Activism

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paxamo
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Activism

Post by paxamo »

I am wondering, is activism very common among Buddhists? For example: civil rights activism, helping to relieve poverty (not having enough money to live, as opposed to living the simple life), slowing down corporations who seem to be becoming too powerful for the world's good, and working towards environmental protection.

Thank you,
Last edited by paxamo on Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice" - Confucius
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Aloka
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Re: Activism

Post by Aloka »

Hi Paxamo,

I think many Buddhists do whatever they can in relation to important issues such as the environment, helping the poor, working for equal rights etc etc - but I think "fighting" probably isn't a word I'd use personally. For me 'fighting' implies anger and conflict, and its good to try to avoid acting out of anger, if that's possible.

With metta,

Aloka
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paxamo
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Re: Activism

Post by paxamo »

Thank you Metta for the advice,

I will watch my word usage more carefully. I did not use the word "fighting" out of anger. I just use it in general to describe working towards something with a passion. I will change it.

-Paxamo
"To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice" - Confucius
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retrofuturist
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Re: Activism

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Paxamo,
paxamo wrote:I will watch my word usage more carefully. I did not use the word "fighting" out of anger. I just use it in general to describe working towards something with a passion.
In terms of renunciation, passion is no better than fighting.

I suspect if you want a clear answer to this question, it may require a little refinement in the application of concepts.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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pink_trike
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Re: Activism

Post by pink_trike »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Paxamo,
paxamo wrote:I will watch my word usage more carefully. I did not use the word "fighting" out of anger. I just use it in general to describe working towards something with a passion.
In terms of renunciation, passion is no better than fighting.
Perhaps he meant "compassion"...the passions in the service of the common good. Com.passion
Vision is Mind
Mind is Empty
Emptiness is Clear Light
Clear Light is Union
Union is Great Bliss

- Dawa Gyaltsen

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Disclaimer: I'm a non-religious practitioner of Theravada, Mahayana/Vajrayana, and Tibetan Bon Dzogchen mind-training.
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zavk
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Re: Activism

Post by zavk »

Hi Paxamo

Have tried Googling 'engaged Buddhism'? That should link you up to a few resources.
With metta,
zavk
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Ben
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Re: Activism

Post by Ben »

Hi Paxamo

Service or 'selfless service' is a component of my own practice. I think its absolutely essential to not only assist others with their practice but also extend a helping hand, when and where possible, to help alleviate the causes of gross suffering in the world.

In the past I have gotten involved in raising money and profile for medical research and medical charities. At the moment, I am raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the Beyondblue Australian Depression Initiative via the 'Movember' campaign: http://www.au.movember.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or follow the link in my signature.
kind regards

Ben
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retrofuturist
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Re: Activism

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
pink_trike wrote:Perhaps he meant "compassion"...the passions in the service of the common good. Com.passion
The fact these two words (passion and compassion) possess the same derivation in English only goes to show how far off the mark they are as accurate renderings of their Pali equivalents.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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pink_trike
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Re: Activism

Post by pink_trike »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,
pink_trike wrote:Perhaps he meant "compassion"...the passions in the service of the common good. Com.passion
The fact these two words (passion and compassion) possess the same derivation in English only goes to show how far off the mark they are as accurate renderings of their Pali equivalents.

Metta,
Retro. :)
You may be right (though I'd like to hear more about why you think this), but I was suggesting that this might be what he meant.
Vision is Mind
Mind is Empty
Emptiness is Clear Light
Clear Light is Union
Union is Great Bliss

- Dawa Gyaltsen

---

Disclaimer: I'm a non-religious practitioner of Theravada, Mahayana/Vajrayana, and Tibetan Bon Dzogchen mind-training.
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paxamo
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Re: Activism

Post by paxamo »

Hello,

I define passion as a strong feeling or emotion. Passionate is the trait of being intensely emotional. It does not have a positive or negative denotation, and in my experience not a positive or negative connotation either. It happens to be my case though, that I want to help people in this world, and protect our environment, and alleviate civil rights, with compassion and love. I will admit that I have just started studying Buddhism and my heart is filled with hatred once in a while, but these were certainly not the feelings that I had when talking about helping the world.

Anyway, I am glad to hear that Buddhists are quite active in alleviating suffering in the world!

-Paxamo
"To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice" - Confucius
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mikenz66
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Re: Activism

Post by mikenz66 »

Hi paxamo,
paxamo wrote: I want to help people in this world, and protect our environment, and alleviate civil rights, with compassion and love ...
This is a worthy aspiration.

From a Buddhist perspective, it is important to be clear about what compassion is. The Buddha described four "Divine Abidings":
1. Metta (Loving-kindness)
2. Karuna (Compassion)
3. Mudita (Joy with others)
4. Upekkha (Equanimity)

It is helpful to understand what they are, and what they are not. There are some details in the following links, but the key point is that they are easily confused with their "near enemies", states that are somewhat similar, but not the real thing. Perhaps most obviously, Equanimity is not indifference.
http://www.brahmaviharas.org/article-Th ... iharas.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Pity is the near enemy to compassion for it has a hidden quality of aversion. The delusion of pity comes, in part, from the belief that if we hold ourselves as separate that we are protecting ourselves in some way. Karuna dissolves the boundaries divide our hearts in two. With growing compassion we are less apt to look away - to withdraw our attention - to abandon or be abandoned.
http://www.arrowriver.ca/dhamma/divabid.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Compassion is a state that is very often misunderstood. There is nothing mawkish or sentimental about true compassion. It is the earnest wish that all beings be freed from their suffering. It can be thought of as an active love, whereas loving-kindness is a passive form. If it is tinged by sadness or pity then it isn't pure. The near enemy is grief and the far enemy is cruelty, or the wish to inflict harm.
See also: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el006.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Metta
Mike
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paxamo
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Re: Activism

Post by paxamo »

Mike, thanks for giving me a bit of a path to follow! It's tough to figure out what to study when you are just starting off! I will read through the articles when I have more time.

With much appreciation,

Paxamo
"To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice" - Confucius
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retrofuturist
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Re: Activism

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Pink_trike,
pink_trike wrote:You may be right (though I'd like to hear more about why you think this), but I was suggesting that this might be what he meant.
As for the more about why I think this, the quotes/links above provided by Mike cover this well. Passion is the 'burning', and the Buddha never got burned by karuna.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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pink_trike
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Re: Activism

Post by pink_trike »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Pink_trike,
pink_trike wrote:You may be right (though I'd like to hear more about why you think this), but I was suggesting that this might be what he meant.
As for the more about why I think this, the quotes/links above provided by Mike cover this well. Passion is the 'burning', and the Buddha never got burned by karuna.

Metta,
Retro. :)
Ah, I see. The "passions" are considered a bit more useful in the other traditions, after they are transformed into their beneficial aspect or left to arise in their naturally occurring non-perverted pure state. :smile:
Vision is Mind
Mind is Empty
Emptiness is Clear Light
Clear Light is Union
Union is Great Bliss

- Dawa Gyaltsen

---

Disclaimer: I'm a non-religious practitioner of Theravada, Mahayana/Vajrayana, and Tibetan Bon Dzogchen mind-training.
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retrofuturist
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Re: Activism

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Pink,
pink_trike wrote:Ah, I see. The "passions" are considered a bit more useful in the other traditions, after they are transformed into their beneficial aspect or left to arise in their naturally occurring non-perverted pure state. :smile:
If there is "transformation" in Theravada, it would the transformation of these passions to the brahma-vihara of upekkha (equanimity).

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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