whatever we fail to do for the last and least, we have failed to do for Jesus...

...Well they tell me there's really no problem, only solutions" - John Lennon...

Walking the Path

Answering Jesus' Call to Nonviolent Action

Jesus

Bet your sangha won't be able to sit still after it begins to understand Jesus' dharma teachings and really looks around at the state of the world. Jesus is calling us to help the last and least, isn't he? Could the call really be any more clearly stated? Is he really calling us to answer the sermon on the mount? to walk the path of the 8 happinesses?

He can't mean that, can he? Well, dear ones, we think so. That's good news... why not align your sangha with an area you care about, and go for a beautiful, wonderful, brings-tears-to-your-eyes long-term goal. Does seeing more kids envisioning a hopeful tomorrow make you happy? How about fewer people hungry? What is it that really, truly speaks to you? It's different for everyone, and that's the beauty of it.

Don't fall for the donor fatigue syndrome that comes with the knee-jerk reactions you get with the whiplash and 'cause du jour' sensationalism. Yes, help in a disaster, but also align with something you and your sangha care deeply about, it may be in the area of nonviolence or it may be in service or social justice or something else, but why not stay with something that speaks to your members' hearts...

The Carter Center is working in partnership against two forms of blindness, and working to make Guinea Worm, once a neglected disease, the second disease ever to be eradicated. That's the sort of result you can get when you align for the long term, you don't care who gets the credit as long as suffering is lessened, and you create a culture that celebrates its successes and allows for (and weeps for) little bumps along the road to great things. Your sangha might consider copying the Carter Center's model, but adapting it to suit your particular interests, whether social justice non-violence, ecological or otherwise. Then you can really walk the path of compassionate awareness — really BE the change that you want to see in this world of ours. For your sake, ours, and all who follow after.

Walking the Walk: Consumption

Also, you grow in compassionate awareness, you will likely want to mindfully examine your consumption habits. After all, if everyone were to consume at the level that developed nations consume, we'd need four planets to sustain the earth's population. You may be surprised to find that a more mindful attitude about consumption will naturally arise from your practice. And speaking of consumption, do you and I consume things that cultivate good physical and mental health, and that that preserve peace, well-being and joy in my body, consciousness and environment? Or are we consuming a lot of toxins, violence, fear, anger, intoxicants, and confusion in what we eat, watch and and choose to listen to?

Resources for Your Sangha