Occupy Wallstreet and Buddhism

Jeffrey

Found this article

andyrobyn

I have found that right action is sometimes spontaneous - may it keep growing and always remain peaceful.

buddhajunkie

Unfortunately, Occupy is largely motivated by anger and hate. It is based on us (the "99%") vs. them (the "1%", cops, bank managers, capitalists and others).

So I conclude that it is very un-Buddhist.

Good politics, but bad Dharma.

Jeffrey

buddhajunkie, I just thought it was cool that some monks spread their message to the protesters. Message of dharma not politics.

Zayl

I feel what they do is correct, but why and how they are doing it could use some improvement. At the very least as long as it remains peaceful, then all is well. And the cops are part of the 99% too. I wonder if they'll ever come to terms with this.

Daozen

I'm not sure "the movement" is really that, because ... what does it want or expect to achieve?

It seems like a vague protest without explicit goals, but clearly it is one that allows a lot of people to channel their ideas of injustice.

As Andyrobyn said, may it remain peaceful.

Namaste

octinomos

As Andyrobyn said, may it remain peaceful.

i guess it depends on who defines what peace means. when obama sends drones all over the place and targets citizens for assassination, he wins the nobel peace prize, but when some young person paints graffiti on a wall, that's considered violence. the movement is constantly evolving and may yet be co-opted by true progressives who don't want a complete overthrow of the old system but to change it from the inside. that has a better chance to affect change than if it seems like a bunch of anarchists that are young and naive and with too much time on their hands. you're right that it needs some revising and defining of goals.

Daozen

In a strange way, I think its vagueness is what has helped out grow so rapidly. By not specifying an exact agenda, it means a huge number of people with all manner of ideas can feel they belong together in this "movement", or whatever it is.

But ultimately, I feel there will come a time for the process to either mature into something more concrete, or else die out.

Telly03

In a strange way, I think its vagueness is what has helped out grow so rapidly. By not specifying an exact agenda, it means a huge number of people with all manner of ideas can feel they belong together in this "movement", or whatever it is.

But ultimately, I feel there will come a time for the process to either mature into something more concrete, or else die out.

I agree that the vagueness helped it grow so rapidly, but the vagueness also opened the door for elements focused on violence or disorderly conduct which unfortunately paints a bad picture for the whole movement.

SeaOfTranquility

The thing that makes the Occupy Movement so hard for some to understand is that there is no one to focus on. Either for leadership or to demonize. (the 1% are people too)

Unlike the Tea Party that hates the government, the immigrants, minorities, non Christian beliefs, etc. etc. etc.

Occupy realizes that the the problem is that the system is broken. That we are living the results of unchecked greed and delusional separation. Things have gotten way out of balance. Change is inevitable.

Think I'll go check out the local Occupy camp for myself this weekend.

SattvaPaul

In case you missed my Occupy Samsara thread:

http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/13032/occupy-samsara-an-open-letter-from-buddhist-and-yoga-teachers-and-leaders#Item_3

It's a letter of support for the Occupy movement from Buddhist teachers, which you can sign.