What we learn from
history
is that people don't learn from history.
I
Doing the Practice
Mindfulness/awareness
was the meditation the Buddha himself practiced and taught.
It was his basic prescription for human suffering. Looking at life with
an open and nonjudgmental attention, we see our confusion and develop
insight.
This is the basis of all Buddhist practice and the key to
liberation.¹
George Shaller, a renowned primate biologist was asked why
he was able to learn such remarkable detail about the habits of
gorillas.
His reply, he didn’t carry a gun.
The gorilla relaxed when there was no obvious threat.
When he acted as though he was not at risk.
I wonder if they consider global warming a threat.
The long arc reaches every corner,
each insect... each dying bee... each song bird
disappearing.
Yet there is doubt
we need rush.
And, perhaps, there is reason to consider
the outcomes of rash decisions. Ones made before
we really know
what we should do.
But
will we know
while
we still have
time?
II
Imagine There’s No Suffering
The state of compassion arises with a
quality of equanimity.¹
Does it matter, then?
Should we all perish
in dust devils and sinking lakes
what will be...
after?
Does it matter?
To us
or to the bees,
the songbirds,
the gorilla?
The long arc of rain clouds glisten
and the wind builds the dust devils
to new height
and speed.
Does it matter
then?
Deserts have always been with us.
We tent them
with ever increasing skeins of material.
We dig deep, deep wells for oil,
why not for water
to split into hydrogen and oxygen
then burn the CO2 and get more water
while burying the Carbon under the water.
Yes, that will do the trick.
What compassion will that take?
What suffering comes from it?
Simple,
life is good
in the deep
deep
well
of
a
tent.
Now, we seed the wind,
then
the rain
will
come.
Soak
it
up
slowly
in
that
deep
well
of
a
tent.
Compassion flows once more
from equanimity.
|