Engaged Buddhism Needed
Ban Offshore Drilling
Buddhism has a reputation for being passive, and there are good reasons for this. All that meditation and mindfulness we do appears passive. And in the beginning many of us do have to mindfully hold back reactions, and refrain from falling into old active patterns that used to get us into trouble. But there is a time for apparent passiveness, and a time to act, a time to be engaged.
Actually, Buddhism is a practice, it is active, even if it appears to outsiders to be passive. Eventually the practice becomes engaged Buddhism when one actively engages in each moment as it arises, engages in activities that lessen suffering for others, and engages in ethical and moral decisions that work to the benefit of all.
In addition to being engaged in practices, however, we also need to engage ourselves in the world’s problems where we can be of help, always keeping Right Action, Right Speech, and the rest of the Eightfold Path in mind. This means working toward change, change that is going to lessen suffering and nurture improvement.
But as we step out into the world, and sometimes, into the political arena, it can be easy to fall into old habits. Anger may arise in reaction to situations so be wary, be mindful to your response as you meet up with people who seem to thrive of pain and destruction. This is what often sends many a Buddhist running back to the cushion to retreat from the world. But retreat not.
Robina Courtin, my former Lama Mama, my first Buddhist teacher, often said, “Send me to where people suffer the most because that is where I can do the most good.” No place intimidated her. No place overwhelmed her. She spent much of her time in prisons throughout the US, with men on death row, teaching inmates how to meditate, how to look into themselves and see what is really there. No ghetto was bad enough, no city big enough for her.
While becoming a monk or nun and joining a monastery is one way to follow the path, it’s certainly not the most common, and it can be argued if monastery life is the most effective means of practice. For most of us, every day life is our practice ground, and the greater problems that call to our attention really test our principals, our ethics, our views, our sense of self or lack there of. Additionally, employment not only gives us a place and situations to practice what we learn from teachings and being on the cushion, jobs provide money that can help make a difference in the world, alleviate suffering, or help push a good cause.
Going out and making a difference is where we put the pedal to the metal, so to speak. There are many ways we can help from volunteering to spreading awareness. Volunteers are needed for hands on work in many areas from helping in shelters for the homeless or battered women, clean up in state parks, and a number of other areas. Additionally there is a great deal you can do via the Internet.
Secular Coalition of America
Sites like Care2.org, Defenders of Wildlife, Secular Coalition of America, VoteHemp.org and The Environmental Defense Fund not only provide online petitions, but they also provide a thought out email you can send your state Representative, Congress persons, Senators, and even the President to either protest or support a bill or issue. Spend a little time each day reading through the issues posted on these sites, signing petitions, or filling in your address fields to send emails to government officials. And donate what money you can. These organizations do what they can on donations, and your dollars can make a big difference.
Petitions and letters to government officials are great for getting your opinions out there, but we also must go that extra step at times. For combating the issue of violations of church and state, I felt I had to do more. Lo and behold, I discovered a site via a Facebook post about the Secular Coalition of America, a 501(c)4 advocacy organization whose purpose is to amplify the diverse and growing voice of the nontheistic community in the United States.
I went to their site to learn more about the current issues, the laws and wording in the US constitution regarding these problems, and I signed up for Action Alerts. Additionally, I discovered the Executive Director Sean Faircloth was speaking in my area about grassroots and starting SCA branches in each state. Now, I have an organization to speak my concerns and lobby on my behalf.
I signed up to donate monthly, and spread the word virally through social networks like Facebook and Twitter, plus Second Life(SL). I own the Secular Community in SL, and have created an interactive board with the SCA website on it. Additionally, I am informing SL citizens about this organization, sharing the problems of violations of church and state, and hope to grow awareness in a huge way.
As Sean talked about starting grassroots and getting involved in some of these very sticky issues, he stressed the need to stay cool and calm, to stick to the facts that back you up (mainly the US Constitution), but also not to get lost in wanting to change the religious mind into an atheist/Buddhist frame of mine. Really, what he was referring to was Right Speech.
In talking to people about these issues, stay tuned into what you are really saying, keep the acrimony out of your voice, and appeal to reason. This is the place to practice mindful speech and Right Action. Always question if your actions and behavior are going to cause more suffering or lessen it.
Defenders of Wildlife
The world needs a lot of help. Environmental issues abound where you can donate time or money. In the US there are violations of separation of church and state that need our attention. Every city has its share of shelters, homeless people, and issues where you can help by signing petitions, writing articles to make people more aware, and donating money.
Most of us find that the Buddhist practice eliminates suffering in our personal lives in big ways. Eventually the practice moves away from the practitioner to people out in the world, and the situations that are causing pain and suffering. This is where engaged Buddhism falls into place, where you can help make a difference to the suffering outside yourself.
Tags: Activism, engagement, help, issues, people, Practice, suffering.
