Urgent Action, and Social Justice Issues

<TABLE WIDTH="95%" BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="2" CELLPADDING="2" ALIGN="center">   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><DIV ALIGN="center"><IMG SRC="../images/content_urgentaction.gif" ALIGN="MIDDLE"></DIV></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <DIV ALIGN="left"></DIV> <TABLE WIDTH="100%"> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD WIDTH="51%" VALIGN="middle"> <BLOCKQUOTE STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_1" CLASS="quicklinks">Contact Your Representative, Senator, White House</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_2" CLASS="quicklinks">A Note About e Mail Petitions</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_3" CLASS="quicklinks">Links - Peace Actions</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_4" CLASS="quicklinks">Radio</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_5" CLASS="quicklinks">Links - Engaged Buddhism</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_6" CLASS="quicklinks">Links - Current And Ongoing Actions</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_7" CLASS="quicklinks">Links - Alternative News Sites</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_8" CLASS="quicklinks">Links - Non Violence</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_9" CLASS="quicklinks">Links - Los Angeles</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_10" CLASS="quicklinks">About Socially Engaged Buddhist Practice</A><BR> <A HREF="#Quick_Links_11" CLASS="quicklinks">Contact Us</A> </BLOCKQUOTE></TD> <TD WIDTH="49%" VALIGN="middle"> <BLOCKQUOTE STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"> <BLOCKQUOTE STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"> <BLOCKQUOTE STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"> <P ALIGN="center" STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><IMG SRC="../resources2/images/manjushri1c.jpg" WIDTH="161" HEIGHT="161"></P> </BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV ALIGN="center"></DIV> <H6 ALIGN="left" STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><STRONG><BR> Manjushri </STRONG>Bodhisattva embodies the understanding that we are not separate, that every action,word, and thoughtmakes a difference.</FONT></H6> </BLOCKQUOTE></TD> </TR> </TABLE></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD WIDTH="100" VALIGN="top">  </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_1"></A> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><STRONG>Contact Your Representative, Senator and the White House </STRONG> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left"><STRONG>White House</STRONG></DIV></TD> <TD> 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20500   <A HREF="http://www.whitehouse.gov">www.whitehouse.gov</A> </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD WIDTH="27%"><P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0;"> </P> <DIV ALIGN="left"></DIV></TD> <TD WIDTH="73%">  </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left"><STRONG>Telephone</STRONG></DIV></TD> <TD> </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left">Comments:</DIV></TD> <TD><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"> 202-456-1111 (9am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday. East Coast Time) </P></TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left">Switchboard:</DIV></TD> <TD><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">202-456-1414</P></TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left">Fax:</DIV></TD> <TD> 202-456-2461 </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><STRONG>For the hearing Impaired</STRONG></P></TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left">Comment:<STRONG> </STRONG></DIV></TD> <TD> 202-456-6213 </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><P ALIGN="left" STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">Visitors Office:</P></TD> <TD> 202-456-2121</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left"><STRONG>E-mail</STRONG></DIV></TD> <TD> </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left">George W Bush:</DIV></TD> <TD><A HREF="mailto:president@whitehouse.gov"> president@whitehouse.gov</A> </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left">Richard Cheney:</DIV></TD> <TD><A HREF="mailto:president@whitehouse.gov"> vice-president@whitehouse.gov</A> </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0;"> </P> <DIV ALIGN="left"></DIV></TD> <TD> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P ALIGN="left" STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">For current information on the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives </P></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left"><STRONG>US Congress</STRONG></DIV></TD> <TD><A HREF="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/" TARGET="_blank"> www.congress.org</A></TD> </TR> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD><DIV ALIGN="left"><STRONG>US Senate</STRONG></DIV></TD> <TD><A HREF="http://www.senate.gov" TARGET="_blank"> www.senate.gov</A></TD> </TR> </TABLE></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <STRONG>VoteNote </STRONG><A HREF="http://votenote.aol.com" TARGET="_blank">Register to receive regular announcements of how your Congressional Representative and Senators voted on recent issues </A></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><DIV ALIGN="center"> <H3 STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><FONT COLOR="#000000"> LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! </FONT></H3> </DIV></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_2"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><STRONG>E-mail  Petitions</STRONG></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0;"><STRONG>PLEASE NOTE. </STRONG> E-mail petitions are a questionable way of expressing your position on any issue. They are often lost in cyber-space, and even if they do reach their intended destination they are often ignored. It is MUCH more effective to send a personal e-mail, letter, fax, or even to make a phone call. Please use the Internet to find appropriate info on who to contact in respect to issues you care about: embassies, overseas governments, domestic government offices, corporate offices etc. <BR> Please always be respectful, polite, and to the point in your communications with organizations, governments, and individuals. Among other things, it is more effective in getting your point across. </P> <P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0;"><A HREF="http://www.truemajority.com/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>True Majority</STRONG></A> "give us two minutes a month and we'll give you a better world" They will send faxes/e-mails on your behalf. A virtually effortless way to let your voice be heard on issues that concern you. </P></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_3"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><B>Links: Peace Actions </B></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0;"><A HREF="http://www.transformingviolence.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Transforming Violence </STRONG></A>  Innovative strategies for preventing, stopping and healing violence: </P> <P><A HREF="http://www.peacefultomorrows.org" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Peacful Tomorrows</STRONG></A>  September Eleventh Families for Nonviolent Direct Action</P> <P><A HREF="http://www.internationalanswer.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>International Answer</STRONG></A> Ongoing campaign links movements against war and against racism</P> <P><A HREF="http://www.notinourname.net/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Not In Our Name</STRONG></A> War without end? Not in our name.</P> <P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0;"><A HREF="http://www.antiwar.com/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Anti War</STRONG></A> antiwar news viewpoints and activities </P></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_4"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><B>Radio</B></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top:0;"><BR> <STRONG><A HREF="http://www.kpfk.org" TARGET="_blank">KPFK</A></STRONG> Southern California Independent Radio. Pacifica Radio also broadcast on-line.</P> <P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0;"><A HREF="http://www.democracynow.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Democracy Now</STRONG></A> Amy Goodman's daily radio show on current issues. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0; margin-bottom: 0;">Some of the best radio journalism you're likely to hear in this country. Broadcast on the Pacifica network and on-line.</P></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_5"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><B>Links: Engaged Buddhism</B> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><A HREF="http://www.bpf.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Buddhist Peace Fellowship </STRONG></A><BR> The web site for BPF, International voice for Buddhism and Social Action. <BR> (www.bpf.org) <BR> <A HREF="http://www.dharmanet.org/engaged.html" TARGET="_blank"><BR> <STRONG>Dharmanet Engaged Practice Links Page </STRONG></A><BR> A Comprehensive Site Listing Engaged Buddhist Resources <BR> www.dharmanet.org/engaged.html) </P></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_6"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><STRONG>Links: Information on Current and Ongoing Actions </STRONG></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><A HREF="http://www.globalexchange.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Global Exchange </STRONG></A><BR> Human rights organization for environmental, political, and social justice worldwide. <BR> (www.globalexchange.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.stoptorture.org" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Amnesty International Urgent Action </STRONG></A><BR> Check this regularly for information on civil rights violations worldwide and actions you can take. <BR> (www.stoptorture.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://michaelmoore.com/index.php" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Michael Moore's Site </STRONG></A><BR> Check the site of the author of bestseller "Stupid White Men" regularly for humor, information, lobbying and action. <BR> (www.stoptorture.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.rainforestweb.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Rainforest Information and Action Worldwide </STRONG></A><BR> Rainforest Action Network. <BR> (www.rainforestweb.org) <BR> <A HREF="http://www.nrdc.org/default.asp" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG><BR> N.R.D.C. </STRONG></A><BR> National Resources Defense Council. <BR> (www.nrdc.org/default.asp) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.defenders.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Defenders of Wildlife </STRONG></A><BR> National and International Advocacy Organization <BR> (www.defenders.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.environmentaldefense.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Environmental Defense </STRONG></A><BR> National and International Advocacy Organization <BR> (www.environmentaldefense.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.iabolish.com/index.htm" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Slavery in the Sudan, Burma, and elsewhere </STRONG></A><BR> There are still an estimated twenty-seven million people in slavery worldwide. Information. Actions. Petition, <BR> (www.iabolish.com) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.moveon.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Moveon.org--Petition Your Representative for Peace </STRONG></A><BR> Move On helps busy people be effective citizens. Move On is committed to broadening participation to counter the influence of monied interests and partisan extremes. <BR> (www.moveon.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>The Breast Cancer Site </STRONG></A><BR> PLEASE NOTE: We heard earlier this year that the Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota for donations for free monograms. It takes less than a minute to go to their site & click on the pink button that says "donating a mammogram" - their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily <BR> visits to donate a mammogram in exchange for advertising. <BR> Please go there, save it as a favorite, click on 'donate a mammogram', and do it every day. This works the same as the 'hunger site', that gives food to the needy from corporate sponsors. Pass it along to all your friends! <BR> (www.thebreastcancersite.com) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>The Petition Site </STRONG></A><BR> Amazingly comprehensive list of ongoing web based petitions <BR> (www.thepetitionsite.com) </P></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_7"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><B>Links: Alternative News Sites</B></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top:0;"><BR> <A HREF="http://www.commondreams.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Commondreams </STRONG></A><BR> Breaking News and Views for the Progressive Community <BR> (www.commondreams.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://64.85.20.123/weluser.htm" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>ZNet </STRONG></A><BR> "A Community of People Committed to Social Change" <BR> (www.lol.shareworld.com/weluser.htm) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.independent.co.uk/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>The Independent </STRONG></A><BR> Free Thinking News Source from the U. K.<BR> (www.independent.co.uk) </P> <P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0;"><A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>AltNet</STRONG></A> news, editorials, and investigative journalism</P></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_8"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><B>Links: Non Violence </B></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><A HREF="http://www.globalsolidarity.org/index.html" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Global Solidarity </STRONG></A><BR> Coalition for Global Solidarity and Social Development <BR> (www.globalsolidarity.org/) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.vday.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>VDay </STRONG></A><BR> VDay is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. <BR> (www.vday.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.mvfr.org/homepage.html" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Victims' Families for Reconciliation </STRONG></A><BR> After a murder, victims' families face two things: a death and a crime. At these times, families need help to cope with their grief and loss, and support to heal their hearts and rebuild their lives. From experience, we know that revenge is not the answer. The answer lies in reducing violence, not causing more death. The answer lies in supporting those who grieve for their lost loved ones, not creating more grieving families. It is time we break the cycle of violence. To those who say society must take a life for a life, we say: "not in our name." <BR> (www.mvfr.org/) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.sabeel.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Sabeel </STRONG></A><BR> Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation movement among Palestinian Christians <BR> (www.sabeel.org/) </TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_9"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER> <P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><STRONG>Links: Los Angeles</STRONG></P></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <BR> <P STYLE="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><A HREF="http://www.treepeople.org" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Tree People </STRONG></A><BR> "Our mission is to inspire the people of Los Angeles to take personal responsibility for their environment, training and supporting them as they plant and care for trees and improve the neighborhoods in which they live, work and play." <BR> (www.treepeople.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.coalitionforworldpeace.org/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Los Angeles Coalition For World Peace </STRONG></A><BR> This Site exists because there is another way to respond to Terrorism. War is not the answer, it is war and violence that have brought this crisis to the dangerous abyss we face. We as citizens of the most powerful nation on earth, possessed of Democratic rights and responsibilities, have a duty to prevent the escalation of violence underway and its inevitable result — more innocent lives lost, loss of civil liberties that define us as a nation and the unleashing of violent racism in our land. <BR> (www.coalitionforworldpeace.org) <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.coalitionforcleanair.org/cca/" TARGET="_blank"><STRONG>Coalition For Clean Air </STRONG></A><BR> The Coalition for Clean Air is dedicated to restoring clean, healthful air to California by advocating responsible public health policy, providing technical and educational expertise, and promoting broad-based community involvement. <BR> (www.coalitionforcleanair.org/) </P></TD> </TR>   <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_10"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><STRONG>Thoughts on Socially Engaged Buddhist Practice</STRONG> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"> Caitríona Reed </P></TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> </TD> </TR>  <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><P STYLE="margin-top: 0;">Sometimes the assumption is made that there is no place for the political in the spiritual life; that to be truly ‘spiritual’ it is necessary to diminish involvement in the manifest world by focusing only on its transitory nature. But the idea that the only appropriate course of action, from a spiritual point of view, is to leave the concerns of the world behind, is no more true or credible than the opposite, materialist view, that only external things have reality, and that to give and any sort of credence to subjective reality is irrelevant, indulgent and irresponsible. <BR> <BR> Both views are extremes, both have roots that go back as far as we have records—in the European, Indian, Chinese, and other traditions. <BR> <BR> One particular variety of this sort of dualism that can sometimes be seen to manifests itself even in Buddhist Practice Centers, and in the hearts and minds of those who practice the Dharma, holds that only the insights developed in certain states of meditation have absolute verity. <BR> <BR> This notion, a combination of doctrinal elitism and anti-intellectualism combined with a strong apolitical stance, owes as much to the early Christian Church, to the theological debate and social change of the tenth and eleventh centuries, to the anti-intellectualism of the 19th century Romantic movement, and even to the anti-intellectualism of the counterculture of the 1960s, as much as it does to the teachings of the Buddha. <BR> <BR> These days, a distaste for any sort of involvement in current or political affairs is powerfully reinforced by the grotesque oversimplifications that are so much a part of popular cultural expression and commentary. However, there is a difference between an inner focus based on the understanding of the Dharma and a purely reactive desire to withdraw from the world based both on a fear of complexity and a fear of taking responsibility in situations where you will never be sure of being ‘right’. <BR> <BR> It is interesting to note that even within the Buddhist Asian context there has been a subtle shift, a subtle colonization, and a tendency to adopt western transcendentalist ideas, and become numb to the challenges of taking responsibility for living in he world. <BR> <BR> The Buddha's teaching is very clear, the spiritual is not separate from the political. Our responsibility is to our awakening and liberation, and to the awakening and liberation of others. Our work is the work of cultivating compassion, and compassionate action, without discriminating as to who is a worthy recipient of it. Our practice is simply to do whatever we can to help, in whatever way seems appropriate, learning and adapting as we go. <BR> <BR> That <u><STRONG>is </STRONG></u> our practice. <BR> <BR> As in the invocation the Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha: </P> <P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0;">“We aspire … to be present where there is darkness, suffering, oppression, and despair, so that we may bring light, hope, relief, and liberation to those places. We are determined not to forget about or abandon those who are in desperate situations. We will do our best to establish contact with them when they cannot find a way out of their suffering and when their cries for help, justice, equality, and human rights are not heard.” <BR> <BR> We often close a period of meditation with a dedication and blessing: <BR> <BR> <FONT COLOR="#333333">"May all beings be free from exploitation and oppression. May all beings be free from animosity and blindness. May all beings become liberated from greed and obsession. Miracle of miracles—May all beings be safe and happy. May we all come home to the basic ground of our being—in love, in compassion, in joy, in peace. May all being be free, may all being be happy”.</FONT> </P></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#ffffff" ALIGN=RIGHT><A NAME="Quick_Links_11"></A><A HREF="#Return_to_top">Return To Top</A></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#cccccc" ALIGN=CENTER><B>Contact Us</B></TD> </TR>    <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">Web sites, like living beings, are "continually being born and continually dying." <BR> Please feel free to contact us with information on relevant web sites you would like to see posted here. <BR> <BR> Contact information for Ordinary Dharma, based in Los Angeles <BR> as well as Manzanita Village Retreat Center in Warner Springs, <BR> <BR> Ordinary Dharma, <BR> PO Box 67, <BR> Warner Springs, <BR> CA 92086 <BR> <BR> 310-470-8443 Voice mail <BR> 760-782-9223 Manzanita Village <BR> 760-782-0655 Fax <BR> <A HREF="mailto:manzanita@ordinarydharma.org">manzanita@ordinarydharma.org</A><BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="2" VALIGN="top" BGCOLOR="#CCCCCC"> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN=CENTER CLASS="update_size"> </TD> </TR> </TABLE>