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Loading...Do Activism and Buddhism Mix?
- Annie B. Bond
- May 30, 2004
- 5:22 pm
- 31 comments
Inspired by a powerful spiritual awakening at a very young age, Adyashanti teaches a unique non-dual Buddhist approach to every aspect of living, including activism.
What follows is a series of questions posed to him about activism, and his answers.
Question: How do I reconcile allowing things to be as they are without taking a stand? There are a lot of areas in my life where I feel I can’t just allow things to be as they are, but I must take up arms and oppose them.
Answer: There’s never a need to oppose. Opposition is an attitude of the separate self. Do what is true. In doing what is true, there is no attitude to opposition.
Question: It wouldn’t feel right in my soul to lay back and do nothing. It would be cowardly. At times, allowing things to be as they are can enter into the realm of cowardice.
Answer: Let the Truth inform action.
Question: Does that kind of action come from a feeling about what’s right under the circumstances?
Answer: It’s before feeling.
Question: Even at the risk of consequences?
Answer: Truth doesn’t care about consequences. It’s concerned with the Truth. It doesn’t care if you’re liked or not liked. You won’t always be liked for it, and sometimes you will be disliked for it. As long as you’re acting in the world based on what you like or don’t like, or what others like or don’t like, you’re not in the realm of the Truth. Truth insists that we not only be truthful, but that we act truthfully. It’s not enough just to know the Truth. You have to be it – to act it, and to do it.
Read more: Spirit, Inspiration
Adapted from The Impact of Awakening, by Adyashanti (Open Gate Sangha; 2nd edition, 2002).
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Annie B. Bond
Annie is a renowned expert in non-toxic and green living. Named one of the top 20 environmental leaders by Body and Soul Magazine, Annie has authored four books, including "Home Enlightenment" (Rodale Press, 2005) and "Better Basics for the Home" (Three Rivers Press, 1999).
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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Rub a slice of lemon on a mosquito bite. It will stop the itching
Okay..belly-rub...please anybody??
Thanks for sharing.
interesting read...thank you
Worth to try, thank you.
31 comments
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Interesting insight into the world of truthful action.
I think they do
...some aspirants need to learn to sit down..while others may need to learn to stand up..Act according to the truth in any situation..while that may sound simple..the truth can be very complex...and good intentions can lead to mayhem...Sitting in one bliss and pumping out golden rays..i'd recommend that any day...because there.. Buddhism becomes potent activism without action...x
...some aspirants need to learn to sit down..while others may need to learn to stand up..Act according to the truth in any situation..while that may sound simple..the truth can be very complex...and good intentions can lead to mayhem...Sitting in one bliss and pumping out golden rays..i'd recommend that any day...because there.. Buddhism becomes potent activism without action...x
...some aspirants need to learn to sit down..while others may need to learn to stand up..Act according to the truth in any situation..while that may sound simple..the truth can be very complex...and good intentions can lead to mayhem...Sitting in one bliss and pumping out golden rays..i'd recommend that any day...because there.. Buddhism becomes potent activism without action...x
...some aspirants need to learn to sit down..while others may need to learn to stand up..Act according to the truth in any situation..while that may sound simple..the truth can be very complex...and good intentions can lead to mayhem...Sitting in one bliss and pumping out golden rays..i'd recommend that any day...because there.. Buddhism becomes potent activism without action...x
...some aspirants need to learn to sit down..while others may need to learn to stand up..Act according to the truth in any situation..while that may sound simple..the truth can be very complex...and good intentions can lead to mayhem...Sitting in one bliss and pumping out golden rays..i'd recommend that any day...because there.. Buddhism becomes potent activism without action...x
Yes, it does mix.
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