Dear Wall Street was exceptional.
These are some wonderful thoughts. Everyone needs to contemplate.
About a week ago, I awoke suffering from tremendous vertigo, blurred vision in one eye, tremors, and a stiff neck with pain in the jaw. Some might say, “Hell of a night Mr. Buddha.” Truthfully, this is just a part of the disease I must endure to the end.
Waiting for the usual plethora of tests, I’ve been asked several times about how I’m doing. When queried in such a manner, I internally reflect upon Quincy Adams last letter and quote, The Buddhist “… is well, but the house in which he lives at the present time is becoming dilapidated.”
I know the real battle is the not the disease, it’s within the mind. As CNN anchor Zain Verjee described her battle psoriasis, “My mind is living a separate life from the body beneath it.” Many sitting in the impractical and uncomfortable hospital lounge chairs understand the ocean of pain and fear crushes far worse than the disease. That fear slaughters and drives many from their faith. Likewise those clutching rosaries, religious revivals have swept through thousands of new converts. Yet death’s angel culls both faithful and unfaithful equally.
All of us will stumble upon someone dying. Technically speaking, life itself is both sexually transmitted and terminal. But as we meet those transferring from this life to another, it’s important to remember: this is not about you. It’s about the person with the illness. If you are a friend you will need to get over your discomfort or get out of the way. Those dying really don’t want to console their visitors. For those suffering, romantic conceptions of the battle and gallant heroes riding to save day rarely come. No one visiting someone’s personal battlefield should ever regard life in quite the same fashion as before. Doing otherwise catapults one to being worse than the enemy.
If I can be so bold as to speak for others, being a compassionate and caring friend does not require personal experience identical to what I am living. Don’t disappear. Sure I represent your fear, but I also represent God’s love. Check in with me. Remind me that I’ve not been forgotten. Remind me that I’m your friend.
I will close with an excerpt from When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner:
“Life is not fair. The wrong people get sick and the wrong people get robbed and the wrong people get killed in wars and in accidents. Some people see life’s unfairness and decide, ‘There is no God; the world is noting but chaos.’ Others see the same unfairness and ask themselves, ‘Where do I get my sense of what is fair and what is unfair? Where do I get my sense of outrage and indignation, my instinctive response of sympathy when I read in the paper about a total stranger who has been hurt by life? Don’t I get these things from God? Doesn’t He plant in me a little bit of His own divine outrage at injustice and oppression, just as He did for the prophets of the Bible? Isn’t my feeling of compassion for the afflicted just a reflection of the compassion He feels when He sees the suffering of His creatures?’ Our responding to life’s unfairness with sympathy and with righteous indignation, God’s compassion and God’s anger working through us, may be the surest proof of all of God’s reality.”
As Quincy Adams wrote, “Time and the seasons have nearly destroyed it; its roof is pretty well worn out. Its walls are much shattered, and it trembles with every wind.”
But I my friends … I am having a great day.
In politics, one usually has to give in order to ask for anything. You want that city park built, be ready to donate. Want that new access road, better break out the checkbook. Need that street repaired, someone’s bound to ask for a “small” donation to the campaign coffer. By all accounts, this system of giving and receiving has been in play dating back to the Roman Empire and probably earlier. This may be one of the reasons Christ’s quip, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” is so useful.
Governor Chris Christie may have utilized a similar thought philosophy. One day last spring, a member of Gov. Chris Christie’s re-election campaign staff came calling to see if the Fort Lee’s, PA Mayor (a Democrat) would endorse the governor, a Republican. When the Fort Lee Mayor declined, it is suggested Christie’s staff instituted retribution.
Not long afterward, a police commander at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, led a crew that set up a long, curving line of traffic cones at Fort Lee’s southern approach to the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. The cones funneled drivers normally served by three tollbooths into just one. Other drivers advanced through the two lanes, so tantalizingly close but suddenly off limits. Backups began, and soon much of Fort Lee’s three square miles became a montage of idling cars and collective exasperation.
The rest they say is history.
Political retribution occurs every day, in almost all levels of government. Here’s a sample:
What astounds me in Governor Christie’s recent problems is the complete failure of Christie’s inner circle brain synapses to correctly fire. The fact that all this high-priced talent, loaded with many, many years of experience; to miss all opportunity to step back and look at the valley and:
I once said humility is a hell of a teacher. Christie himself has been called a mirror of society and is very like any one of us. Like Christie, we often fail to even acknowledge the needs of those around us. Some really believe they assimilate Jesus’ message. In truth, do we not simply ignore it?
Taoism lists the Three Jewels as compassion, moderation, and humility, later translated to Buddhists to be the ideal or highest spiritual potential that exists within all beings. Author John Stott stated humility is “the rarest and fairest of all virtues.” It’s also the chief human virtue because it’s the exact opposite of pride.
It is not external assaults on political ethics, whether by ideological, philosophical or religious rivals that have represented the most serious threat to proper and ethical government, it is that subtle infiltration of those who exploit the gullibility of their constituents that are most harmful. The bottom line is what really threatens the nation is what sounds ideological, what sounds biblical, what sounds spiritual. Those are the people who do damage to the church.
Those who say they represent God; those who say they represent Christ; those who say they teach the truth of life or have the right interpretation of this or that, present themselves as true ministers and teachers succeed in duping the gullible with false claims of authority are the people who do real damage. It’s done every day, whether it be politics, business, social media or even family.
We need to care for one another and distance ourselves from this selfish mentality that seems to be the norm in the world of today. May Christie learn not to equate humility with weakness.
As we close in upon another Christmas season, I often get asked my thoughts of Christmas. Over the years I have been befuddled, trying to find balance between meaning and spirit. In end, I found a version I believe most, including Atheists, could use: I believe Jesus was one who put aside personal benefit to help others and had compassion, kindness and love for all beings. Jesus demonstrated immense compassion, love, kindness, and beauty. He also incorporated that very compassion into the lives others.
One of my favorite holiday movies has been A Christmas Carol. For Dickens, Christmas was about getting unchained from materialism and appreciating all relationships. Christmas is about the ability to give and to take pleasure in giving. Imagine being able to understand one another feelings and experience them (in some degree) as if they were our own. This is the basis of the remarkable cooperative tendencies we all have and it might be the primary reason God hoped we live for.
In December 2011, I lived in Alabama. Being single, I spent time at the Waterfront Rescue Mission. The Waterfront Rescue Mission was one of countless sanctuaries that resounded with prayer and song on Christmas. Staff and volunteers—welcoming the homeless, and serving them — had been inspired in different ways. One regular volunteer noted, “Here at the mission, we see the face of Christ.”
Those who arrived, had personal reflections:
Nearly twelve years have passed and I barely remember these visionaries. Regardless, their message remains alive today as it were in the days of yesteryear: “Christmas should be every day. You should show love all the time.”
Every religion has its own myths and paradigms. But the value of Christmas does not hinge on external fact, but rather personal truth and spirit. Christmas celebrates a momentous evolutionary leap capable of compassionate living. The secret meaning of Christmas is this:
“Like Jesus, you and I can experience a rebirth that improves humanity!”
May you become enlightened during this holiday season and may the love in your heart be abundant and overflowing. May you see the face of Christ in everyone.
Sitting in a small tea shop in northern Vermont, the late autumn rain drizzles across the window. The warm fireplace buffers the cool air radiating across the small table. For such a day, there appears little reflection of the events from 50 years ago. On November 22, 1963, a good man was assassinated. Mind you, John F. Kennedy was not a perfect man, but in many ways, his life was a terrarium of living that often mirrors who we are today.
Far from the great technology we live and breathe, Kennedy stressed education and inspired many people, especially youths, during his tenure as president; to help shape our country’s strength (in unity); to strive for the least of those able to protect themselves; to reach for those segregated from normal society and the forgotten. He was a knight who ultimately set for himself a quest. A quest I believe that reaches across the bounds of death today and grasps at our heart.
Tragedies loom large in our world. Yet if Kennedy were here today, we know and understand that Camelot never existed. But the people in it were always what we wanted — and needed. In truth, many of us play the great warrior. Yet, cutting back the onion of our lives, we are all physical wrecks. We have cancer, multiple sclerosis, we suffer from the loss of love and life. We drink too much, we live too little and we lost the faith in ourselves and of a nation.
If Ms. K. (the love of my life) were here with me today, I would simply paraphrase Edward Kennedy, “I recognize my own shortcomings, the faults and the conduct of my private life. I realize that I alone am responsible for them, and I am the one who must confront them. But I owe you more than an explanation, I owe you the recognition that I understand what you have meant in my life … and what you mean to me today.”
This is the involvement we all need, that personal point of connection where love transcends across the miles, through time, past and present. We are at a moment when leadership and intellect are desperately needed and how little vision for the future Americans have. We live in a generation of instant information and instant gratification where the challenges of living in unison are too often dismissed and lost by blind entitlement and “give-it-to-me-now” mentality.
What Kennedy would remind is that a whole host of Philippine people lost their families and livelihood a little over a week ago; several communities in the Midwest were destroyed by sudden and violent tornados; over 300 people dies alone this year; cancer still kills, people and families remain homeless; and children are abused daily.
Most of us will never be like Kennedy, Nelson Mandela or Mother Teresa. But we can perform many small things with great acts of love. When we do this, Kennedy remains alive and we honor his life and love.
In theater and television, the hero gets even and walks away in peace. For us in the “real world, never happens. As the fictional character Duncan McLeod of The Highlander quipped, “Revenge does not bring redemption.”
What lessons can we learn from the Miami Dolphins, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, former Best Buy CEO Brian Dun and many, many others?
Frist, true leadership is a full time job. Your always on the clock. The news cycle never ceases. In today’s world, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Reddit, MSN, CNN, blogs, and other outlets are just a click away. And if it’s 11:30 AM in New York, it’s 1:30 AM in Beijing. So if you decide to be stupid today, I guarantee someone’s reading about it Beijing 10 minutes from now.
Secondly, leadership means you must understand what is happening within the organization. Leaders can no longer imply the “I didn’t know” absolution theory. It’s your job to know. If you pick someone to lead a department or organization, pick wisely. Those leaders are your organizational torch bearers. Figuratively speaking, should that person burn down a city block, the public is coming for answers. Or in the Dolphins’ case, ordering a player to toughen up another player seems … ah … insane.
“There’s no excuse for it, and I have a very hard time believing that no one in the organization of the Miami Dolphins (knew about this),” Steve Beuerlein said on the CBS Sports Network, “whether it be a trainer, whether it is one of the assistant coaches, the head coach, somebody.”
Third, you have to lead while providing good counsel. Disasters places spotlights on glaring weaknesses. Great leaders prepare, bad leaders ride the waves. In the Miami Dolphin’s case, executive management leadership was absent without leave as the Incognito and Martin’s relationship disintegrated. The same leadership question is true for the cities of Detroit and San Diego. Where the hell were the leaders.
Lastly, revenge never brings redemption. Having dirty laundry publically aired is not an optimal career move. Publically battling the Incognito–Martin relationship is disastrous. Need examples? Kwame Kilpatrick’s former lover filed for bankruptcy. By all accounts, Monica Lewinski never recovered, Bob Filner pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, and both Martin and Incognito are forever altered.
Every workplace environment has a subculture. Every employee has to learn how to navigate those situations. The truth for Dolphin fans will probably be enlightening. But the truth to you and I can be both right and wrong within the confines of an NFL football locker room. And publically vilifying either Incognito or Martin is a travesty of real justice, often devoid of any positive benefit. In the end, regardless of story, Dolphin executive management, Incognito and Martin all wished they’d done things differently.
As a Buddhist, the solution lies beyond political leadership, beyond the prepared media statement. Everyone must share a view with a larger purpose than simply the “X” or “O;” a win or loss; profit and price. Our employees and family must always be the asset to our soul, not an expense. We must add value to others; to family, friends, employees, customers, community, and society—not just shareholders. We must always be open to thought provoking conversations, being honest, being clear.
The goal is to stop governing and lead. Be better. Be understanding. Give respect. Be more equitable to all the souls we touch each and every day.
On September 12, Burn Notice closes its doors for good. In its wake, the characters will have to finally do what most of us have haven’t: move on. I seriously doubt the show’s creative genius, Matt Nix, intentionally made Burn Notice to mirror life, but from a Buddhist perspective, some of the show’s life lessons are spot on.
First of all, Burn Notice epitomizes the Buddhist theory of “attachment” and “suffering.” The notion of knowing the truth would never bring redemption. Yet so many of us in the world today are attached to knowing every detail or delusionally lost that revenge will somehow bring redemption. In truth, a lot of people in Michael Weston’s life would be more adjusted had they simply learned to move on. In truth, all of us have been there. Some us are still there. There’s no valor in death so don’t forget to live.
Secondly, the Buddhist precept of “Do No Harm” oozes throughout each and every season. Simply put, many us of believe that doing things for the wrong reasons to only make things right is acceptable. In season three’s “Enemies Closer,” Michael quoted, “After a career spent doing bad things for good reasons, it’s hard to say exactly where you draw the line. You might not know exactly, until someone asks.” In the final season, Michael broke the trust of his true love, denounced family as well as killed both friend and foe.
Symbolically, these scenarios occur in everyday life. From a Biblical perspective, there is a set of laws concerning ethics that has been given by a higher authority. Yet many of us pretend to befriend coworkers, supervisors and claim the love of committed spouses. But secretly we plot. And affirming our own personal righteousness, we slay our lovers, destroy our coworkers and crush those whom we hate. If we examine ourselves honestly, what are we really aiming for? Most people are not really aiming for enlightenment. They’re not even aiming for liberation. Most people just want to make their samsaric situation – their normal everyday lives – a little bit better. But violating key human principles neither brings justice nor reinforces divine love.
In Philippians, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” These seem to be among the hardest commands in Scripture to carry out. The foundational plot line of Burn Notice in many episodes involved Michael and his friends helping to protect someone else—from clueless civilians of every variety to retired spies. Nobility is not particularly spiritual or even morally grounded, aside from the “good triumphs evil” scenario.
In truth, the one all encompassing lesson is simple. Sometimes, the only way to find yourself, is to lose yourself to the service of others.
With that, as a Buddhist, I ask you to go find yourself.
In airline flight, as in life, no runway will compensate for coming up short. And Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was 1,000 feet (400 meters) short of the normal landing spot before crashing. Conversely, on January 15, 2009 US Airways pilots executed a dramatic emergency landing on the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 150 passengers and five crewmembers aboard Flight 1549.
The point is that ach of us has the power to transform many lives. We are very interconnected.
On any given day, any of us could be assaulted, experience family breakups, suffer abuse, become homeless, lose our jobs, over materialize life or simply cannot seem to find a sense of spirituality. Conversely, we could be saved, given a life saving drug, stop briefly talk to a janitor and miss a disaster. We could babysit for a mother and give inspiration that will ultimately cure cancer. Someone’s daughter could revolutionize a way to feed the poor. Someone’s son could finally negotiate peace in a war torn area of the world.
Each and every day all of us make tens of thousands of decisions that impact the very nature of our very personal existence. All of us are responsible for how we succeed, live and prosper. Whether walking to work, whether eating a piece of fruit or whether we excel or fall back into a depth of misery so bleak that few rise from.
As Buddhists, what are we doing to help the world around us? In spite of all the difficulties out there, what new ways are we finding to help one another? Are we using our technology to come together or to find ways to separate? Does our faith transform or divide? Can we reach beyond our own mundane world and transform a generation in Africa, Calcutta, Chicago, Cleveland or the family down the street?
When the day started, I presume neither the crew of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 or US Airways Flight 1549 expected to have much impact on anyone. Yet, even in the most difficult of times, each flight crew saved hundreds of lives.
As we speak, one in five children still live in poverty; one of three children do not have health care coverage; roughly 17,386 people have died from guns in the United States since the Newtown shootings. Children in every social stratum suffer from abuse, neglect, and preventable emotional problems.
What is it that we do today…today…that will save hundreds of lives? Whom can you transform … today?
When I do attend church, I am often invited to pray and willingly do. But the blend between science and faith is blurred rather easily. For instance, a friend recently had cancer surgery. While grateful for prayers, just prior to surgery she was more concerned with the surgeon’s skill and hospital cleanliness than prayers.
As our society integrates and intimately dances with high technology, do we fully engage our inner self, meditate and practice spirituality that embraces Eastern and Western religious traditions? Or do we kick spirituality and prayer to the door. Kick the dust from our shoes and get on with living? Except for Sunday, do any of us really care about our faith Monday through Friday?
In truth, I am not stating that one needs to kick faith to ebb of life. Surely, all of us can count the litany horrors done in the name of religion, including Buddhism. But I presume that in a time of need, prayers from any religion, including goodwill thoughts of the non-religious are equally beautiful and powerful. And to the secular, I don’t believe that as a Catholic, only a Catholic prayer will work. Accordingly, as a Muslim, should one be so strict that only Muslim prayers are welcome? Surely not!
If this were true, how would one parse the prayers of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami or the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami? “Well, we received 13,000 Catholic prayers, 26,000 Muslim prayers, 40,000 Presbyterian prayers, 38000 Hindu prayers, etc.?” We need to see and understand the new reality. Our world has millions of Sikhs, Christians, Jain, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Muslims, Hindus, Taoists, etc. Personally, I just do not envision the living Christ or living Buddha parceling and segregating love.
From a technological perspective, I’ve seen pastors using iPads and posting sermons onto websites; the Dalai Lama has a Twitter feed; and Muslim worshipers can choose whether they want to podcast the call to prayer. So why can’t we blend faith with technology?
The answer is that both technology and prayer demand an uncommon element: people. Regardless of faith, social justice requires action. Promoting nurturing values as kindness, compassion and forgiveness cannot be done solely via an iPad or prayer. Micromedical technology can help patients unheard in days gone by. Prayer can provide strength and presence of a living God. But damn it, you still need a skilled surgeon that blends both.
At the end of the day, technology is connecting a world full of diversity. That very diversity is our strength. Honor all those of faith, for it strengthens us all.
