So much has happened…
Lovely warm weather, sitting on the front porch, and finally making a new entry…
This morning, I promised to post several links; here they are:
Infinite Potential, documentary about scientist David Bohm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDpurdHKpb8
Terence McKenna Final Interview 1998 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdEKhIk-8Gg&t=30s
Rupert Sheldrake, Morphic Resonance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0koc5-AjcM&t=58s
This Is Milwaukee https://www.thisismilwaukee.us/?fbclid=IwAR2YPe5SclYsy_VIhrxPs6wCk3JqA6TVSoMYrK-EQZfwE8dQCHRcLYopNf8
Enjoy!
Yesterday we held our first “open” event, a Work Day, where nine of us did a lot of repair, cleaning, weed pulling etc., wearing face masks and keeping distance. We did not share meals or any group activity, but it was lovely seeing people in person again.
Since mid-March all our programs were available by Zoom teleconferencing only, and at that time we thought that the immediate danger of the novel coronavirus would pass within a few weeks, two months at the most. However, it became increasingly clear that we would be living under special conditions for a long time, and it is certainly not over by now (July 12).
The MZC Board decided to allow individuals to sit in the zendo with precautions that are stated on the homepage, and that seems to be working well for now. We will have to be creative offering new programs, such as the Fall Practice Period.
On May 25, George Floyd was killed by a policeman, and the world witnessed the brutal murder which was filmed on a bystander’s phone and went viral in minutes. In many countries, protests started happening right away, and solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement was voiced in unprecedented ways. Since then calls for the defunding of the police and awareness of racism and white supremacy have become more and more intense.
All this has had an immediate impact on myself as a Zen teacher. For a while I have been feeling the unrest and unease that was caused by mass shootings, police brutality, mass incarceration, deportation of migrants and climate disasters. Now I was asked for support by all kinds of interfaith and social justice organizations. Even though the actions of the last few months have been very satisfying, at the same time I am aware that there is so much more we need to do.
Without taking a side of a political party, it is very obvious that a change in leadership needs to happen in this country. As the crisis is unfolding, only radical changes can make a difference in the suffering of the world. That means, also as Buddhists we have to take a stand.
The SZBA (Soto Zen Buddhist Association) has been organizing meetings among ourselves, with climate and race specialists informing us about the problems that we are facing as Americans and as Zen teachers. How can we teach the dharma in a way that is congruent with the current crises?