World Peace - World Solidarity

As I watch the news over the past couple of days regarding the terrorist attacks in Paris,  I continually keep thinking that if everyone embraced Buddhism this would not have happened. 

Buddhism teaches the basic value of every living person and being.  Buddhism teaches that if we make good causes we get good effects.  Buddhism teaches that we are connected to the forces in nature and that we can positively experience that energy.  If everyone accepted the fact that they were responsible for creating their own happiness and could impact the world for the better, this type of horror would not have happened.  Unfortunately, I know that is not true. 

People who have committed these crimes must have done so because they think they are on the side of right.  Isn't that what drives most of us?  I think everyone acts on beliefs that they hold as true and just.  I am NOT advocating these beliefs or people. I do not understand how anyone can honestly think that taking lives or having such a singular view of anything is justified.  I cannot comprehend how someone has allegiance to something that can hurt someone else. ..........what I really am wondering and asking is how do we find ways to influence these beliefs at the core rather than react to them as manifested?

How can a religion be a positive influence across the world and not a polarizing aspect?  I think of how at one time as a young girl I was taught that anyone who was not Catholic would not go to heaven.  I remember being taught that if you were not baptized a person's soul would end up in hell.  I have witnessed someone telling someone Jewish that they needed to convert in order to be 'saved'.  I walked away from a theater discussion recently where they were talking about "them"  as Islam was discussed and someone in the audience made everyone into a generalized group of misguided individuals.

These biases or limited truths are prevalent throughout our world.  I have them, you have them, they exist.  As a Buddhist I work to understand and overcome them.  As a Buddhist I am open to dialogue where we put our misunderstandings on the table and most importantly look at our sameness that connects us. 

Past, present and future needs to come together and we need to understand how to honor and celebrate our oneness.  We need solidarity and shared purpose of having world peace. 

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me..........we must chant for heartfelt change of core beliefs that divide us and pray for recognition and acceptance of core beliefs that join us. 

Practicing As and HOW I Am

It has been awhile since I posted on this blog...........not because I have not had some aha moments, not because I am not experiencing my human revolution, but mostly because I am busy and using this practice in the busy and hecticness of my life. 

I have often thought and knew that while chanting and saying Gonyo I was able to put some calm and order into my life.  In the past few weeks, that calm and order is there, but it is fleeting in a good way.  I am still chanting my 1/2 hour every morning and doing Gonyo.  I and am 88% consistent chanting every evening and doing Gonyo.  However in the past, I have used these moments to quiet me, to put things in a momentary peaceful state and felt that I has achieved what was meant to be.

How wrong and right I am.

Sometimes our life condition allows us to take a respite at different times in the day where we can calmly look at what is going on in our lives.  We can be thankful for the small victories and wins and know that we are moving in a positive direction.  However at other times, (and this is my current life condition) it is not about having a consistent and predictable existence, but about how to enjoy and have peace in all of the chaos and energy that is flowing.

As I am trying to determine what "pre-tirement" is and looks like for me, I have tried to make the most of each day.  I have tried to catch up on things that I intended to do one day and I am trying to enjoy each moment as it comes my way.  As I face each event or situation I am okay with a bit of self examination and determining if I am growing, giving or getting in the process. 

My chanting each morning and night is more centered around what being the best and bringing out my Buddha nature look like.  I know my next step is to determine what I want and take action..........but I am finding that for the moment, living in the action and determining me is a needed step too.

As long as it is a few steps - and it does not become a march or walk without a direction or purpose.