Emotional reactions to suffering are useless. 

Alleviate them. 

News is everywhere. On our phones, the Internet. On social media, the TV. The list is long and the onslaught nonstop. Wishing to be informed world citizens, we read, watch, and listen. And to the suffering that we see depicted before us, we react with emotions ranging from sadness to anger. We believe these reactions are how caring people would respond. 

But if emotional responses are all we can muster, what will they accomplish? One more person suffering—us! This helps no one, not those caught in the dire situation, nor us. 

If we can do something to improve the situation for others, then we try to do so. For if all we can do is to watch helplessly, what will we accomplish? We’ll only add to the shared angst in the world. 

What should we do instead when there is nothing we can do about what we see? 

We can remain calm. 

We chant the buddha-name. 

Slowly, over time, we will thus end the counter-productive whirlpool of our own emotions.