Great Joy

“When one realizes Shinjin, seeing and revering and attaining great joy,
One immediately leaps crosswise, closing off the five evil destinies.” - Shoshinge Ta'i 35-36, Rennyo

Great joy seen, revered, and attained
this foolish one has leaped across,
leaving behind all thought of
animals, hungry ghosts, humans,
jealous gods and even heaven and hell itself.

Thus has Amida Nyorai been the source of unconditional love in my life.

Namu Amida Butsu!

Meditation should lead to action

It is easier to meditate than to actually do something for others. I feel that merely to meditate on compassion is to take the passive option. Our meditation should form the basis for action, for seizing the opportunity to do something.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

This is why I post about other topics other than Buddhism and religion.

Neo-conservatism and patriarchism is BS

Neo-con views are patriarchal, for women refuse to have children because of birth control (invented by men) and because they are higher educated than women in 3rd world nations.

As well, feminism hasn't ruined any Western nation very much.

As women get into high levels of public and private institutions, they've had to adapt -- and it's taking their toll on women e.g. health problems due to drinking and smoking, increased risks from birth control, etc.

Also, feminism has also affect young girls e.g. Karla Homolka, the women involved in the case of Reena Virk's death, increased role in gangs, early incidences of smoking and drinking, and precocious sexuality.

So neo-con views are pretty BS, especially when a lot of misogynists fall for it.

The Realpolitik of Terrorism

According to popular folklore, killing more terrorists leads to more terrorism.

Yet terrorism itself may precipitate a rise in State terrorism e.g. Afghanistan and Iraq where several states are carrying out a legitimate form of terrorism in a vain attempt to "wipe out terrorism."

However, legislated terrorism is no better than the terrorism that led to 9/11.

With the two groups of terrorists nipped in the bud in Canada and the UK, so far Americans are breathing a sigh of relief, thinking, "Well, I'm glad we haven't found terrorists in the US of A."

Of course not. Given that America is the biggest State terrorist, it wouldn't look good to nip a terrorist plot in the bud.

Why?

It's more effective PR to catch 'em in friendly nations whilst spying on Arab-Americans and South Asians domestically whilst letting right-wing conservative blowhards complain about them in op-eds.

Treating Sociopathy

"The plague of mankind is the fear and rejection of diversity: monotheism, monarchy, monogamy and, in our age, monomedicine. The belief that there is only one right way to live, only one right way to regulate religious, political, sexual, medical affairs is the root cause of the greatest threat to man: members of his own species, bent on ensuring his salvation, security, and sanity." - Thomas Szasz, The Second Sin

Given that the majority of so-called nutcases are harmless, it follows that possibly what turns a few of them into psychopaths are a real fear that so-called normal people will harm them.

For they were punished for their "wrong" speech by parents, by teachers, by the police.

Reacting out of fear, their tormenters physically abused them.

And now the abused lash out violently because of that abuse.

On the flip side, not all people become sociopaths because they had a mother or grandmother to provide compassion to soothe their wounds and their inner sorrow at being betrayed.

For this is the real way to treat sociopaths: with unconditional love.

PLUR means do not bring raves into clubs

The following thoughts are my personal opinion on the suggestion that raves be brought into the commercial environment of a club:

With the commercialization of raves will come substitution of E (MDMA) with alcohol.

Once the E is replaced with alcohol, it becomes house/trance.

Also alcohol sometimes leads to senseless violence.

I am not suggesting that E is free of violence, but its effects do not lead people to piss on statues, dance on tables and other mayhem.

Especially at raves.

Remember: the first rave was in the middle of a desert.

Tonight, the rave I'm going to is on an underdeveloped lot at an Indian reserve, far away from the last vestiges of urban life.

Both are open environments.

IMHO the vibes will change radically when ravers are brought into a club due to the closed environment.

This is why I would not consider a "rave" in a club to be a rave, but a subgenre of the house/trance scene.

What a Buddha Is

It is said that the true Buddha is Enlightenment.

Also all beings, even you and I, may be Buddhas.

Thus we are all the means to Enlightenment itself.

And the spiritual journey we all share is to awaken to Enlightenment, both through our own efforts and that of others.

Yet we do not worship each other like religious icons.

For a Buddha is not some religious icon to worship mindlessly, but is the means to discover the true Buddha: Enlightenment itself.

In the eyes of monotheistic religion this is sometimes difficult to understand.

For religious worship is but part of the journey.

Thus may all people be the Buddhas to aid in each other's enlightenment.