Post-Election Racist-Terrorist Attacks

While it’s been only two week’s since we not only witnessed history being made in shift in our society’s modality of thinking and spiritual renaissance filled with endless possibilities, we as a society still have a long way to go as we’re moving in the right direction.

Here’s a URL from last week’s post on Black Planet via Buddhist for Obama:

http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/racist-terrorism-follows-obama-victory

His Holiness Dalai Lama’s Congratulatory Letter to Obama

http://secrettibet.rsfblog.org/archive/2008/11/07/his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-congratulates-barack-obama.html

Utah grocery covering up Obama magazines like they are porn

From Buddhists for Obama:

http://silencedmajority.blogs.com/silenced_majority_portal/2008/11/a-grocery-in-utah-is-covering-up-all-the-obama-magazines.html

Alice Walker’s open letter to President-Elect Obama

Author Alice Walker’s recent open letter to President-Elect Obama:

An Open Letter to Barack Obama by ALICE WALKER

An Open Letter to Barack Obama
By Alice Walker | TheRoot.com
Alice Walker on expectations, responsibilities and a new reality that is almost more than the heart can bear.

Nov. 5, 2008

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other people’s enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people’s spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to “work with the enemy” internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,
Alice Walker

11/18 Today’s Buddhist Food for Thought-Happy SGI Founders Day

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Soka Gakkai’s goal is kosen-rufu-realizing human happiness and world peace by widely spreading the philosophy and ideals of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. We will continue to strive earnestly for this goal, undaunted by criticism, slander or malicious attempts to hinder our progress. That is because what we are doing is the will and decree of the original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin. I proclaim that all who energetically exert themselves for the cause of kosen-rufu are genuine disciples of the Daishonin and genuine members of the SGI.

Events

Soka Gakkai Founding Day
1930 Soka Gakkai is established.
1944 Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the Soka Gakkai’s first president, dies in prison.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 (Buddhism Day by Day)

If you want to build a happy life, you have to give careful thought to the foundations. Happiness certainly cannot be secured on appearances or affectation. Happiness comes down to the inner state of our life at a given moment.

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 (Daily Wisdom)

How long does a lifetime last? If one stops to consider, it is like a single night’s lodging at a wayside inn. Should one forget that fact and seek some measure of worldly fame and profit? Though you may gain them, they will be mere prosperity in a dream, a delight scarcely to be prized. You would do better simply to leave such matters to the karma formed in your previous existences.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 63
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263

SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s Interview in the Winter 2008 Tricycle Magazine

Read about SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s recent interview in Tricycle magazine, Winter 2008 issue–”Faith in Revolution”, as he talks with editor Clark Strand, clearing up some misconceptions of Nichiren Buddhism.

http://www.daisakuikeda.org/index.php?mid=news&dimchar=normal&idnews=294

Actual article:

http://www.tricycle.com/interview/faith-revolution