Inviting and Voting
For many years I’ve used the phrase Bring a Friend or Ten to Zen, as a way to encourage us to reach out to others about our practice. Unpacking the slogan is my offering in this Dharma note and one that we will talk about Tuesday night October 29, 2024, during our weekly service at 7:00 ET and on Zoom:
Password: FSZS
It is also one week before the United States presidential election. Therefore I’m going to emphasize my feelings about one and its similarity to the other. The commonality is sharing one’s beliefs, giving voice to those values, and selecting people to help move things in that direction.
Dukkha (pali) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du%E1%B8%A5kha It is the centerpiece of the three marks of existence in Buddhism: impermanence, dis-ease, and interconnectivity. It can also be a light. Shining a light on issues is Right View/Intent.
My Zen practice has informed my sense of freedom. While I came from a conservative family I have grown into something different. The teachings of Buddhism and my sense of values coincide and are neither dispassionate nor always easy. So is the case now in the election week for the presidency of the United States of America. The question is what am I doing about it.
I will be voting for the Harris-Wallz ticket. (NYTime editorial section review, 10/27/2024)
I also encourage everyone registered to please vote.
After the election I will watch what unfolds making choices among options I feel I have.
Why? Two reasons, one is that it is my right as a citizen to vote as I wish. And, second as a guiding teaching of the FSZS I feel it important that I am open about what I do and why.
Sharing values with a friend and inviting them to something, suggests you hold the friend and the activity in good stead. It implies not using either the event or the person with malicious intent.
In asking someone to attend our sangha you need to say why and the service should coincide with what you deem of value. Once a person takes a look, you and they will probably talk and that person will decide if this sangha thing is for them or not, noting they have the ongoing option of changing their mind.
So here we are right in the middle of breathing in and breathing out. We make decisions based on unfolding awareness and clustering of pros and cons. We do this without malice and try not to do harm, while doing it moment in and moment out.
So I ask that you vote and that you decide how you wish to share the teachings of Dharma with your friends.
I am always available for Dokusan and I ask that you check your schedules for November. Also please mark Tuesday November 26, 2024 for our All Sangha Meeting. This is a Tuesday night and will be on Zoom only. Mokuo and I will present the transition plan for 2025 as to shifting responsibilities and program options within FSZS.
108 bows for all you do for Zen in Falmouth,
Sangaku
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