I Have to Change

Robert at Musings of an Episcopal Padre asked an insightful, albeit disturbing, question the other day in his entry thought for today. Robert was commenting about how privilege-laden executives at US auto makers were flying to Washington in their private planes to seek a bailout for their industry. He then concluded with "How do I make use of my privilege in such obvious ways to others while I'm completely ignorant of it?"

We complain about politicians who seem so out of touch with the suffering of those they are supposed to look after. We rail against the obvious abuse of privilege that corporate executives apparently take for granted.  We fuss and fume about our inconsiderate and wasteful neighbors and co-workers.

But we don't consider how our actions look to others. Especially those who are further down the prosperity ladder. Truth be told, we make use of our privileges all the time.

Each time those who are buying gasoline fill up their gas tank with ethanol fuel made from corn, imagine how privileged and uncaring they must seem to those who can no longer afford to buy food to feed their family.

Imagine how privileged the people who buy the imported fruit and vegetables year-round at their local supermarket must seem to people who live in huts at the edge of the sea and watch that gradually rising sea wash away home, cropland, their family's future.

Consider how unbelievably wasteful our houses and office buildings with their lights blazing in empty rooms must seem to those who can no longer afford to pay their electricity bills. Or how all those Christmas lights must look to people who live in countries that are not driven by consumerism.

And each time we flush the toilet with sparkling, clean water how must we appear to those who have no access to clean, safe water for their children to drink.

Perhaps if we stepped back from our lives and viewed them as the majority of people on this planet would view them, we'd discover that there are many times in out privileged lives even in the course of one day that we can softly say to ourselves "No. I have to change."

Worst Enemy, Best Friend

Question: Is it appropriate to pray to Amitabha Buddha for help in getting better? I wouldn't think it appropriate to pray for worldly blessings like wealth or success, but for something that is so intense and life-crippling that the pain I sometimes long to end the pain by ending my life, and thus end my chance to cultivate for who knows how long, I feel that maybe it's appropriate. What do you think about this? The frustrating thing is that in every other way I'm healthier now than at any other time in my life.

One positive is that I do have plenty of time for focusing on the chanting, and the vulnerability of this body and life, that is ever apparent now, is a great motivator. So it's not all bad, for sure. But I often feel that I need a miracle. So should I pray to Amitabha Buddha for help on this?

Response: I believe it appropriate to ask Amitabha to help you and to help all those in suffering, including those who you have harmed in the past. A sense of regret for all the harm we have done and a sincere apology can help to reduce our current suffering. As you are asking for help, think of how you would be able to help others if you were well. In this way, you're not asking for help for just yourself, but for those you in turn can help.

The painful reality is that the suffering we feel is the result of suffering we caused others. Not becoming angry, even with ourselves or for the conditions that lead to our suffering, will help us repay the karmic debts we currently find ourselves owing,

When in pain, I know it is very difficult to focus on practice. But the irony here is that with pain, we are less attached to this body and more anxious to go to the Pure Land.

So the very source of our suffering can also become the source of our liberation.

Good dharmas

The Buddha said in the Ten Virtuous Conducts Sutra that bodhisattvas have a method that can help them end all sufferings in the Three Evil Paths. The method is being often mindful of and contemplating wholesome thoughts, and observing wholesome behavior and speech night and day, not having even the slightest non-virtuous thought. This way, one will end all evils forever and perfectly accomplish good dharmas—wholesome thoughts, behavior and speech.

When one is often mindful of good dharmas, one’s mind will be virtuous. When one often contemplates good dharmas, one’s thoughts will be virtuous. When one often observes good dharmas, one’s conduct will be virtuous. The criterion for virtuousness is to permanently end the Ten Evil Conducts: killing, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, enticing speech, greed, anger, and ignorance.

When one’s every thought, every word, and every action accords with the Ten Virtuous Conducts and the virtues innate in the true nature, one will be free from all sufferings in the evil paths.

~ Ven. Master Chin Kung

Revelations

If I am angry with others – I reveal the anger that I have for myself.

If I am critical of others – I reveal the criticism that I have for myself.

On the other hand:

If I am loving of others – I reveal that I am capable of loving myself.

If I have compassion for others – I reveal that I am capable of having compassion for myself.

~ A Reader

Nothing Exists on its Own

 The cloud transforms into rain.

The rain waters the earth.

The earth nurtures the seed that becomes a flower

watered by the rain that was the cloud.

Nothing exists on its own.