesn’t die. and that’s comforting to me as face my parents’ mortality and the end of my country as i knew it. life constantly changes- nothing is permanent and much of our suffering comes from our attachment to things- whether they be ideas, people, material stuff, power, etc. the attachment to my mom is a tough one. but she, herself, has told my sister and i that we must let her go when she goes as she will be at peace.

so, the smells and sounds and textures of summer brought many thoughts to my mind.

i know i haven’t given up on politics per se. i don’t believe that we can afford to at this time in history. i just can’t approach it in the same way anymore. i don’t believe in the system. i don’t believe in this current world government nor america’s. i don’t believe in any of the candidates for president and i cannot justify voting for someone i don’t believe has the right view for the direction our country needs to head in. as barack obama heads for the center- he is already too far away from it. he needed to stand up for democracy and for changing the way we do things in america. would he have won? i can’t say but i can say that i won’t vote for him. i can’t. he is just as much a part of the system as hillary clinton and just as disinterested in changing the status quo. al gore forcefully spoke about change. it has to happen. it will happen whether we like it or not. i just wish america would have led the way.

letting go and opening up are concepts that do not come easily for me but i need to find inner peace. i need to find a better way. and i think this buddha guy has something here.

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thanksgiving in july

it occurred to me over the last few days- in spite of all of my complaining that i am a very lucky person. that’s pretty much the end of my post. or it should be. there isn’t a day that goes by that i am not grateful for all that i have- not just materialistic- but contentment with family (for the most part) and friends and with the world at large. i am making the attempt to truly understand the world situation and the debacle that has put america on the brink of total collapse- and i am attempting to become at peace with the information that this planet is collapsing as a whole. now, i say attempt because it isn’t quite that easy. i am digging in and going for enlightenment- and that’s the next path on my life’s journey.

many folks know about the buddhist philosophy that life is in flux and nothing is permanent. when you truly look at the bigger picture- and you realize that humans have ultimately caused their own demise (as well as countless other species) of a planet that is probably billions of years old- it’s quite a bit to take in. it has taken me a long while to parse through my thoughts because in a short span of time- my whole world was turned upside down. my entire belief system and the way i lived my life- was gone. i decided to turn to buddhist tenets as a way to bring peace to myself. by learning about the four noble truths and the eightfold path- i opened my mind to peace. now, that’s not to say i am a buddhist. nope. i am not falling into the category of ‘religion’ or labels.

i am a pilgrim seeking nirvana

pilgrim seeking truth
no light found only darkness-
bittersweet summer.

so- here i am trying to change the world and save humanity- but i have to start with me.  i have no one to pray to or abdicate responsibility to- it’s just me.  i have to look myself in the mirror every day and i have to pick myself back up when i fall.  i can see why the monotheistic religions are so popular.

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wish lists

i know that there was a movie out recently- ‘the bucket list’ or something to that effect- but i didn’t see it. i don’t make wish lists anymore. when i was packing to move, i ran across an old list i had made when i needed something to look forward to and i realized that i had everything on that list. and of course, i started thinking about all that i had and the so very many people who don’t have even a fraction of what i have- and it made me grateful that i do have what i have. i used the vacation as a time to start through the summer reading list- lord knows i didn’t take any real political books (naomi klein stayed home ) i didn’t want to really be put on a list somewhere- i mean i have to be on somebody’s list somewhere- but not on the no fly list (for my husband’s sake). anyhoo, i took some of the buddhist themed books and it really seemed to click in my mind. the idea that we are all inherently bound together on this planet- like it or not- and that we need to reconnect with each other in a loving and compassionate way- because violence only begets violence. and we need to reconnect with the planet on a basic level and restore a harmony and a balance. and we don’t.

the biggest theme i have been taking from a cross section of books- we have to start the process from within first or it won’t work. working towards peace won’t work if we are anti-war. my big hurdle is overcoming my distaste and disgust for the right wing neo cons- let’s face it, the sean hannitys and the michael savages of the world are not easy to like- let alone feel any sort of basic respect for. but i have to work on that- on a basic human level. we can’t pick and choose who we feel love and compassion for and expect there to be peace on the planet. as long as there’s the ‘us versus them’ mentality or the ‘our way is best’ mindset- there will always be war and greed and power struggles. not easy. i can see why folks turn to one of the three big religions- hey, just abdicate all power to an unseen entity and then pray for forgiveness. no responsibility or accountability- in the name of god. far easier than actually changing the way you approach the world.

engaged buddhism is actually practicing what you learn- connecting with the planet and the people in order that all may share happiness and peace. not through proselytizing- but by just projecting the peace and happiness from within us to the world. sharing it with others and realizing that they are all searching for the same goals we are. and as i said- i struggle. i am a real newbie when it comes to walking on the eightfold path. yep. i have a feeling it is going to be an uphill struggle for me not to isolate myself away from the stupidity and greed and selfishness that our culture promotes. i want to set up a meditation place for myself in my new home because i have a feeling i am going to need it. the backyard bunnies feel like better companions for me than human beings at this point- but i am going to walk. i am not going to try- i am just going to step out onto a new path on life’s journey.

mindful politics: a buddhist guide to making the world a better place

the tao of eating: feeding your soul through everyday experiences

creating true peace: ending violence in yourself, your family, your community, and the world

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circle of life

thanks to fran for getting that song stuck in my head fran talked about the circle of life in her last post about talking with her mom about letting go of her past life- her home- and how her mom had done that for her grandma. as you can see- it got me thinking. i do that often these days- there is much to think about and try and process. and i have been trying to find some inner peace because part of me is a fighter- and stubborn at that (yes, really) and the other part of me isn’t- and there’s inner conflict. my rational self usually comes out on top- but not always. and so- here i am. life has a way of coming around full circle too. fran talks about the turnabout of caring for a mother who was always so independent and took care of them- and i have a similar situation with my mom. there are so many adjustments to make and emotions to work through- and the circle turns.

i feel kind of the same way about global events. not that we don’t have control over some of them- but that if humans go extinct- perhaps that’s part of the circle. we are born- we live- we die. now, the religious among us believe that we end up in either heaven, hell or purgatory (i can’t remember but i think the pope may have done away with that on some level)- and so our soul lives forever. perhaps. there’s really only one way to find out- and then we can’t share i am not a buddhist but i do try to find peace in the buddhist tenets- and i have to say that out of any religion i have looked at- the buddhists have something here. in full disclosure- i am a recovering christian.

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