Last night Graham (Zoron) and I talked about runaway climate change, and what it will mean for millions of people in the most affected areas. Afterwards I thought about Charles Koch who led the climate denial movement in order to boost his oil profits. I didn’t know what to do with the anger I felt. This morning, happify.com (highly recommend this website) put this video in my inbox.
A child asked the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hahn how to let out her anger. His response, not just his words, but his whole being, embodies the concept of heart warrior.
He said that anger comes from within, not from the outside. So our rage at the greedy oligarchs is not actually caused by them. It’s in us.
Then he said that anger is like mud.
I think of it more like sludge – the undigested material within us. The things that happened to us that we haven’t been able to integrate into our psyche.
So the sludge or mud sits there inside us. It’s ours to digest, not to fling at others.
Then he said that the mud is the same nutrient-rich material that makes the lotus flower (and all of life, for that matter). It’s something we can use to grow if we can integrate it rather than spew it out.
I think about the oligarchs who fund the ultra right movement in this country. Their crime to humanity, to my own progeny, is so great. How am I supposed to contain my rage? Back in the 1970’s when scientists revealed that climate change was happening, it was the mandate from the Right that caused Reagan to take the solar panels off the White House and begin a climate denial movement. If it were not for the climate denial movement, our leaders might have advanced sustainability before the greenhouse gases reached the deadly levels they are today. But that was not meant to be. The real damage to our environment has been done since the 1970’s and continues at record pace.
According the Jane Mayer in Dark Money, Charles Koch and his siblings were abused as children. Their pain has been directed outward to squash anyone who stands in their way. Koch Industries, according to witnesses in federal lawsuits, operates like organized crime - lawless behavior and brutal retaliation against anyone who opposes them. Donald Trump is a puppy in comparison. They created an ultra-right, pro corporation movement that squashes anyone who gets in their way. Any means to power and profit seem justified.
They are, for me, the rogue villains of our time. With that in mind, I watched Thich Nach Hahn’s approach to anger.
Thank you. I need this and will check it out tonight. It couldn't come at a better time...
The Shambhala Prophecy: There is a 12th century Tibetan prophecy about how the world at some point will hang in the balance. It says that two giant barbarian powers will be at war with each other. All hope for the fate of the world will come from a great warrior, called a Shambhala Warrior, also called a Bodi-satva or heart warrior. The heart warrior will save the world, not with weapons, but with love. It has also been said that the heart warrior will come in the form of millions of people, not one person. I heard this story from my teacher, Joanna Macy. You can watch her tell it here.
I just watched your teacher Joanna Macy speak, it is so powerful what she said and also very hopeful. We do not know how it will end, but I love that it will/ could be millions of heart warriors who can save this world. Thank you for sharing!
The tone at the beginning and end of the video and Hahn's voice alone convey a sense of peace. Thanks.
Jeanne, thank you for sharing the videos on Joanne Macy, excerpt from Charles Eisenstein book, and Thich Nach Hahn's approach to anger. I decided to wait a few days to ponder on all of this, rather then being impulsive. All three people touch a heart chord. Joanna Macy's telling about The Shambhala Prophecy rang so true. Charles Eisenstein "A Gathering of the Tribe" was very interesting. I always had a interest in learning more about Shaman. I always believe they were misunderstood because they were connected to everything. Thich Nach Hahn's approach to anger got me thinking about my own anger, and much more I need to work on it. When I look at my own anger, it stems from guilt, and things I can not control. I can not control someone else action, but I can control mine. Guilt is only good when you did wrong and learn from it, then guilt serve no more purpose after that. Also our own thoughts which we are responsible for. If you think less about yourself, always putting yourself down, high expectation that is what you project out into the world.
I remember months back, trying to visualize, that all people would put down their weapons, and just hugging each other and realize they were not their enemies. Instead of being army of war, being army of peace. The Shambhala Prophecy gives us hope.
Jeanne, my youngest daughter and I are starting to do your "Loving and Kindness Meditation together these last two nights. She loves it and ask to do it again tonight. It took awhile for her calm down before we could start because she has so much energy, a lot ideas in her head. They are like a whole lot sling shots ideas bouncing of the walls, floor and ceiling. She can spend hours up in her room, in her mind creating things. One is creating a mindcraft world. She does not need a computers to do that when you got a imagination. lol. After the meditation, she went to bed(yay!!!) because many nights it not like 1 or 2 in the morning because her wheels in her head is turning.
Jeanne, Thank you for reminding me about Joanna Macy! I was privileged to be at two retreats with her years ago and she was amazing. I still remember from time to time the lessons I learned from her. I can't believe I haven't thought of her for so long. Thank you!
Thank-you, KC and Kim, Grace, Lola, and Tee. It soothes my heart to read your responses. Kim, so nice you and your daughter are getting into Loving Kindness. What a wonderful child. If she has trouble falling asleep with all that energy, I found a wonderful app -- Insight Timer -- that has guided meditations. The one I love the best is the most popular one of all and it's for falling asleep. By Jennifer Piercy. It's called Yoga Nidra for Sleep. It's amazing for relaxation, whether for sleep or just to calm down. She has others on the app. It's all free!