Election advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Requesting and offering prayers and aspirations for those in need.
Post Reply
Nicholas Weeks
Posts: 4209
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:21 am
Location: California

Election advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Malcolm
Posts: 42974
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:19 am

Re: Election advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Post by Malcolm »

In the meantime, it is necessary to stem the rising tide of Fascism and environmental devastation ushered in by the Trump Administration.
Jeff H
Posts: 1020
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:56 pm
Location: Vermont, USA

Re: Election advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Post by Jeff H »

Malcolm wrote:
In the meantime, it is necessary to stem the rising tide of Fascism and environmental devastation ushered in by the Trump Administration.
But how? I, too, am very concerned about all the policies Trump is successfully instituting behind his clownish behavior, and also his empowering of racist and jingoistic forces. But what is an appropriate -- and effective -- response from a Buddhist perspective? Surely it must be more like Gandhi and Martin Luther King than the Weather Underground and the current Anti-Fas.

This article from Politico talks about Anti-Fa. Is it possible to reconcile any instance of intense anger or violence with, for example, Shantideva? Can violence have a positive outcome, especially when two, competing “resistance armies” are at it? I have no trouble taking sides regarding the underlying principles, but do the ends justify the means?
In the article Josh Meyer wrote:In their April 2016 assessment, the DHS and FBI said the anarchist groups would likely become more lethal if “fascist, nationalist, racist or anti-immigrant parties obtain greater prominence or local political power in the United States, leading to anti-racist violent backlash from anarchist extremists.”

The assessment also said the anarchist groups could become more aggressive if they seek to “retaliate violently to a violent act by a white supremacist extremist or group,” they acquire more powerful weapons or they obtain the financial means to travel abroad and learn more violent tactics.

Several state law enforcement officials said that all of those accelerating factors have come to pass. And recent FBI and DHS reports confirm they are actively monitoring “conduct deemed potentially suspicious and indicative of terrorist activity” by antifa groups.
Where now is my mind engaged? - Shantideva
Nicholas Weeks
Posts: 4209
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:21 am
Location: California

Re: Election advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Rinpoche offered this advice following the 2016 presidential election in the United States. Transcribed by Ven. Holly Ansett on November 14, 2016, and edited by Nicolas Ribush.
My most dear, most kind, most precious wish-fulfilling ones,
In regards to the recent election in the United States, I wanted to suggest that you make prayers that loving kindness, compassion and bodhicitta be generated in the heart of Mr. Trump, all the government people and everybody else in the country, and even in the heart of people in other countries. In that way everybody in the United States and in the world can enjoy perfect peace and happiness.

Pray also to pacify war, famine, disease, economic problems and the dangers of fire, wind, water, earthquakes and tsunamis in the United States and the whole world—may these things never happen and may there be perfect peace and happiness in the United States and the rest of the world.

Pray that America will help and bring harmony to other countries and cause perfect peace and happiness to them and to help everyone to develop the correct wisdom that pacifies suffering and brings ultimate, everlasting happiness.

Prayer has power since everything is created by the mind; everything comes from the mind. So prayer does have power. As the Buddha said, “The results of whatever prayers are done will happen.”

We all need to develop the correct ultimate wisdom realizing emptiness and bodhicitta. If we ourselves do not wish to suffer, we need to be free from samsara. That is why wisdom is so important.

The Buddha also said, “Do not engage in unwholesome actions [because you don’t like suffering], engage in perfect wholesome actions [since you wish for happiness] and subdue your own mind.”

Don’t harm yourself and don’t harm others—practice the good heart towards others. This will bring peace and happiness to all living beings in this world, to the United States, to your own family and lastly, to you yourself. You are the last one.

Thank you very much.
[My emphasis in bold.]
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Post Reply

Return to “Prayers and Aspirations”