If there was just one teaching from Buddhism you wish the world would take to heart, what would it be? I started thinking about this after I wached a video of Pema Chodron talking about how we respond to aggression. It make me think of the lines from the Dhammapada --
"He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.
"He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal. [Acharya Buddharakkhita translation]
You may have heard that there's a huge controversy over plans to build an Islamic center in lower Manhattan. Because the center would be two blocks from Ground Zero, the site where the World Trade Center once stood, all manner of political figures are trying to whip up opposition to the project so it won't be built.
The opposers picture the proposed 13-story center as if it would be right next to Ground Zero and looming over it. In fact, the center wouldn't be visible from the old World Trade Center site from street level, nor would people at the center be likely to see Ground Zero, even from the roof.
And why not? Because there are two huge buildings, much taller than 13 stories, in between. I screen captured a satellite image of lower Manhattan and labeled where the Islamic center would be in relation to Ground Zero. The two buildings in between are a 20-story office complex and the mammoth federal building. This may be a reason the people of New York themselves are not all that worked up about the Islamic center.
What's more important is that the Islamic center, to be called Cordoba House, will be "a world-class facility that promotes tolerance, reflecting the rich diversity of New York City," according to the Cordoba House website.
This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture. Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a center of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a center guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all.
What the Cordoba House opposers and the perpetrators of September 11 have in common is a well-nourished sense of righteous resentment. They were and are stuck in "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me" mode. As Pema Chodron says, instead of trying to understand why others may be angry at us, we strike back.
And, of course, you've got good ol' raw bigotry on both sides as well. The West's dealings with the Middle East have not always been benign, and the September 11 terrorists no doubt nursed a huge sense of resentment for this reason. But of course it's unlikely any of the people who died on September 11 were the ones responsible for whatever the terrorists resented (and some of those who died were Muslims). Nor are the planners of Cordoba House the same people who supported the attack. But all the bigots can see are "westerners" and "Muslims."
If you look around, you notice that most if not all of the violence and atrocity going on in the world right now are the result of people staying stuck in "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me" thought patterns, which fuels retaliation after retaliation. And on and on it goes.
Resentment takes on a life of its own, and gets farther and farther from the original offense until it strikes out even at the innocent and destroys all.
Though looking for the One Teaching seems a slippery slope, I’ve always been impressed and amazed that most major religions have some version of The Golden Rule: “Don’t do unto others what you would rather not have done to you.”
Another one (see? I just can’t limit the discursive thoughts to just one! Slippery…): “Do the least harm.”
That’s not my intent. I’m not saying the world needs only One Teaching to be guided by, especially not capitalized
. Possibly a better way to have asked the question would have been, what is the first teaching of Buddhism you might wish everyone took to heart? I think we’re all pointing to the same teaching, though. Is there any real difference between the Golden Rule and ahimsa? Or aren’t they both sort of saying the same thing? And, of course, since mind is the forerunner of all actions, to practice either one requires putting aside thoughts of resentment, bigotry, ignorance and hatred.
I’m glad you mentioned The Dhammapada- I think the first verses sums up what I would like the world to learn-
“Mind is the forerunnner of all action- all deeds are lead by the mind, creaed by the mind. If one acts with a corrupt mind, suffering follows….If one acts with a serene mind, goodness folows” (I’m paraphrasing, obviously).
To create a better world, I think we have to start with ourselves first. The Dhammapada speaks much of ‘paying attention’ to our minds- the Islamic ctr controversey I’m certain began with someone’s mind and their thoughts of 9/11. This is not to dismiss that event’s tragedy, but at the same time, to subject Muslims in general to a continual ‘reminder’ that the 9/11 attackers were ‘muslim’, keeps the flames of hatred stired up in the mind, and only bad actions can follow.
John — yes, exactly.
Ignorance is the cause of (all) suffering.
Just another way of saying what Suzanne did:
As long as there is any “one” to suffer — s/he will.
& the following, while attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, seems quite on the mark for us Buddhist people also:
What you are looking for is what is looking.
“Impermanence” (or everything changes) would be my “one pointer” for Buddhism. In that brief word I think the essence of Buddhism is encompassed. Thoughts and actions is temporarily although their effect might last somewhat longer. Illustration; nine years ago the events at the World Trade Centre unfolded (that action/deed) is gone, but the effect (emotions against/for a nearby Muslim Centre) still lingers. That effect might also eventually dissappear.
Question in light of what have been said about the Cordoba House (and I apologise to go somewhat off the thread); is Islam a threat to Buddhism (or continued Buddhist practice) as it would appear that Islam caused the end of Buddhism in India about 800-900 years ago?