The country is plunging into deep conflicts and anarchy because the powers-that-be, as well as those who want to overthrow them, are trapped in the we/they dichotomy, violating the Buddhist duty to transcend the false illusion of self – the root cause of hatred and violence.
From an article in the Bangkok Post. The article is an interesting insight into politics in Thailand, where Buddhist teachings are at least talked about.
The article came to me in the post as an actual, old fashioned, newspaper clipping. The son of a congregation member picked it up in Bankok, gave it to his mother and she sent it to me. Written on the clipping was Mum, with an arrow pointing to the title: Power of the Void the Void of Power.
The life of this clipping is a reminder of how information still circulates the slow way. Bangkok by plane to the UK then by car/train/bus to a living room in Yorkshire. The Royal Mail carried it through it’s system and was eventually delivered by Brian our postman who works his round in this valley in Northumberland. Even more amazing is that I can Google Bangkok Post October 28 2008 Ekachai and now share the article with you on-line.
“Since the 1800s, San Francisco was the most important gateway for people coming from the Pacific Rim,” said Charlie Chin, artist in residence at the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco, who also leads tours and gives lectures. “They weren’t proselytizing Buddhism, but they brought it here with their other cultural beliefs and practices.”
Today, a spiritual tourist, whether Buddhist or not, can find inspiration if not enlightenment following in the footsteps of American Buddhism on a pilgrimage throughout the Greater Bay Area.
I’d imagine America is rocking following the election results. Some rocking with gladness and others with….all sorts of emotions. I’m keeping a thought for all of the people in this bowl of stew. Now is the time to be still in the midst of conditions and continue the pilgrimage.
One of those walks
when the sun shines.
The ground pops up
to meet the booted foot.
Hercules, the neighbours bull,
is in his stable.
And all is well with the world.
Then, in the process of looking for the link for the above rescue I found this interesting story. NZ dolphin rescues beached whales.
Mr Smith said that just when his team was flagging, the dolphin showed up and made straight for them.
“I don’t speak whale and I don’t speak dolphin,” Mr Smith told the BBC, “but there was obviously something that went on because the two whales changed their attitude from being quite distressed to following the dolphin quite willingly and directly along the beach and straight out to sea.”
“I shouldn’t do this I know, we are meant to remain scientific,” Mr Smith said, “but I actually went into the water with the dolphin and gave it a pat afterwards because she really did save the day.”
Animals can show compassion, and so can we.
Practice Within The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives
