I just hope that everyone is getting ready to vote this year. Republican or Democrat, it is important that we get involved. Not just in the general elections but in the little ones as well. Indeed expecially the little ones. It often matters more who is one's county councilman, representative in the State Legislature, or Congressman, than who one's President is. And it really matters whether our local political parties are corrupt or honest, syndicated with the local country clubs, with labor, or syndicated with the mob. Because when we allow our local life to be corrupt, it reflects in our national life. This is the Buddhist principle of "Esho Funi." So vote! Pay attention. Know who is who. If you do then when the guy gets elected by the "other side" you can at least feel good that you fought for him not to be doing what he/she is doing.
Maybe Buddhists feel dropping out of society is the only way to change things. That one must change oneself to change the world. But I don't subscribe to that view. I don't believe that taking vows of no-sex, no marriage, dropping out, joining an ashram and meditating in a mountain -- do anyone anygood unless one does so for the sake of contributing back to the society one left. To me people who do such things for any other reason are cowards.
The purpose of Buddhism is enlightenment. And enlightenment is not complete unless it includes the world around us.
Posted by cholte at October 16, 2004 11:02 PM