 |
Wrong Views that Hinder Compassionate Action
Robert Aitken Roshi
aitken
Continued from Protecting the earth discussion page
The Morning Star, 2003, http://www.ecobuddhism.org/spiritual-wisdom.php?id=17
I had the pleasure of meeting with Joanna Macy recently. Joanna points
out that we live in a world that can die. Whole species and
life-support systems are already dying, and massive want, hunger,
oppression, disease, and conflict assail a growing proportion of the
planet's beings. We can do something about it and yet we tend to act
as if we don't believe what is happening. She asks, "How can we
become simply present to what is going on and let it become real to
us? Great adventures await us; what is it that erodes our will, our
creativity, our solidarity?"
Joanna finds that many people (especially those drawn to Eastern
paths) have developed notions about spirituality that hinder them from
realizing their power to effect change. Among the 'spiritual traps'
that cut the nerve of compassionate action are these:
That the phenomenal world of beings is not real. With this
view the pain of others and the demands on us that are implicit in
that pain are less tangible than the pleasures or aloofness we can
find in transcending them.
That any pain we may experience in beholding the world derives
from our own cravings and attachments. With this view, the ideal way
to deal with suffering becomes nonattachment to the fate of all
beings, not just nonattachment to matters of the ego.
That we are constantly creating our world unilaterally through
our subjective thoughts. Confrontation is considered negative
thinking, acceptance is positive. Therefore it is concluded that when
we confront the injustice and dangers of our world we are simply
creating more conflict and misunderstanding.
And the corollary, that the world is already perfect when we
view it spiritually. We feel so peaceful that the world itself will
become peaceful without our need to act.
Shackles and traps drop away in such lucid exposition of Wrong Views.
Our responsibilities stand forth clearly.
|
The Gradual Path of Raising Buddhist Children:
Inner Chronicles:
Work Sex Money: Seminar Three,
Ocean of Dharma: A Shambhala Sun feature on Chögyam Trungpa by Barry Boyce
Tribute to Arbie Thalacker
Chronicles Highlights 2011
Chronicles Holiday Sampler
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse on the passing of his father, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
SMR joins Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Rabjam Rinpoche [Video 11:35]
Tribute to Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Qualities
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche on Distinguishing Ordinary Consciousness from Wisdom
At the
Tribute to Fabrice Champion
Crazy Wisdom, a review by Victress Hitchcock
Tribute to Michal Friedman
Radio interview with Chogyam Trungpa in 1971;
Mingyur Rinpoche: The essence of meditation
Julia Sagebien talks with Thrangu Rinpoche about fulfilling the aspirations of the Vidyadhara
Gold Lake Oil, by Tom Bell
THE BIG NO
Thrangu Rinpoche talks about Trungpa Rinpoche and his students [Audio 48:54]
In appreciation of the Very Venerable 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Teaching Stories: Never Give Up, told by Jim Lowrey
Memorial to Mary Smith, by Lee Weingrad
Conversation with Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel: Part Three
Khyentse Foundation: Ten Years of Giving
What Made Him Tick: a Review of Crazy Wisdom by Suzanne Duarte
Teaching Stories:
Tribute to Mary Smith