we put so much off, waiting for the right time, waiting to be ready, waiting for the perfect moment, not knowing if another moment or even one more breath will come.
what if this moment, in all of its imperfection, in all of its ambiguity, in all of its restlessness IS the perfect moment to love, to be kind, to serve, to work for peace, to forgive and heal, to restore, to learn and grow, to dream, to open our hearts and awareness, to connect with others, and to let go, simply because it is truly the only moment we have?
it’s #GivingTuesday! although there are many causes and organizations close to my heart and that i donate to throughout the year, i’d like to put a spotlight on three organizations who regularly and without favor go directly to the suffering caused by tragedy and conflict, helping people, in devastating circumstances, with the most basic and fundamental of needs – food, healthcare, and shelter.
World Central Kitchen, Doctors Without Borders, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) really exemplify unbiased empathy and compassion, which is love in action and the foundations of peace.
please consider these incredible organizations in your generosity.
may hearts open and wisdom arise in our world to the benefit of us all.
“I call on anyone who has the capacity to amplify messages of light, of love, of peace, of connection, of unity, of remembering that we are one family, we are one race. And if we can do that, we will create a better world together.”
ethics are at the forefront of the Buddhist path. this is sometimes forgotten w/ so much emphasis on meditation & the mindfulness movement, but ethics are a cornerstone to practice & the path which is ultimately about embodying love & reducing/ending suffering. Buddhists often take vows in this regard. for non-monastics, the Five Precepts, are the focus. these aren’t commandments as much as guidelines for living an ethical life & they include: abstaining from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct or harm, lying or false speech, & intoxication (mindlessness).
these can sound like a strict moral code, but ultimately they are about living our lives in a way that doesn’t harm others or ourselves & are flexible to interpretation to a degree. they are considered training, a form of practice & are even called “the five rules of training”. Zen Master, Vietnamese Buddhist & peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh refers to them as “The Five Mindfulness Trainings” & has written his own interpretation/commentary on them. his approach is much more nuanced & comprehensive, tackling in the First Precept, for instance, what does it mean to “kill” and extending the meaning to include harming.
~j ⭕️♥️🙏🏼
here’s his interpretation/commentary:
THE FIRST MINDFULNESS TRAININGS
“Reverence for Life”
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning 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 support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Norman Fischer shares an insightful perspective on the essence of spiritual practice.
He suggests that all virtues ultimately serve the greater principles of love and compassion.
These are not difficult concepts to grasp or appreciate.
Indeed, when asked about what truly matters, individuals from all walks of life typically cite connection, compassion, and love.
This universal agreement underscores the profound beauty and power of these innate human qualities.
So, it’s worth remembering that amidst the complexity and grandeur of our lives, it all distills down to simple truths: Love and compassion are at the core of our existence.
In the end, they are what truly matter.
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for a number of years, but especially now with all that’s happening, i’ve been leaning into the aware, wise, and open-hearted words of some progressive rabbis. Rabbi Jill Jacobs being one of them.
lasting peace and security can only happen when all lives are valued without discrimination, when the priority is safety and well being for all people. it’s not something that can be terrorized into, and it’s not found through a path paved in bombs. it won’t arrive with the elimination of the “other”.
we must rise above the worst impulses of some, rather than descending into mutual destruction.
we’ll know we have arrived when there are no strangers among us, when we awaken from our ignorance and we recognize our interdependence as the family we already, truly are.
may hearts open, may wisdom arise, may compassion prevail.
The Metta Garden 