tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post6776944567931703609..comments2024-02-24T00:41:37.836-08:00Comments on The Buddha Diaries: The Gonzales ResignationPeter Clothierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11525159413387378704noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-83240251563088637242007-08-30T17:13:00.000-07:002007-08-30T17:13:00.000-07:00Good post and important points being made.I wouldn...Good post and important points being made.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't worry about bottling up your sense of outrage in order to be a good "Buddhist", In fact speaking your truth and standing up for ethical justice is a much more Buddhist thing to be doing. It's not as if you are allowing yourself to be overcome with anger and doing harm because of it. Buddhism is a religion of action, in this present moment, and its perfectly skillful for us to ask questions of authority and demand accountability and right action from our government.<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your stand here and your resolve to be yourself and not suppress the truth in the name of a wimpy new age perversion of Buddhism.Gregorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16134656071539163367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-83258507645412816782007-08-29T20:13:00.000-07:002007-08-29T20:13:00.000-07:00A child went to the movie with his mother.On the s...A child went to the movie with his mother.<BR/><BR/>On the screen, he saw a man hurting a puppy. He was angry and ran up to the screen and try to hit the man, only to realise that he is hitting a blank screen.<BR/><BR/>Allow me to share The serenity prayer that came to my mind:<BR/><BR/><BR/><I>Grant me the serenity<BR/><BR/>to accept the things I cannot change;<BR/><BR/>courage to change the things I can;<BR/><BR/>and wisdom to know the difference. </I><BR/><BR/><BR/>Hope this helps.... my palRobin CHANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980108678986165599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-115917951103547372007-08-28T14:50:00.000-07:002007-08-28T14:50:00.000-07:00While pointing out incompetencies, corruption and ...While pointing out incompetencies, corruption and injustice is good for stirring the ire of an apathetic public, I also believe that real change cannot be brought about without dispassionate, respectful and open-minded dialogue with those holding an opposing view. <BR/><BR/>We need to create more of those magical moments when somebody actually changes their mind on an issue...and this can only really be done through compassionate communication. While anger feels cathartic and inspiring to those on your side, it is likely to be aggravating and polarizing to people who disagree with the sentiment.Cardozohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15458100243031931974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-76537264313088230752007-08-28T14:34:00.000-07:002007-08-28T14:34:00.000-07:00Peter, surely expressing anger in a skillful way (...Peter, surely expressing anger in a skillful way (which you do) is not against the precepts of Buddhism. In a world where people each take on responsibiity for their own actions and feelings, your anger is your own and will not create confusion and chaos in others. <BR/><BR/>Now, since Bush (and perhaps those who voted for him) lack an ability to accept responsibility, I'm not so sure. I would hope that your anger COULD cause chaos and confusion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-44743512443020058562007-08-28T14:05:00.000-07:002007-08-28T14:05:00.000-07:00I agree with Robin. Since we are all interconnecte...I agree with Robin. Since we are all interconnected we must stay politically active to ensure the best government that is possible. <BR/><BR/>The best government to reduce the greatest amount of suffering for not only humans but also for animals and the environment. That's my take on it. :)<BR/><BR/>As for Gonzo, I'm glad that he's gone too. Hopefully someone a little more responsible will be nominated to replace him. However, I don't have much hope in Bush if his past actions and nominations are indicators.They call him James Urehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05171585857015973860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-63730685263969284732007-08-28T10:18:00.000-07:002007-08-28T10:18:00.000-07:00Just this morning I was talking to a friend about ...Just this morning I was talking to a friend about the nature of dreams, especially those in which the dreamer is naked. No one else seems to notice.<BR/><BR/>Comparing this very real dream called the Bush Administration to the "Emperor's New Clothes" had been done before, but it's so appropriate. <BR/><BR/>In the Beginning, there was at best 50% of the population that refused to see the Naked President. Instead, they saw the brilliant defender of Family Values and Freedom, a man who was going to save our country, first from the Godless Liberals, and then from the Terrorists Who Hate Our Freedoms (and who, apparently, don't believe in the Right God).<BR/><BR/>That population is getting smaller, but it really doesn't matter. It seems nothing will be done about it.<BR/><BR/>The theme of the Watergate hearings was the End does NOT justify the Means. Unfortunately, those who refuse to see the president as the moral and intellectual bankrupt he really is also insist that End certainly does justify any Means necessary. <BR/><BR/>Yet another lesson of Vietnam - as revealed through the Pentagon Papers - is that the government will lie to the citizens it serves as a means to an end. The lesson of the Bush administration is that many, many of this country's citizens don't mind being lied to. Of course it depends on who's doing the lying, doesn't it? <BR/><BR/>George Bush and his Puppeteers have used (subverted) religion as a Means to justify a number of Ends. But a Puppet can leap only so high as his handlers can reach. And it does appear that the Puppeteers are, little by little, abandoning the show.<BR/><BR/>Eventually, the theater will empty as the disillusioned crowd wanders home. But there will so much more to clean up than popcorn and sticky soda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-4424735395747374052007-08-28T09:09:00.000-07:002007-08-28T09:09:00.000-07:00It's perfect and good to rant about these things. ...It's perfect and good to rant about these things. The very fact that these men run our country creates an ongoing cognitive dissonance. We know what is true and right about life, yet they insist on a reality that is horribly and dangerously false. Your deeply-lived religious life should not silence your convictions.robin andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13390482190562312928noreply@blogger.com