According to Buddhism, the source of all suffering is ignorance: in other words, not knowing what we don’t know.
Often, our life experiences cause us to struggle with who we are in relation to others. We experience the words and behaviours of authority figures as either supportive and caring or hurtful and confusing. As a result, we form opinions and storylines about ourselves that don’t reflect who we really are.
We then find ourselves reacting to people and situations based on the lies that we’ve created about ourselves. Anytime we find ourselves reacting to someone or something, a nerve ending that has been a source of pain in our lives is being touched.
As we stumble around, attempting to make sense of what’s going on in our lives, we do the best we can with we have to work with. Our task is to grow in our awareness and understanding of what we need to know so we can bring fulfillment and joy to our lives.
We need to recognize that our mindfulness practice is not only an integral part of our daily lives, but also integral to the political choices we make. On that note, in the United States, we’re faced with two possible roads to take as the November 5 presidential election approaches. Are we to continue living in a democracy, or will we live in an autocracy? Will we elect a president, or will we choose a dictator who, alone, will forever decide our fate in all areas of life?
Trump is one choice
In the upcoming election, one of our choices is voting for Donald Trump, who has no regard for the feelings and needs of others. He appears to want to destroy everything he disagrees with, including the Constitution, the idea that we’re all equal before the law, and the separation of powers among the executive, legislative (Congress) and judicial branches of the U.S. government.
Donald Trump wants to control the lives of the American people while suspending all accountability for his behaviour, and he wants to politically remove anyone or anything in opposition to what he wants. He also condones the use of violence against those who oppose him.
Those who support this political leader are often those who find themselves reacting to the pain that life has presented them with. These people view this candidate as the saviour who will lead them to a better life. Trump believes and asserts that he’ll be a Jesus-like saviour for these individuals and that he’ll provide retribution to all who continue to persecute members of his flock.
Harris and America’s foundational values
We can either choose a path that is dark and delusional and disregards the needs of others, or choose a presidential candidate who is supportive of people working together in accordance with America’s foundational values. Kamala Harris supports meeting the needs of everyone and ensuring that all are equal before the law, and if we take her path, everyone will be guaranteed a vote and will have our votes count.
Hers is also a path where:
- People will be guaranteed quality health care.
- Women can decide how to exercise their reproductive rights and make choices about their own reproductive health.
- People will be able to marry whomever they love, regardless of their sexual orientation.
- All will be able to earn a livable wage and enjoy a secure life in retirement.
Leading up to the election on November 5, Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz are the two candidates who will present this more mindful approach to the leadership of the American people.
Shall we travel a mindful road?
The Dalai Lama has written that, “Interdependence is a fundamental law of nature. Even tiny insects survive by co-operating with each other. Our own survival is so dependent on the help of others that a need for love lies at the very core of our existence. Therefore, we need to cultivate a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others.”
By doing what the Dalai Lama suggests, problems like racism, inequality in all areas of life and climate change issues can be resolved. Rather than reacting and protecting ourselves from one another, we can respond to life with awareness and compassion instead. In essence, by doing so, we’ll treat others as we would like to be treated.
We must decide which road we want to travel, as our votes will all count and make a significant difference in the course of American history. Will we bring awareness and kindness to our interactions with others, or will we remain unconscious and continue to be reactionary towards fellow members of our human family?
The choice is ours. Our future is in our hands. We must ask ourselves, which road do we want to take?
Reflections on the Democratic National Convention (DNC)
Hundreds of years ago, British colonists separated themselves from a tyrannical king, braved rough seas and relocated to the North American continent. In the writing of the Declaration of Independence from Britain, Americans realized that they had certain needs if they were to exist as a community in this new world.
In the Declaration, our Founding Fathers asserted (converted into the inclusive language of today): “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that we are all created equal, that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of fulfillment.” It was also stipulated that all are equal under the law.
In this document, there are foundational values that are related to the teachings of Christianity, Buddhism and other religions or spiritual paths. The idea of treating others as we would like to be treated, in a simple way, summarizes what’s needed for us to create a healthy community. If we were to consistently treat others as we’d want to be treated, much of today’s suffering would evaporate.
The Dalai Lama has written, “Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or nonbeliever, man or woman, black, white or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears and dreams. Each of us want the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture and language make no difference.”
He also writes, “Compassion and love are not a luxury; they are essential to our existence. Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community. If we are to survive, human beings must develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must learn to work not just for our own self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind.”
What the Democratic National Convention has highlighted for me is the joy that has been created in the presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, as she embodies and expresses what the Dalai Lama has written about.
As a candidate, Kamala Harris exudes the essential elements that are necessary for us to thrive and survive as a human community. She has demonstrated how transformative it is to share in a sense of joy while feeling seen and heard, being free from fear and experiencing the hope that is generated when we treat others as we would want to be treated.
I’m thankful to be alive at this point in our nation’s history—to experience this transformative event and all that accompanies the meeting of our finest essence as we relate to one another in our daily lives—while treating one another as we would want to be treated.
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