Politics and Dharma

It is often observed among Buddhists that politics invariably fails to bring happiness, and that its necessary focus on external appearances, which lack inherent reality, means that it invariably fails to achieve any improvement in the overall welfare of sentient beings.

I am a Buddhist, and I accept the general truth of this view, but I nonetheless believe that it is the responsibility of all people to act in the "conventional truth" of samsara in ways that are concordant and consistent with the ethics in which we believe.

To this end, I am a political person, and I believe in advocating, with a good heart and without hatred or antagonism, policies and practices of government which the best analysis of our minds show to be conducive to the greatest good. Spiritual life is a private affair, and we do what we can in that field, but I don't accept the proposition that a spiritual life and a political life are mutually exclusive.

Kindness and Cherishing Others

Kindness is benefit; Motivation is irrelevant.

And you could add: "Unless you are omniscient, you don't know others' motivations anyway."

This is a gloss on some of the points from Eight Steps to Happiness by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

The point here is that if every kindness ever shown us, from our mother allowing us to be born from her body, through our upbringing, education, all the food we eat, etc., had to be given back, we would have nothing at all; we would not even exist. So it is totally illogical not to remember and be grateful for the kindness of others. If this isn't reason enough to constantly cherish all other living beings, what could be? It doesn't matter whether they intend to be kind to you, which you can't know anyway. Any benefit is kindness. Focusing on other's motives is self-cherishing. ("What do I get out of it?" "What have they done for me?)... What matters is that we have received benefit, which IS kindness, and love for others is the only logical response. It's all we need to know.

Some say they don't know what love is. Everyone knows what love is. Love is believing others are important, that their happiness is important, and wishing for them to be happy. If you think about it, you realize this is true. That's all it takes.

EIGHT VERSES OF TRAINING THE MIND

By Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa

With the intention to attain

The ultimate, supreme goal

That surpasses even the wish-granting jewel

May I constantly cherish all living beings.

Whenever I associate with others,

May I view myself as the lowest of all,

And with a perfect intention,

May I cherish others as supreme.

Examining my mental continuum

Throughout all my actions,

As soon as a delusion develops,

whereby I or others would act inappropriately,

May I firmly face it and avert it.

Whenever I see unfortunate beings,

oppressed by evil and violent suffering,

May I cherish them as if I had found

A rare and precious treasure.

Even if someone I have helped

And of whom I had great hopes,

Nevertheless harms me without any reason,

May I see him as my holy Spiritual Guide.

When others, out of jealousy,

harm me or insult me,

May I take defeat upon myself

And offer them the victory.

In short, my I directly and indeirctly

Offer help and happiness to all my mothers

And secrety take upon myself

All their harm and suffering.

Furthermore, through all these method practices,

together with a mind undefiled by stains of the eight extremes,

And that sees all phenomena as illusory,

May I be released from the bondage of the mistaken appearance and conception.

Welcome

This is the very first post of a brand new web log. The idea is to explore the possibility of a Coalition of Like-minded American Buddhists, of whatever tradition, to foster policies of governement which increase peace, tolerance, non-violence, education, care for the sick and suffering, and other universal Buddhist values. (All of which are of course shared by millions of non-Buddhists as well).

Christian conservatives have co-opted political action from other Christians of conference to a great extent. The "Christian Coalition" is a an example of a political organization that fosters a narrow conservative agenda not shared by many Christians.

Buddhists tend to be disengaged politically, but the time may be ripe to organize to take stands on issues where there is widespread consensus among Buddhists, to foster Buddhist values in our political systems.

I welcome comments and suggestions, and hope to turn this effort into something more than just a bulletin board for random thoughts, in due course.

David Studhalter, webmaster