Just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, her only son,
so one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings, and loving-kindness towards all the world.
One should cultivate an unbounded mind, above and below and across, without obstruction, without enmity, without rivalry.
Standing, or going, or seated, or lying down, as long as one is free from drowsiness, one should practice this mindfulness.
This, they say, is the holy state here.
-Sutta Nipata
One should cultivate an unbounded mind, above and below and across, without obstruction, without enmity, without rivalry.
Standing, or going, or seated, or lying down, as long as one is free from drowsiness, one should practice this mindfulness.
This, they say, is the holy state here.
-Sutta Nipata
The only reason we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes.
-Pema Chodron
-Pema Chodron
Although the political repercussions may have serious consequences, it is our moral duty to provide assistance to those who are suffering. Placing ourselves in the shoes of others we would understand how aid, in a humanitarian crisis, might be the only saving grace between life with hope, or humiliation and a devastating death. This aid would comfort our families, our communities and ultimately us.
What if it was your brother or sister that was raped and murdered? What if it was your grandparents that were left by the side of the road, already covered with insects that prey on the decaying? What if your arm had been amputated out of vicious revenge and was now infected? No food, no water, no shelter, no medical supplies? What if every movement you made was overseen by recruited “enemy” children with machine guns? Would you want someone to come to your aid?
From the relative comfort of our homes we may watch these atrocities on television or on the net. It is easy to speak condemnation but very difficult to act unselfishly and offer support and help. It is very unsettling to act outside our own norms, especially when there is no guaranteed outcome.
Politically, actions to help others can produce a quagmire. Should our military take action? Can we afford to send money to those providing relief? How will the global community react to our actions? We will never know, for certain, what the future repercussions may be, but we do know the consequences of our inaction.
It would serve the United States Denmark (recent assistance to displaced people in Pakistan
Imagine…if countries cooperated and shared resources to help those in crisis, maybe we would eventually learn to live in a cooperative and selflessness with each other. Peace.
