are we paying attention?

in 2015 i posted an article written by a historian warning of the trend both in the US and globally toward authoritarianism, fomented by “strong men” (and “strong women” – one should note this term doesn’t equate actual strength) who embrace ultra nationalist ideology. to my chagrin, i am unable to find that essay now. it was a warning, a warning we’ve been slow to heed in this country and we are living out the consequences. elections have consequences.

anti-Semitism is on the rise in our country. my heart and voice are with my Jewish friends. i stand in solidarity with you. it should be noted that anti-Semitism goes hand in hand with authoritarian movements. 

i’ve shared Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From The Twentieth Century, multiple times, because it is so applicable to what we are experiencing in our country today. history is being repeated. the chipping away of our representative democracy is happening, following the playbook.

no one wins and no one, no group is ultimately safe, with fascism. no one. it only leads to harm and destruction. it eventually fails, but at what cost? why align with such harm, such destruction?

please read history, please face the present moment, please use your voice to push back against fascism and most importantly #VOTE in these #midterm #elections. we are just a little over a week away. i have links in my bio to inform yourself and to register if you haven’t.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏻

#democracy #fascism #EngagedBuddhism #path #practice #JinpaLhaga #TimothySnyder #OnTyranny

more and more in my own life and practice, and as i read the wisdom of others long in their journey, it seems clear that love and compassion (which i would call embodied love) are choices we make, vows we commit to.

feelings come and go. basing our compassion on how we feel can lead to bias in to whom we extend our compassion. there is some ego stuff going on there. but to commit to compassion, a vow so to speak, is something we do regardless of how we feel and it is a choice we make over and over – moment to moment, day to day. 

it can be a challenging commitment, but we can “look to the helpers” as Mr. Rogers once shared, those who are living out that choice – that vow, for inspiration as we commit to do the same.

let’s commit to compassion together and let’s infuse our #VOTE in just a little under two weeks with such intention and loving action, to benefit all beings.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏻

#compassion #EmbodiedLove #love #OpenHeart #wisdom #path #practice #EngagedBuddhism #midterms #JinpaLhaga #RabbiZalmanSchachterShalomQuote #JewishWisdom✡️

vengeance isn’t the same as justice.

choosing to embody and act out of love isn’t a weakness.

and accountability is important for transformation and growth.

these can all be true.

#path and #practice.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏻

#ChooseLove #love #OpenHeart #wisdom #DoNoHarm #EngagedBuddhism #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #SanayaRomanQuotes

#SacredDuty #CivicDuty one and the same. we have, for now, the immeasurable privilege & opportunity to have a say in our representative #democracy. a voice in what happens next. an action that carries the goodwill and hope of generations before us.

we are on a precipice. please #engage #participate and #VOTE

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏻

Posted @withrepost • @mindourdemocracy Thanissara on how we further the sacred legacy of democratic participation when we vote! 🙏 🗳️

#MindOurDemocracy

#MindfulVoting

#2022Midterms

in California?
check out this GREAT resource for Nov 8th #MidtermElections.

from candidates to measures, from local to statewide, you can type in your zip code and find explainers, match up your values/policy priorities with candidates, etc.

#engage our #democracy. #educate yourself #inform yourself and #VOTE.

link below 👍🏻

~j
⭕️♥️🙏🏻

Posted @withrepost • @kpbs The KPBS Voter Hub is your one stop for everything you need to know for the November 8 election.

It’s home to explainers, an interactive virtual ballot guide, a candidate matcher quiz, resources on how to vote and where, and of course all the latest news!

Check it out at https://kpbs.org/voterhub

---

El centro de votantes de KPBS es su única parada para todo lo que necesita saber para las elecciones del 8 de noviembre.

Es el hogar de explicadores, una guía de votación virtual interactiva, un cuestionario de comparación de candidatos, recursos sobre cómo votar y dónde, y por supuesto, ¡todas las últimas noticias!

Compruébalo en kpbs.org/guiaelectoral

🌀

These mountains

that you are carrying,

you were

only supposed to

climb.

~

Najwa Zebian

give yourself a break.

are you doing the best you can to live and love authentically with an open heart?

to speak with kindness and move with compassion?

then cut yourself some slack.

if you aren’t doing these things, then do your best to begin, one breath and one step at a time.

and then give yourself a break, cut yourself some slack, and begin again.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏻

#grace #ease #BeginAgain #selfcare #path #practice #EngagedBuddhist #JinpaLhaga #zen #enso #art #ZenArt #BuddhistArt #ContemplativeArt #JMWart #NajwaZebianQuotes

🌀

These mountains

that you are carrying,

you were

only supposed to

climb.

~

Najwa Zebian

give yourself a break.

are you doing the best you can to live and love authentically with an open heart?

to speak with kindness and move with compassion?

then cut yourself some slack.

if you aren’t doing these things, then do your best to begin, one breath and one step at a time.

and then give yourself a break, cut yourself some slack, and begin again.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏻

#grace #ease #BeginAgain #selfcare #path #practice #EngagedBuddhist #JinpaLhaga #zen #enso #art #ZenArt #BuddhistArt #ContemplativeArt #JMWart #NajwaZebianQuotes

🌀

this moment in history is calling to us. our ancestors are calling to us. future generations are calling to us. those who are marginalized, targeted, and oppressed are calling to us.
may we answer the call.

#participate #engage #vote

~j
⭕️♥️🙏🏻

Posted @withrepost • @mindourdemocracy When your grandchildren ask you, “how did you mind our democracy?” what will you say? @jack_kornfield offers his guidance for how to respond.

#MindOurDemocracy

#MindfulVoting

#2022Midterms

🌀

“We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open to what scares us. We always have this choice….”

~ Pema Chödrön 

we can choose to keep an open heart.

we can choose to allow vulnerability, softness, and tenderness to be our strength, our super power.

we can choose to be brave.

bravery is a practice.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏻

#bravery #OpenHeart #vulnerability #tenderness #superpower #strength #path #practice #PemaChödrönQuotes #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art #calligraphy

climate change. war. poverty. so much suffering comes from greed, our aggression defending it, and our delusion that gives birth to it.

how has greed of others affected your life? how has greed within you affected yours and others’ lives?

an antidote to greed is generosity – towards ourselves and others. another is practicing gratitude and contentment. how do you practice gratitude?

we can regularly ask ourselves – do i need this? beyond my basic needs (food, water, clothing, shelter, wellness, friendship), what do i need?

~j

⭕️❤️🙏🏻

#greed #RootPoison #suffering #gratitude #contentment #OpenHeart #path #practice #EngagedBuddhism #JinpaLhaga #KenetsuTakamoriQuotes