Dharma medicine for these times

February 4, 2025 – Karma and Compassion

The prescient if not omniscient mind of Venerable Chodron, by deciding on Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, as the focus of this year’s Retreat From Afar, has given me an essential  tool in my ability to weather the current political and humanitarian crisis occurring in the United States. Specifically, this week’s focus on attachment has led me to reflect on my attachment to what was clearly an erroneous idea, that the United States was immune to the kind of hostile takeover of the government that is now occurring. I believed that the system of checks and balances written into the constitution along with the moral foundation on which this country was founded would protect us from what is happening now. I thought that what made America great was its moral underpinnings, however flawed had been their execution.

Now I see that for Trump and many others, what makes America great is the constant accumulation of wealth and power, in other words, greed and attachment. All compounded phenomena are impermanent. Self and all phenomena come about through causes and conditions.

In my past lives I created the karmic seeds that have resulted in the mental suffering I am now experiencing. I also created the karmic seeds that allowed me to encounter the Dharma in this lifetime.

Through this Retreat from Afar and beyond I will continue to purify my past negative actions and endeavor to grow my love and compassion for all sentient beings while also working, in whatever small way I can, towards a compassionate society here in the US, where Diversity, Equity and Inclusion continue to be honored. I am endeavoring to take this obstacle as the path.

March 22, 2025 – Faith in the Dharma

Thank you, Venerable Damcho, for your two  Bodhisattva’s Breakfast Corner (BBC) on compassion, “Compassion for the Very Wealthy” and “Compassion for the Very Poor.”

In the current political climate compassion for the rich is particularly difficult, especially when contrasted with the direct harm being done to the most vulnerable among us. For me the harm being perpetrated by those with political power has directly hit my family, my son having been fired from his job with the federal government. It is hard not to feel angry, discouraged and afraid. All that stands between me and those afflictive emotions is the Dharma.

I have been thinking about bodhichitta, having compassion for every single sentient being without exception. This includes Trump and Musk and Vance and all the others who support them or who capitulate to their demands.

I can do this intellectually but it is not yet truly heartfelt, far from it. However, if I have faith in the Dharma, not just admiring faith or even aspiring faith but the faith of conviction then I need to continue to keep meditating on bodhichitta, what it means, what it requires, until this becomes my spontaneous response to all sentient beings that I encounter.

By focusing on what our conventional minds generally see as two opposing poles, rich and poor, and understanding that in whatever category we place people, they remain alike in wanting happiness and wanting to be free from suffering, it is possible to eventually know from the heart that they all have buddha nature, they can all transform their minds, they can all become enlightened, then my mind can expand to include all of them in my compassion.

My faith also must include faith in beginningless time and future lives, rebirths. This long view helps me let go of my attachment to just this life. WIthout this long view I am fairly certain I would not be able to counter my anger, discouragement, and fear.

Take all obstacles as the path. This is what I am trying to do. Your two BBC talks are helping me as I endeavor to do just that.