DHARMA & Current Affairs

[Amaya]

I have been watching with keen interest as America bears witness to the inauguration a new, very special president. The emotion of the collective people is palpable, and positive, and it occurs like a raging fire that touches people for miles and miles.

As I blogged about 'yesterday', I kept thinking about the lessons in the Dharma that came bubbling up from somewhere inside me. One example is that the wisdom of dependent co-arising was in my face as I noticed how cooperative and congenial those at the DC mall were being to one another. It was as if loving kindness was a contagious infection and everyone was sharing and infecting each other with light and happiness just to be alive and breathing.

I wondered if anyone else sees anything else in this historic event or has any commentary they'd care to share.

Thanks!
Namo Amida Bu,

Amaya

[Lisa Winett]

Hello Amaya, I wanted to comment on your spirit of harmony in the United States. While I agree, our country does seem to have released a huge held breath, and for me, so many social tensions are disipating daily. I love to see the first family on the covers of magazines, I love the thought that in our country now, hopefully, people of all colors, nationalities, faiths, etc. will understand that success relies on their own hard work.

I don't down play the struggle that the oppressed have had in our country, but since I've been born, their struggles have been addressed, and as I walked to school, they walked to school and we did hold hands. My life struggle goes on as does theirs.

What always strikes me, is the notion that everyone will be better and fine because these very high actions towards a gentler world take place. I live on the ground, and while true, the ripple of compassion will sweep and touch lives, how will it effect the young child trapped in the abusive home? How will it touch the shredded human who has been beaten with riducule for being unattractive or insecure, or better yet, the humans who beat? How will it effect the angry boy or girl who now, everyday picks a victim to hate?

While I understand that having the conciousness out there for people to find does help and give hope, and can be a beacon towards a better world, the path towards that better world may be littered in emotional waste and carnage for others who have stepped in their way. The casualties might double the enlightened.

The idea of no end to suffering comes to mind. So, in these times of happiness and relief, I want to pay homage to the endless suffering, the perennial suffering, the suffering yet to come.

Namo Amida Bu

[Susthama]

The vibes I think were felt everywhere and now there's a new song being played. With the world economy on a downturn the feelings are more sombre and the only positive thing I've heard is from Lord Stern who is saying that this climate of gloom and doom is what is needed to wake people up to search for a way to allow for new growth. Use what we've learned from this debacle to save the environment and create new shoots for a better and more sustainable economy.

But what will that look like? I've heard some graduate students wondering why they bothered going to University at all - the job market is bleak for them and they've got a huge loan to pay off. Those slightly more optimistic who took a degree to get them in the finance sector are now rethinking their life plan and changing their degree - thus moving into more social and public sectors.

Everything seems to be changing so fast.

Namo Amida Bu