Attentiveness is the path to true life;
Indifference is the path to death.
The attentive do not die;
The indifferent are as if they are dead already.
-Dhammapada
James's comment: There is a fine line in Buddhism between indifference and non-attachment. There are times when I think that I am practicing non-attachment when in reality I'm actually being indifferent!!
I think that this especially applies with some Buddhists in regards to politics. It is important to be engaged with politics but not attach to it. Where as ignoring politics is a form of indifference. As aspiring bodhisattvas we desire for all beings to be free from suffering and being engaged in peaceful politics can be a tool to help bring about less suffering if used properly.
-Peace to all beings-
8 comments:
Awesome James, thanks for the reminder. Sometimes politics can overstimulate me and I have to go to my quiet place to get perspective! I think it is difficult to deal with irrational and deluded thinking that many in the political arena suffer from.
Mark:
You're quite welcome. I am the same way that I can be over-whelmed and over-stimulated with politics as well. I guess it all comes back to the Middle Path. We can vote, donate money to worthy charities, write our Senators and Rep's and after that I think we have to let the worries go.
Balance in all things.
Thank goodness for Lord Buddha and his Dharma!!!
A lovely reminder about attentiveness. Which translation of the Dhammapadda is that from?
Mark:
Not sure which translation it is from. I just got it in the email from a daily inspiration site.
yes!
Hello James,
Very nice. When you mean indifferent, do you mean "don't care at all" ? I'm a bit confused with how to get "non-attached" and at the same time "being engaged". Can you explain further ? Usually, we tend to be attached without knowing and unintemtionally.
Thanks.
BM: I apologize for this late response but somehow it got lost in the shuffle of emails I get every day.
No, I don't think it's about "not caring." I think it's possible to be engaged in life but not attached to a particular outcome too much. That is when the suffering begins because if we don't get the outcome we want we feel disappointment and sorrow.
BM: I apologize for this late response but somehow it got lost in the shuffle of emails I get every day.
No, I don't think it's about "not caring." I think it's possible to be engaged in life but not attached to a particular outcome too much. That is when the suffering begins because if we don't get the outcome we want we feel disappointment and sorrow.
Post a Comment