Support In the Aftermath Of the FOTUS Election...

February 05, 2025

When fascism came to America it came clutching a bible and waving the flag. On January 20, 2025.

When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.

Milarepa

“Just as it is known that an image of one's face is seen depending on a mirror but does not really exist as a face, so the conception of "I" exist dependent on mind and body, but like the image of a face the "I" does not at all exist as its own reality." Nagarjuna

"Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible. Nagarjuna

During these time of the FOTUS's reign hopefully the following article gives us something to reflect on and helps us cope with his insanity.

Buddhists Offer Perspective and Support in Wake of US Presidential Election

By Justin Whitaker
November 7, 2024

The 2024 US presidential election concluded with former president Donald Trump securing a second term, winning both the popular vote and a decisive majority in the Electoral College against Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump’s victory, propelled by voter concerns over inflation, immigration, healthcare, and economic challenges, has sparked concern within various communities, including North American Buddhists, who have raised questions about the potential impact on future social and environmental policies.

North America is home to an estimated 3–4 million Buddhists, including a significant Asian-American population and a broad community of practitioners who lean toward progressive values. Many North American Buddhists advocate principles such as compassion, non-violence, and environmental protection—values that some fear may be compromised by the policies associated with Trump’s previous administration.

Soto Zen priest Zenju Earthlyn Manuel shared on social media:

We must use our suffering to find the medicine. Suffering hurts but it’s good stuff. It is accessible and we can make it pliable if it is too hard, too tough. Today we simply water our earth and see what will come from our constant attention to freedom and liberation.

More later. I’m here and I see you. Walk tall. Sit tall. Crawl. Lay down. Whatever position to be here in this life. Curse and cry. Shout and breathe. (Facebook)

Trump’s victory can largely be attributed to a strong voter response to economic frustrations. Exit polls indicated widespread concern over inflation and high living costs, as well as frustration with the perceived economic policies of the administration of President Joe Biden. Trump’s message of economic revival struck a chord with voters in critical battleground states, where concerns about the cost of living were among the most pressing issues.

Buddhist actor and Zen Priest Peter Coyote offered a scathing rebuke of Harris’s political party in his own message on social media:

Maybe now, my fellow Democrats will review their fascination with Coastal elites, revisit their support of GATT and NAFTA and supporting the wage freeze that extended from 1973 until 2023. Maybe they’ll want to revisit the idea that elections should be funded by the taxpayer and that corporations should not be allowed to spend their profits altering public policy for their SHAREHOLDERS instead of the people. And maybe allowing lobbyists to give cash, or trips, or speaking fees to legislators is not a great idea. (Facebook)

However, these concerns were accompanied by worry that a return to Trump-era policies may bring reversals in areas such as environmental regulation and social services. During his first term, Trump’s administration rolled back numerous environmental protections, deprioritized climate action, and enforced stringent immigration policies. Many Buddhists who support ecological stewardship and inclusivity view these policies as contradictory to their core beliefs and have voiced concern over potential impacts on social cohesion and environmental well-being.

In response to the election results, many in the Buddhist community expressed a commitment to deepening their engagement in social and environmental issues. Rather than disengaging, Buddhist leaders urged their communities to reaffirm their values of compassion, resilience, and non-violence. Roshi James Ford wrote on Facebook:

I feel the evil of our age into my bones and marrow. Fortunately, I found some guidance from Shinran Shonin. “Passions obstruct my eyes and I cannot see him; Nevertheless, great compassion is untiring and illumines me always.” I know I just need to follow that illumination, dim as it feels in the moment. (Facebook)

Historically, Buddhism has emphasized personal awakening and communal duties over political engagement. In recent decades, however, many Buddhists around the world have become involved in social and environmental activism, recognizing that such issues impact the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. With Trump’s return to office, many Buddhists see an opportunity to deepen their advocacy, both within their communities and in collaboration with other groups working toward social and environmental justice.

Buddhist teacher, author, and activist Mushim Patricia Ikeda shared:

The Bodhisattva vow does not change, it simply manifests according to what is needed. Do whatever you need to do today to restore your spirits and help others toward liberation. (Facebook)