Compare Buddhist philosophical and U.S. election debates (Joanne Friday)

See the website: http://joannefriday.com/ for more information.

The US presidential election of November, 2016 From a Buddhist teacher. “We have a choice about the path.�

"In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: "When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?"

Gabrielle Roth Dear Friends, I thought that I had voted for the first woman President yesterday, but clearly our country is not ready for that. It will perhaps motivate me to live a while longer. I am so sad for our country and for all of the hatred, anger and violence that have been stirred up in the hearts of our countrymen. And though it looks like those qualities are winning, Page 1

in our practice we learn about impermanence and know that all things will change...we also learn to take a long view and know that it is always much too early to tell what the long term impact of any action will be.

As someone who has lived with cancer for eight years, I know that first you cry and then you do what needs to be done. We are all being called upon to rise to this occasion...We have our work cut out for us. There is much to be done. After we cry we need to water lots of seeds of joy in ourselves to be able to be with the suffering. Follow the advice of the medicine person...and DANCE! In the meantime, we can love those who are feeling fearful, do what we can to provide safety for them and speak out about injustice. And for today, my objective will be to perform random acts of kindness without regard to political persuasion. Know that there is truly no duality, we are all brothers and sisters in the same boat...even if we don't recognize it. I will also be sending prayers for all of us.

May all beings know that we are love and are loved, and may all beings wake up!

With much love and the deep peace of three conscious breaths for you, Joanne Friday Dharma teacher in the lineage of Thich Nhat Hanh A Vietnamese Zen Master

Joanne and Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village Joanne is a Dharma teacher in the Tiep Hien Order, the Order of Interbeing, founded by Buddhist monk and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In 2003 she received authority to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh, her teacher for twenty years.

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Tibetan Buddhist Philosophical Debates

Debating monks

Debate audience

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“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ― Desmond Tutu “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” ― Dalai Lama XIV “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” ― Lao Tzu

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