Here is one of the most famous — and controversial — teaching stories in Zen:
Once, when the monks of the Western and Eastern Halls were quarrelling about a cat, Nansen, holding up the cat, said, “You monks! if any of you can speak a word of Zen I will spare the cat, otherwise I will kill it!” No one could answer, so Nansen killed it. In the evening, Joshu came back from a day trip, and Nansen told him what had happened. Joshu thereupon took off his shoe, put it on his head, and walked off. Nansen said, “If only you had been there, I could have saved the cat!”
Tomorrow is Election Day, and all signs point to a close vote. There has been so much acrimony and divisiveness that everyone is rightly concerned about what might happen over the next few weeks.
Over the years my political engagement has been deeply informed by the story of Nansen and the cat. The gist of the story is that our arguments about issues tend to “kill” the things we actually care about.
The way to support the beings and causes we care about is to — surprise! — directly care and support them.
When Nansen’s student Joshu returned to the monastery and was told what happened, he put his sandal on his head, which in Tang dynasty China was a sign of mourning. This was the appropriate response. If Joshu had been present earlier he would have leapt up and grabbed the cat out of Nansen’s hand before Nansen could kill the cat.
Many Buddhists are aghast when they hear this story, and it indeed it is disturbing. How could the Master kill a living being?! What I take from Nansen’s action is that he was willing to take on the karma of his violent action in order to jolt his monks awake. We hope that the monks would thereafter disavow their self-centered defenses of their various positions and learn to take a stand and take action in support of care and love.
Democratic politics is messy. We elect people who make claims about caring for others, and those who win are granted enormous power. How they deploy that power is sometimes in accord with their stated values, but is oftentimes compromised and ineffective.
Some of the communities that I care most about whom I feel are in the cross-hairs of our argumentation include pregnant women, trans people, those who are struggling financially and professionally, those struggling with mental and physical illnesses, and those suffering in the violent flashpoints of geopolitical conflict (Ukraine and the Middle East).
My vote will go to those I believe will work to provide support and care directly, not those obsessed with ideologies, denigration, or virtue-signaling.
As I mentioned above, as a Buddhist practitioner, I normally do not take fixed positions on political or social issues. However, I do take a stand for Right Action and Right Speech as I humbly understand them through my study and practice of the dharma.
I find a compass in the Five Commitments of the Zen Peacemakers*. The expression of these commitments in the form of “I commit myself to work toward….” is the very spirit of my Zen@Work project:
I commit myself to work towards a culture of non-violence and reverence for life.
I commit myself to work towards a culture of solidarity and a just economic order.
I commit myself to work towards a culture of inclusiveness and a life based on truthfulness.
I commit myself to work towards a culture of equal rights for all people, respecting and appreciating human diversity.
I commit myself to work towards a culture of sustainability and care for the earth.
*In the summer of 1993, "The Global Ethic" was ratified as an official document of the Parliament of the World's Religions by a vote of its Trustees. It was then signed by more than 200 leaders from 40+ different faith traditions and spiritual communities during the Parliament's 1993 gathering in Chicago. Since 1993 leaders and individuals around the world continue to endorse the Global Ethic with their signatures. It has served as a common ground for people to discuss, to agree, and to cooperate for the good of all. Zen Peacemakers include these five commitments above as part of their precepts in alignment with the Global Ethic.
Perhaps these commitments are inspiring to you in your work and your vote.
take care everyone,
Paul
Image by Mark T. Morse, Gateless Gate Studio
Grateful for this powerful and important message 🧡