[BK] CHAP. 8 Activist Compassion, or Acceptance of What Is?

Dakini

pgs. 104-5 again.
Author says another way of not seeing dukkha clearly is when we feel stuck, we feel we can't change our circumstances, and we get frustrated with the human predicament--"when will we get rid of the social injustices and the violence and the unfairness?" We feel overwhelmed, and that leads us to give up on ourselves. I don't see how being frustrated with social injustice relates to our ability to change our own circumstances.

I think making positive changes in our own lives is a different ball of wax than feeling motivated or empowered to make changes in the world. And the author never comes back to the question of addressing social injustice and bringing about positive change in the world on behalf of others. Instead he describes poor families who are spiritually rich, and so don't consider themselves poor. Is he saying we shouldn't bother with addressing social injustice? What is he saying here? Everyone should find religion and be content with what they have?

On pg. 106 he suggests "more sharing". Yes, more sharing and less consumption by the well-off, but...that doesn't address situations like the old South Africa, the Nazi take-over of Europe, and so many other situations. Corporations aren't going to "share more" unless forced to in some way. I'm sure dictators, corporations and other oppressors would be thrilled to have the public get on board with the "opium of the people" and be happy with very little. wtf? I must be missing something here...

Jeffrey

He's saying we can get discouraged. With negative thinking and become less interested in life. This IS a little extreme and I think you have a point. I personally see that a lot of social big things are beyond my control yet I try to have a positive life. So I don't agree with the author, but I think he is saying that one MAY get overwhelmed by the suffering in the world.

Dakini

Well, yes, I think some people can and do get overwhelmed by the human condition. Or maybe we all do at some point in our lives, but usually those moments pass. Still, one can join an environmental group or a social cause group and make a contribution. In fact, I recall the DL said that the best thing to do with your frustration in this regard is to channel it into action. I was disappointed that the author raised the issue of unresolved societal or global problems, but never returned to it. I suppose he was just using it to make a different point about how our minds work, or something.

Thanks for your comment, Jeffrey. So it wasn't just me that found this passage a little off, somehow. : )

Ric

haha Dakini I havent reached that part but I would have the same reaction.

Although I think he might have a bit more credit. I am not sure how I feel about this because I love watching the news, but im starting to think that if you watch the news every night for 1 hour or more...I dont know...I think it might add to suffering in your life.

I mean it is overwhelming, turn on the TV and you hear about the UK burning, Arabs being massacred, soldiers and civilians dieing, the economy collapsing, the environment being destroyed. I dont know once you turn it off if that stays with you or not or even the next day, when you are not even thinking about it. But I guess based on that the news anchors would be the most unhappy people in the world and they seem to be doing fine.

confusing subject for sure....

Dakini

Yes, I agree, Ric. I don't watch the news anymore. Hmm...I guess news anchors are able to "detach" from the news they're reporting. Frankly these days, I get frustrated that the news (I do check newspapers, but I'm beginning to burn out on them, too) doesn't cover anything I care about. There's a lot of suffering and injustice in the world that doesn't get covered. If you travel, or get involved with groups that target certain issues, you'll see that a lot of important issues fall through the cracks. I think the key, if one is the type of person who wants to contribute to positive change in the world, is to find an area you have expertise in, and pick an organization where you can bring that expertise to bear.