Present Moment

2003-04-11T10:21:00.000+10:00

Look, some of the things they tell you about war are true. The colors are brighter, the mind races ahead of itself, you are awake, aware in a way that you have never been before. War is Zen. And that's true. It is an incredibly, at once, horrifying and exhilarating experience.

The only antidote is love. It's the only force that can overpower you to such an extent that you can no longer go to war. Of those people who I have seen who were most able to resist the intoxification of war, most were couples who had good, powerful, loving relationships. They didn't fall for the nationalist rhetoric or the drumbeat of war.

2003-04-11T10:18:00.000+10:00

AlterNet: The Roots of War "Addiction" provides only a pallid and imprecise analogy for the human relationship to war; parasitism – or even predation – is more to the point. However and whenever war began, it has persisted and propagated itself with the terrifying tenacity of a beast attached to the neck of living prey, feeding on human effort and blood.

2003-03-28T15:16:00.000+10:00

Zen and war The freedom Zen offers is to realize that moment to moment you have to make a decision, so moment to moment you have to decide whether you’re going to march against, say, your government’s policies, or whether you’re going to support them in whatever way you can. But you can’t make a rule, lay down a principle, and say, "This is what Buddhism says about war," "This is what Buddhism says about this issue or that," because immediately what arises before you is the other side. This is a very difficult idea to accept: although we all want a path, a right way, we can’t have the kind of certainty we crave. There’s always the other side.

2003-03-28T10:16:00.000+10:00

Tibetan Buddhism has a reputation for being 'pacifist'. My original point referred to our desire to find some 'liberated zone' where peace prevails and which is not tainted by war. If Buddhism in general is not strictly that 'liberated zone' than perhaps one strand of it is. Actually, no. Even Tibetan Buddhism has known a lot of violence and war. Tibet has a colourful history, not much of which has been marked by peace. This history of Tibet has some references to notable Tibetan Buddhist leaders and their not-very-pacifist armies (but don't bother reading it if you already disagree with me). I think Tibetan Buddhism is as pacifist as the present Dalai Lama has made it. Likewise, by way of comparison, American Protestant Christianity is as non-violent as Martin Luther King has made it. I have the utmost respect for their efforts and methods.

As far as I can see, the Buddha seems to have taught what today might be called pacifism. It's sad, but perhaps not surprising, that others have interpreted him diferently (OK I'm skipping over the thorny question of whether the Buddha actually said any of what he supposedly said, and indeed whether he actually existed). But isn't this what happens with many great teachers of peace? I think Jesus is the best example of this. Anyone who can run a war on the basis of following Jesus has to be an expert at doublethink, but plenty have managed it, including staunch Methodists George Bush Jnr and Donald Rumsfeld (I think Tariq Aziz is also a Christian). If Jesus hadn't risen from the dead, he'd be spinning in his grave (that was a weak attempt at a joke, by the way, and I hope no-one has been offended).

If we can't find the 'pure expression' in the religious tradition, we try to go back to the founder, who must surely have taught the real thing. Religions like Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism have a long history of doing just this. The result? Umpteen varieties of the same thing, all competing to be the 'truest'.

It's true that Zen and other offshoots of the Buddha's teaching are quite different, but they all trace themselves back to the Buddha, who, arguably, was the one who taught pacifism. Tibetan Buddhism is no more 'pure' than any of the other versions of Buddhism (although, presumably, the adherents of every version of Buddhism have reasons to belive their version is, well, better.

It pains me to think that Buddhism is not historically as purely pacifist as I would like it to be. Happily the Buddha taught that everything that marked him out (enlightenment etc) was available to all people, and that by taking seriously the four noble truths, the basis for peace and happiness is within all. This is why I believe that the seeds of peace are present in everyone. They just need watering.

Would there be less war if everyone was a Buddhist? Maybe. Would thre be less war if everyone was into deep ecology? Maybe. But maybe these aren't the right kind of questions. A very worthwhile book on building 'cultures of peace' is Cultures of Peace: The Hidden Side of History (Syracuse University Press, 2000) by Elise Boulding. (Read a review.)

Christian theologian Walter Wink calls the present (perennial) set up of the oppressed being forced to support the oppressors in their plans for war 'the domination system', and claims that its religion is not Christianity or Islam (and certainly not Buddhism!), but 'the myth of redemptive violence'.

2003-03-28T09:19:00.000+10:00

"May we exist like the lotus - at home in a muddy pond.
Thus we bow to life as it is."

It would be nice to romanticise certain religions, as though there's a 'liberated zone' somewhere in the world that is free of war and the ideologies of war. Unfortunately there isn't. Although Buddhism is generally speaking a peace loving religion (or philosophy or whatever), there are some notable exceptions.

People who think Buddhism has a great pacifist record should read Brian Victoria's book, Zen at War, which indicts some well known Japanese Zen teachers with actively promoting Japanese militarism in the pre-war period, and supporting massacres in China.

Also worth reading on this subject is In Defense of Dharma: Just-War Ideology in Buddhist Sri Lanka by Tessa J. Bartholomeusz. She shows how certain Buddhist texts and stories have been used to defend war against Tamils in Buddhist terms.

Unfortunately, war is everywhere and the seeds of war are in each one of us. Happily, though, peace is everywhere and the seeds of non-violence are in each one of us. With each word and thought and action we have to choose which seeds we will water.

To help us on the way there are sereral well-known Buddhist exemplars of non-violence, such as

the Dalai Lama,

a whole generation of leaders who have consistently chosen to embody the way of peace. And to them, much respect.

2003-03-07T16:18:00.000+10:00

Nope, not a peep. Well I'm posting this via Blogbuddy. If you can read this I can confidently say that BlogBuddy works.

2003-03-07T15:25:00.000+10:00

Well it nearly works. A gentle shove just here and a tap with the hammer and before you know it, it'll...

2003-03-07T15:09:00.000+10:00

Bells and Whistles

Adding various bits and pieces to this site. Counter, comments, trying out WebBuddy etc. Will it work? Of course it won't.

2003-03-07T13:01:00.000+10:00

Swimming with awareness

Back to swimming meditation. Not much time in my life for actual good old meditation meditation. Mostly clearing up the toys meditation, or fixing up the house meditation. Anyway, I've noticed I can maintain awareness better while swimming in the longet 50 metre pool, rather than the indoor 25 m pool. Reaching the end breaks the rhythm, and I find I have to start focussing again.

2003-03-06T12:05:00.000+10:00

Diet for a Mindful Planet

A commentary on the Fifth Precept as interpreted by Thich Nhat Hanh

2003-03-06T12:02:00.000+10:00

Fifth Mindfulness Training of Thich Nhat Hanh Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society.

2003-03-06T11:58:00.000+10:00

Gees

Gees, is it really that long sice I last logged anything? Did I go to sleep for two weeks? Someone wake me up! Oh, I'm awake already.

2003-02-23T10:23:00.000+10:00

"I wish to live my life deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and not when I come to die, discover that I had not lived."
- Henry David Thoreau

2003-02-19T07:31:00.000+10:00

What's new?

Computer down for a couple of days.
Am reading through Thich Naht Hanh's version of the five precepts, some of which have been posted here.
On Thursday last at the sangha we did a guided meditation on them, then there is a discussion this coming Thursday.

2003-02-17T22:36:00.000+10:00

Listening and Talking in the Present Moment

The Fourth mindfulness training of Thich Nhat Hanh Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy and hope. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a commentary on the 4th Precept.

2003-02-14T14:46:00.000+10:00

How can we develop sexual responsibility?

The Third Mindfulness Training of Thich Nhat Hanh
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivate responsibility and learn ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and a long-term commitment. To preserve the happiness of myself and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.

2003-02-13T16:25:00.000+10:00

How can we live generously in a time of greed?

The Second Mindfulness Training of Thich Nhat Hanh
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to cultivate loving kindness and learn ways to work for the well-being of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am committed to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

2003-02-13T10:49:00.000+10:00

Life is a Gift

San Francisco Zen Center: Dharma Talks by Blanche Hartman As I was walking out of the hospital having survived a heart attack about eleven years ago, I thought, “Wow! I could be dead. The rest of my life is just a gift.” And then I thought, “Well, it always has been a gift from the very beginning and I never noticed it until it was almost gone.”

2003-02-13T10:45:00.000+10:00

Swimming meditation?

Is it possible to meditate while swimming? Maybe not in the traditional sense, although there may be comparisons with the so-called 'marathon monks' of Mount Hiei in Japan.

When I swim, I focus on my breathing, aware of every in breath and out breath. In these circumstances, breath cannot be taken for granted, but is obviously essential and precious. Even though a procession of diverse thoughts flashes through my mind, I keep bringing myself back to the present moment and to the actual act of swimming. After a while I forget how many laps I've done, or even how long I've been swimming. I'm not a particularly good swimmer, but I can learn to do what I do mindfully. That's a kind of awareness, I suppose. But then it's hard to say that it's Meditation with a capital M, because it's just swimming. Really swimming.

A parody of Buddhist swimming can be found at the
Zen Diving Organization.

2003-02-12T13:03:00.000+10:00

How can we live peacefully in a world on the brink of war?

The First Mindfulness Training of Thich Nhat Hanh

Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.

2003-02-12T12:40:00.000+10:00

In the present moment, what can be said about the 'war on terror'?

"Strike against Terror", by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and peace activist The root of terrorism should be identified, so that it can be removed. The root of terrorism is misunderstanding, intolerance, hatred, revenge and hopelessness. This root cannot be located by the military. Bombs and missiles cannot reach it, let alone destroy it. Only with the practice of looking deeply can our insight reveal and identify this root. Only with the practice of deep listening and compassion can it be transformed and removed.

2003-02-11T19:45:00.000+10:00

The day is very busy, and there are many demands placed on us.

It can seem that there is no time to sit quietly and take stock of who, and where, and why, we are.

But the day is also a succession of one present moment after another, thousands of them,
each one filled with enough reality to last a lifetime.

The trick is to notice them, to be aware of what is passing.

What visited me today in my ten minutes of sitting meditation?

Flies

A large red ant

A juvenile magpie

It sat on the railing in front of me, inquisitive.

At first I thought it hadn't noticed me, but then it seemed to be keeping me company.

I watched as it curled and uncurled the toes of its claws around the metal rail, as it sharpened its beak on the curve, scritch-scratch.

I noticed the way the wind ruffled its still-downy breast feathers so much that it turned around in one hop so as to streamline itself.

When at last I stood up, it didn't fly away, just bounced its way along the rail, apprehensively. I would have been apprehensive too, in its place. There is a four hundred metre drop directly below, all the way to the valley floor.

The yellow-tailed cockatoos sail over the chasm as if it weren't there.

2003-02-11T13:07:00.000+10:00

In the present moment my 2 year old son is waking up.
I must see to him before I see to this.