Unintended Consequences

Cats killing billions of animals in the US
By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC

"Cats are one of the top threats to US wildlife, killing billions of animals each year, a study suggests.

The authors estimate they are responsible for the deaths of between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds and 6.9-20.7 billion mammals annually."

For the rest of this article and the original research, see the links below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21236690

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n1/full/ncomms2380.html

And for another view:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/science/that-cuddly-kitty-of-yours-is-a-killer.html?ref=science&_r=0

Seeing these unintended consequences of what is in part kind-heartedness towards cats both domestic and feral, what to do? What to NOT do?

What is compassionate, what is skillful and appropriate actions towards all the beings involved in these conditions and circumstances? What is our practice effort?

(c) 2013 Elihu Genmyo Smith

Guns, listening, practice

Not listening, not attending, is a habit which makes for difficulty and suffering in our life.

We often filter what we hear and see through our habits and positions, through likes, agreements, disagreements and dislikes. We all know this, and yet in our personal life, our social and political life, we continue to operate this way - and then complain and even suffer with the consequences.

What would it take to let go of what we know, to be not knowing and listen - especially to those we disagree with, to those with whom we do not empathize (or even those we demonize)? This is most vital if we are to be who we are, to see clearly what is so and to manifest skillful and appropriate functioning.

The inability and unwillingness to hear what other say is evident in the recent political and media discussions about guns. How often can "one side" acknowledge the statements and concerns of the "other" without distorting them and putting them down? Do we notice our self doing this, whether on this topic or in other areas of out life?

Below I have linked to an excellent article which explores various positions and proposals regarding guns. I encourage you to read this - and practice in the midst of reading, being attentive to mind-chatter and reactive habits about the quotes from various people, especially those people who you know, by their identification, that you "disagree with them." Do you notice an unwillingness to listen, to hear and get what they are saying - before you explain it away? Make an effort, when you notice not listening, not hearing, to let that go and be present in reading, in attending. Please work with this slowly and see what you discover.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/12/the-case-for-more-guns-and-more-gun-control/309161/#

Reading this article is just one way to work with not-knowing, with the hindrance caused by holding to knowing. How else and where else in your life can this practice be appropriate and skillful?

(c) 2013 Elihu Genmyo Smith

Buddhism in India

"Hardships and Downfall of Buddhism" by Giovanni Verardi, published by Manohar, 2011, is an outstanding study of Buddhism and political, social and economic relationships in India. 

 

This book explores the period from Ashoka's reign (269 -232 BCE) until the Muslim conquest of the Indian subcontinent in the 9th - 10th Century CE, clarifying the relationship between the Buddhist Sangha/Buddhist teaching and  various economic forces, trade and foreign relations, political power and inter-communal relations. It also uncovers and explores the conflict with and persecution of Buddhism by Brahmanism and also by Jainism (including enlisting extreme violence by political allies). One reason for this is that Buddhism by its nature and practice challenges the power and privileges of local caste and Brahman elites and authorities. This conflict laid the groundwork for the eventual destruction of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent by the Muslim invasion.

A major theme repeated in a number of cases in this study was the importance of the support by the central government of various states for the survival of Buddhism. Where this support was lacking, or where the state was supportive of Brahmanism, Jainism or later Islam, Buddhism was persecuted, either by the local Brahman authorities or by the central authorities, sometimes to the verge of extinction (which eventually happened under Islamic rule in the Indian subcontinent). There is much more in this excellent, though heavily academic and historical, scholarly work.

Though this book may be hard to find, I was able to borrow this book through an interlibrary loan from a university library.

(c) 2013 Elihu Genmyo Smith

Ghost

by Elihu Genmyo Smith

Sitting is a very simple: being present, experiencing. It is simple, and seemingly any of us can do this. And yet for most of us it is far from easy. How come?

Because in sitting we do not do what we usually do.

What do we NOT do when sitting? We do not live as a ghost, do not cling to the world of ghosts we usually inhabit. Therefore, sitting, being this moment, may seem like taking a great risk.

Much of the time, we live as a ghost in a world of ghosts. What is a ghost? A dead thing that seems to be alive - dead stories of life, dead memories and bodily reactive habits of what was, and what could and should be, which we take as alive and real right now. In living as a ghost we only meet ghosts. Not because others are ghosts but because we see them as ghosts, and we see our self as a ghost.
Look closely! What dead ghost are you keeping around? I don’t mean look at some treasure chest of ghost stories, but this moment, in the midst of this ongoing body-mind-world change that we are, what dead ghost are you holding - holding bodily, holding mentally?

 

.... (the rest of this article is at http://www.prairiezen.org/Readings/Newsletter/prairiesky.htm

 

(c) 2013 Elihu Genmyo Smith

Self-immolation, suicide bombing and Dharma

Here is an interesting article which begins to explore and compare these different forms of political actions, and also shows significant Dharma practice connections. Please note that this is only a start in exploring these forms, but it is a good start in showing some of the roots, the differences and similarities.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/12/03/ultimate_sacrifice#.UL3lR02oz_w.email

For an excellent and extensive study of self-immolation as Buddhist practice, which will challenge, shake-up and broaden many of your conceptions about Buddhism, see:

Burning for the Buddha:  self-immolation in Chinese Buddhism

James A. Benn

 

"Burning for the Buddha: Self-Immolation in Chinese Buddhism is the first book-length study of the theory and practice of "abandoning the body" (self-immolation) in Chinese Buddhism. Although largely ignored by conventional scholarship, the acts of self-immolators (which included not only burning the body but also being devoured by wild animals, drowning oneself, and self-mummification, among others) form an enduring part of the religious tradition and provide a new perspective on the multifarious dimensions of Buddhist practice in China from the early medieval period to the present time. This book examines the hagiographical accounts of all those who made offerings of their own bodies and places them in historical, social, cultural, and doctrinal context."

 

 

http://books.google.com/books/about/Burning_for_the_Buddha.html?id=0OIKAAAAYAAJ

Lincoln (2012) by Steven Spielberg

Seeing and doing what is called for right now - right now in the midst of this moment
circumstances and conditions - is the life task of being who we are.

To do this, we have to see what is so AND to see what beliefs and habits we are
holding that are inaccurate and inappropriate;
to see what considerations and attachments are clouding our vision and understanding,
to see what hinders our ability to respond skillfully to these circumstances.
Seeing what hinders allows releasing this clinging. Right here is being who we are.

When we do not see and release attachments and held beliefs,
are not present in the midst of not-knowing, then clouded vision results in actions
which perpetuate harm and suffering. This in turn perpetuates cause and
effect reactions which continue to blind us and others,
continues the cycles of attachment, harming and delusions.

These clouding considerations, attachments and habits might be psychological,
political and ideological positions; they can be beliefs, hopes and theories, or might be
any number of other body-mind habits. They might be our understanding of the
past and a need to maintain this perspective as the only valid one.

To the extent we can treat these beliefs, feeling and positions as they are in the midst of
this moment and not be blinded or taken over by them, to that extent we can see what is
skillful and appropriate right now. Doing so, we can act in ways that support the
manifestation of the wisdom and compassion that we are right now - in personal relations,
in familial, social and group functioning and in broader political and economic actions,
to list just a few areas.

A recent film, Lincoln (2012) by Steven Spielberg, is a wonderful example of
how some of these issues play out in American history. I do not want to say too much
about the film so as not to detract for those who have not seen the it. The film is an
intersection of  the political, the ethical and the life of practice -
even though no one in the film is formally involved in Zen practice - though all
humans are involved in the daily functioning and manifesting of life which is
exactly Zen practice, whether we and they know it or not.

A number of the historical characters (the film is based on solid
historical research and "facts"), including Abraham Lincoln, his wife
Mary Todd Lincoln, Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, and other
Republican and Democratic leaders, have to face major issues
involving their moral, ethical and political predilictions and past positions
in the face of the ongoing Civil War, the killing and injuries involved, and
the opportunity to pass the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution,
which would end slavery in the US.

In the film we see how even in the midst of good intentions and efforts to
relieve suffering and end war, the seeds of ongoing conflicts, harm and suffering,
are evident and perpetuated if and when there is clinging to positions and beliefs.

We also see aspects of cause-and-effect of various forces - including slavery in
the south and the abolitionist actions which led up to the Civil War,
the ways the war was fought, the negotiations and attempts to end the war,
and other factors leading to the assassination of Lincoln, Reconstruction
and the Jim Crow period which follows the war (and continues to the present).

There are similar circumstances in ongoing conflicts between and within
states throughout the world - whether in Eastern Europe, the Baltic and Russia,
in the issues between China, Japan and Korea, as well as between the Chinese
and Tibet, in the various Sunni - Shiite conflicts among Muslims, as well as the
many conflicts in the Middle East, to name just a few.

If you are going to see a film, I recommend Lincoln (2012)!

Below is a short Dharma discussion that just begins exploring some practice issues
related to this :

http://www.prairiezen.org/Audio/Sunday/PTSD_2_11-25-12.mp3


Our life practice is in the midst of circumstances, and especially when
upset, angry, or judging others. Do we notice holding to conceptions and
attachments to beliefs, and habitual reactions, that might cloud
our ability to see what is so and to do what is called for? These are our ongoing
practice life opportunities - being just this moment.

We also can look at major issues which need political action. Are the Democratic and Republican leaders attempting to find skillful and appropriate joint actions and policies to address the national problems, whether in terms of the current "fiscal cliff" and national debt, or in terms of immigration and those in the US illegally, to name just two areas - or are they holding on to and blinded by their own party positions, posturing and narrow self interest as opposed to the public interest? Certainly this is a good question to ask over and over on all levels of governmental functioning; I know it is relevant to Illinois, which faces major debt and potential bankruptcy unless something is done soon.


(c) 2012 Elihu Genmyo Smith

"A day without working is a day without eating."

"A day without working is a day without eating" is attributed to Chan Master Baizhang Huaihai (Hyakujo), 720 - 814 CE.

In a simplified form, this is often taken as a guideline for personal effort and responsibility in this interconnected life.

Some of the issues that have been raised in various political debates, as well as utilized to attack opponents in the recent election campaigns, and which continue to be explored and debated in the various discussions of economic and tax policies, are themes which also touch on personal responsibility in this interconnected life:

1. What are appropriate rates of taxation, who should be taxed and how much, and what is the meaning of sharing burdens for public needs?

2. How do we distinguish between policies which serve the public, especially those that compassionately serve those in need, and entitlements which result in increased dependence and self-centeredness, with the resulting harm? 

3.What are our attitudes about entitlements to benefits and services, as well as towards distribution of benefits to those to whom we apply categories and judgments such as "deserving" and "undeserving" - and the various abuses of the benefits and entitlement systems? 

4. What encourages economic and national growth and what hinders this while enriching unfairly certain individuals, identifiable groups or sectors of society?

Clarifying  "a day without working is a day without eating"  on an ongoing basis is a nice practice support and useful in our public discussions and responses.

In exploring and clarifying  these matters, what do you find? 

How do these concerns come up in your life, in the life of those with whom you are connected? 

What is helpful and supportive - and what leads to conflict, stress and harm, even fear, anger and worse? 

What is manifesting this awakened life in the midst of this? 

(c) 2012 Elihu Genmyo Smith