The Good News

 The Good News

They don’t publish

the good news.

The good news is published

by us.

We have a special edition every moment,

and we need you to read it.

The good news is that you are alive,

and the linden tree is still there,

standing firm in the harsh Winter.

The good news is that you have wonderful eyes

to touch the blue sky.

The good news is that your child is there before you,

and your arms are available:

hugging is possible.

They only print what is wrong.

Look at each of our special editions.

We always offer the things that are not wrong.

We want you to benefit from them

and help protect them.

The dandelion is there by the sidewalk,

smiling its wondrous smile,

singing the song of eternity.

Listen! You have ears that can hear it.

Bow your head.

Listen to it.

Leave behind the world of sorrow

and preoccupation

and get free.

The latest good news

is that you can do it.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

[Notes:

Engaged Buddhism – my lineage/ teachers

Spiritual Activism – a term that resonates with me, especially as someone who has always cared for our world and is guided on a spiritual path. How do we use our practice, not only in service of our own peace and healing – which is a crucial first and ongoing step. “How can you work for peace when you don’t have peace in yourself, peace in your family? You need to be peace, embody peace.”

but also in service of peace and healing of the collective? In Buddhism this is the Bodhisattva path, but also recognizing Interbeing – we are all connected, so we are not unaffected by suffering “over there.” If 2020 has shown us nothing else, it's that none of us are ultimately immune from the suffering of “others.”

even with a “win,” the last 4 years and the continuing high numbers of Americans supporting a ** vision should make each of us realize that we all have to be in this movement for awakening and healing – our very survival depends on it. I know it's been overwhelming and can be easy to want to check out.

And refuge is crucial, refueling our tanks is crucial – but disengagement is going along with our collective ** (quote from MLK?)

It seems very clear to me that despite the “I'm not racist” claims, that there is a deep-seated racism underlying **. Stronger for being denied, just as the denial of the very painful aspects of the last 500 years of history on this soil. As practitioners we know that which we resist persists, and that unhealed wounds create poison within us. It is up to every person of conscience to create a healing here.

Each person needs to engage deeply with those who voted for Trump in a healing and inclusive way. With gun violence, climate change, incredibly high levels of mistrust and misinformation – we must recognize that this isn't an issue that effects “only” people of color. There are more and more white folks waking up to and healing whiteness on this land, and it's up to all of us to “get our people.”

Transform hatred and ill-will in your heart. I know I have found hatred in my own heart with what has felt like depravity and iniquity among our leaders, but ultimately this is extremely exhausting.

Find refuge in nature, remind yourself of goodness in the world.

Keep up with your heart practices of Metta and Tonglen. If I can't do it for leaders, I can do it for those who support them. Especially in a democracy, our leaders are there because of the people. In order for those leaders to not be there, it’s the people who need a different consciousness. Folks need to be reached out to and called in.

What are you consuming, what are you producing? Especially with social media, everyone is transmitting their thoughts and while there's a lot that's inspiring, there's also a lot of ** trauma, pain, and anger. Consider not only what messages you are receiving, but also the energy of the messages you are transmitting: is it what the world needs now?

Calling people in 

Why many leaders of social movements are also spiritual leaders - MLK, Desmond Tutu, Mahatma Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh …]