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Universal Responsibility
Universal Responsibility (His Holiness The Dali Lama)
"In view of this, I am convinced that it is essential that we cultivate a sense of what I call Universal Responsibility. This may not be an exact translation of the Tibetan term I have in mind, chi sem, which means, literally, universal (chi) consciousness (sem). Although the notion of responsibility is implied rather than explicit in the Tibetan, it is definitely there. When I say that on the basis of concern for others' well-being we can, and should, develop a sense of universal responsibility, I do not, however, mean to suggest that each individual has a direct responsibility for the existence of, for example, wars and famines in different parts of the world. Clearly certain things, such as the poverty of a single village 10,000 miles away are completely beyond the scope of the individual. What is entailed, however, is not an admission of guilt, but, again, a reorientation of our heart and mind away from self and toward others. To develop a sense of universal responsibility--of the universal dimension of our every act and of the equal right of all others to happiness and not to suffer--is to develop an attitude of mind whereby, when we see an opportunity to benefit others, we will take it in preference to merely looking after our own narrow interests. Of course we care about what is beyond our scope--we accept it as part of nature and concern ourselves with doing what we can."
Recently I have been trying to raise funds for my trip to nepal. In October ill be volunteering in Nepal for 6 months teaching English to junior monks and building infrastructure in rural villages. So far I've been going to residential areas, churches, local business and organizations etc and while many people have shown me great generosity others feel the need to criticize and undermine what im doing. They say things like "Thats the stupidest thing i have ever heard of" or "Why would you want to help those people?" I know that they have been conditioned to think of other countries as somehow less important than our own but it makes me sad and sometimes angry when people verbally attack me. When i try to explain my motivation for volunteering stuff like 54% literacy rate 51% have access to health services. 1/3 of pop has access to clean drinking water etc all i hear back is that i shouldn't worry about "those people" I understand that this lack of what His Holiness calls universal responsibility is prevalent all over the world my question is how can we increase a sense of global awareness that seems to be lacking. Any thoughts?
Metta
-Nick
"In view of this, I am convinced that it is essential that we cultivate a sense of what I call Universal Responsibility. This may not be an exact translation of the Tibetan term I have in mind, chi sem, which means, literally, universal (chi) consciousness (sem). Although the notion of responsibility is implied rather than explicit in the Tibetan, it is definitely there. When I say that on the basis of concern for others' well-being we can, and should, develop a sense of universal responsibility, I do not, however, mean to suggest that each individual has a direct responsibility for the existence of, for example, wars and famines in different parts of the world. Clearly certain things, such as the poverty of a single village 10,000 miles away are completely beyond the scope of the individual. What is entailed, however, is not an admission of guilt, but, again, a reorientation of our heart and mind away from self and toward others. To develop a sense of universal responsibility--of the universal dimension of our every act and of the equal right of all others to happiness and not to suffer--is to develop an attitude of mind whereby, when we see an opportunity to benefit others, we will take it in preference to merely looking after our own narrow interests. Of course we care about what is beyond our scope--we accept it as part of nature and concern ourselves with doing what we can."
Recently I have been trying to raise funds for my trip to nepal. In October ill be volunteering in Nepal for 6 months teaching English to junior monks and building infrastructure in rural villages. So far I've been going to residential areas, churches, local business and organizations etc and while many people have shown me great generosity others feel the need to criticize and undermine what im doing. They say things like "Thats the stupidest thing i have ever heard of" or "Why would you want to help those people?" I know that they have been conditioned to think of other countries as somehow less important than our own but it makes me sad and sometimes angry when people verbally attack me. When i try to explain my motivation for volunteering stuff like 54% literacy rate 51% have access to health services. 1/3 of pop has access to clean drinking water etc all i hear back is that i shouldn't worry about "those people" I understand that this lack of what His Holiness calls universal responsibility is prevalent all over the world my question is how can we increase a sense of global awareness that seems to be lacking. Any thoughts?
Metta
-Nick
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Comments
Consider that empathy arises in us when we have the space to see from another's view. If you notice a lack of empathy (such as the "clods" or cw for the "clods") you can be sure that there is a lack of openness in their mind. That is just another way suffering expresses itself.
Or, said differently, if people are caught in ego, they simply don't have the ability to relate skillfully to another's suffering. It is sad that some people don't have concern for the Nepal illiterate. It is also sad that the conditions of the Nepal illiterate exist.
Certainly one of the main lessons when encountering the unloving, is that their apathy can easily spread to us if we judge them for their apathy. The monks in Nepal cannot read, and the people in your backyard cannot see. They both deserve our attention, and are both our responsibility.
With warmth,
Matt
Nick, I don't have the answer but I know everyone is different and all we can be is true to ourself. Take it easy, see how it goes and thankyou very very much.
Gassho.
It reminds me of a documentary I saw about a 6-year old African-American girl whose parents sent her to a white school in the 1950's in order to desegregate the school. Every morning she'd have to walk past a long gauntlet of white adults lined up in front of the school screaming hateful things at her and spitting at her. Eventually a psychologist was called in to help her cope, and the psychologist asked her if she was angry at the mean people. She said "no", she just did like the preacher said in church, she prayed for God to forgive them, because "they know not what they do". This is what allowed her to get through the daily horrors relatively unphased. The psychologist, needless to say, was blown away. Wisdom from the mouths of babes.
I can understand (as much as anyone can) the attitude about "those people"; sadly, that's part of American life and humanity's challenges. What I don't get is the extreme rudeness towards you. But clearly these are people whose hearts haven't awakened yet, and "they know not what they do". You can pray for them or wish them well, and go your merry way. And like CW said, all you can do is set an example, and live your life according to your values and convictions.
Maybe when they ask, "Why would you want to help those people", you could say, "if I were in their position, I'd hope someone cared enough to help me. We're here in this life to help each other and make the world a better place". I don't know if that would help.
Keep on keepin' on, soulive. you know you're doing the right thing. Did you contact our member, SwissSis? She's done exactly what you're setting out to do, in Nepal and in Ladakh.
I live in Massachusetts, and sadly many of the people that disrespected me lived in massive houses and seemed to have a large amount of disposable income i.e. boats, atvs, etc
The thing at the time that really got me upset was how people couldn't just say no thank you. Its their money and they can choose how to spend it but why do you have to make fun of me for doing something so "stupid" was the word i kept hearing. If you don't want to donate thats your choice but why do people feel the need to go out of their way to undermine my decision. Also I appreciate all of your comments very helpful and insightful. At first i was angry with the lack of respect i was shown but now its just like i feel bad for them. They are obviously suffering. Thank you all
Metta
-Nick
Soulive, try the personal approach. first, contact your local Rotary Club, they sometimes sponsor people like you. They have a small budget for that. You'd have to give them a formal presentation/spiel.
Each time someone donates, whether an individual or a business/org., ask them if they can refer you to a friend or colleague who might be interested. Then when you look up the referral, tell the new person that his friend, Mr. So-and-So donated generously to your project, and said New Person might be interested in considering a donation. At the very least, New Person will be less likely to be rude,knowing that his friend has talked to you and referred you, and you might have better success getting donations with this strategy. It's an old salesman's trick.
Most normal people, like you said, say "No, thank you". I still can't get my mind around this rudeness-verging-on-verbal-abuse you're getting. Do people think money entitles them to that, these days?? Times have changed.
Please let us know how you do with your fund-raising.
You sound righteously attached to your sense of goodness. Buddha taught this is delusion.
All the best
In the Chinese Taoism texts by Chuang Tzu, there is the story of a master who forbids his student to go off to a far off land "to do good" because he advises his student he is too naive about human nature and will only cause problems.
If you believe you are being disrespected in the USA, the obstacles you may face in Nepal may be even worse. Who knows?
I agree that there are risks in trying to do projects in a foreign culture one knows little, if anything, about. But teaching English is pretty straightforward. Trying to organize people to do a community project is much more of a challenge.
Soulive, with whom are you doing the infrastructure projects? Are you going as a volunteer with an organization that is coordinating the work? Tell us more, if you don't mind.
:grumble:
If Soulive is attempting to raise funds for infrastructure, why would you give him a donation? A reasonable person would give such funds to an established organization.
But if Soulive is raising funds for his personal travel & accommodation expenses, dude, get a job! When I was 22 years old, I worked 54 hours a week for 16 months to save $10,000 to travel to Nepal, probably the equivalent of $20,000 to $25,000 today.
:coffee:
Maybe Jeffrey wasn't entirely wrong on his thread voicing concern over criticism of the Mahayana/Vajrayana. To call a Mahayana Buddhist "totally brainwashed" for following a central tenet of the Mahayana just kind of leaves me befuddled. Can we live and let live here? I haven't ever seen the use of the term "Hinayana" on this board...
"Hinayana" is simply a delusional term. Theravadins view it as pure delusion. The social benefication provided by monks in countries such as Thailand & Burma far surpassed the feudal serfdom that existed in Tibet. The Theravadin teachings for non-monks are far more complete than the Mahayana teachings. The Theravada teachings teachings address the real needs of humanity completely. Mahayana simply provides more "opiates" for the masses.
Sounds like your mind has been brainwashed also.
Just focus on your own work & goals.
If you make it to Nepal, I trust it will be an experience of great growth for you.
All the best
To follow your logic, Mahayanists who feel a sense of universal responsibility are "brainwashed", somehow subject to "opiates", and are to be laughed at out loud?
Wow. Whatever.
Its a great time to practice loving kindness
Its important to work diligently on our own view, in order to be skillful. We cannot set aside our needs to help others. By first stabilizing the view, we can be of genuine service to others... where the actions we take are not born of self-centric perceptions. Social responsibility does not supersede personal need, rather co-arises as an expression of personal growth.
Deep breaths,
Matt
I said to expect others to have the same sense of universal responsibility as you is to be...like....brainwashed
I said to regard Mahayana as offering more to the world than Theravada is to be brainwashed by propaganda
In our current "small" world, even the Dalai Lama has retracted the traditional derogatory use of the word "Hinayana"
Why? He would have no leg to stand on in debate. He would be both censored & demolished
There is no such thing as "Hinayana" and no such thing as the "2nd & 3rd turning of the wheel". These notions are mere baseless propaganda.
Most enlightened Tibetan teachers I know declare they teach "Buddhayana".
Have you undertaken a commitment to follow the 3rd precept, about untrue speech?
:mullet:
Of course no one uses the term Hinayana in polite discourse any more. That would be a "put-down".
So the way I see it, you are openly putting down the Mahayana, which beliefs many of us hold dearly and firmly.
I think Matt pretty much nailed it.
I already advised you the term "Hinayana" is pure delusion. It is only a "put down" to the one asserting it.
The term "Hinayana" shows how foolish the Mahayana is, engrossed in it superstitions that Christian-like Tantra or Vajrayana can enlighenment people.
Although you have adopted a Tibetan name, do you know what the 2nd & 3rd turning of the wheel are?
do you know what the Buddha taught?
if so, you would understand there is no such thing as a 2nd turning, let alone a 3rd of any profundity
there was no 2nd turning of the wheel
the Buddha himself taught dependent origination & emptiness & compassion
what don't you get?
basically, the only thing unique to Mahayana is the worship of ex-Hindu bodhisatva gods & idiot compassion thinking one can save all beings
:-/
It seemed then, that he was able to see your salient and essential point, even if it was egotistically presented.
"Mahayana provides more "opiates" for the masses"? Interesting. More than what, Theravada? So you agree, that Theravada does provide opiates, and so followers are therefore brainwashed?
But we digress. Best to stay on-topic. I look forward to hearing from soulive.
Sure, my posts on this thread may be terse, but they are not baseless ignorance.
I have made a number of relevent points, related to the subject matter, which includes being inspired by the Dalai Lama:
1. He get angry because others do not have the same inspiration;
2. He expects to be given donations
3. He is using the Dalai Lama as justification for his views & desires
:-/
Its called 'karma'. Are you denying there was a feudal serfdom in Tibet or that the term 'Hinayana' is traditionally derogatory?
This is much different that spinning prayer wheels in a feudal slave culture, having no self-autonomy.
If someone asks with genuine interest why you choose to do this, then answer. But if someone is just being rude, and not asking out of genuine interest then give a flippant reply like "To prove I'm better than you" or "To save all of humanity". There will always be jaded people, that feel they have to criticize others who try in life. To attempt and give a genuine answer to someone who is not actually interested in your reply.... well it's a waste of you breath and emotional effort.
I think the people who are against your idea, do not think they can affect change. They may have a victim mentality. Whenever I save an animal I come across, heal it up, find it a home, my dad always says "Yeah, and there's 200 more animals that don't make it... so why are you spending your money on that thing?" I literally could give 2 craps what he thinks because he's a negative nancy. Whenever I bring up wanting to do peace corps to him, he blows a gasket and asserts that I will get shot one of these days (he's also very dramatic). Just keep on keeping on, and remember that you don't owe anyone an explanation.
You ask too many open questions. Best to do your own studies & practice rather than demanding explanations from others. This is the Buddhist way of self-reliance & self-empowerment.
Best wishes
OK. My apologies for any harsh speech.
There's no shame in being at an earlier stage on the path then some. I've already learned a lot on this forum. The important thing, I think, is how one treats others, while one progresses in study.
If you had studied & practised, you would not have to ask or you could provide a rebuttal or reply.
The money that im raising goes towards a multitudes of different things. INFO is a non profit and is funded solely through program fees. The money i raise goes towards my living accommodation for 6 months but large chunk of that goes towards the monastery i will be staying at, INFO run orphanages, Libraries, and hospitals.
I didn't start this thread to complain about rich people not handing me money. I was simply asking how we could increase a sense universal responsibility that seems to be lacking. I included the quote because I thought it would help explain what i was trying to talk about. Anyway thanks for advice
Metta
-Nick
I stand by what I said here. I would not give Nick one cent.
If Nick is to travel, he should learn to earn a living & his own travel expenses.
I read the other components of your message, and choose only to respond with this acknowledgement.
My name is Nick also. Sorry about setting this thread on fire. :rarr:
I only treked in Nepal, as a tourist. I went to Kathmandu, the surrounds, Pokara Lake, trekked up to Jomson & Muktinath (and back). It was great. I have many beautiful photos.
But yes, health facilities are needed in Nepal. It is quite a dirty country in many places due to a lack of water. Thus this enhances disease.
The people are nice but quite shy.
I actually support an orphanage in Nepal.
I hope you make it there.
If you were in Australia, I would electronically send you a donation.