The Buddha taught there are three things that make all the difference between your practice being merely a way of bringing temporary relaxation, peace, and bliss, or of becoming a powerful cause for your enlightenment and the enlightenment of others. These are sometimes referred to as the Three Noble Principles.
Good in the beginning: Arousing bodhichitta, (spontaneous wish to attain enlightenment motivated by great compassion for all sentient beings), as a skilful means to ensure that your practice becomes a source of merit for the future,
Good in the middle: Maintaining the view of the nature of mind, the attitude of non-grasping free from conceptualization, that secures the practice so that the merit cannot be destroyed by circumstances, and
Good in the end: Sealing the practice properly by dedicating the merit, which will ensure that it continually grows ever greater.
The current civil unrest gripping our nation is surely having a strong emotional impact on all of us. I believe that the Three Noble Principles cited above can be a gateway to understanding our times and ourselves. As Zen Practitioners, we practice to maintain and express a deep appreciation of our lives through the direct experience of not knowing. This relinquishing of our empty, self-imposed sense of control over our lives creates the space necessary for us to freely act authentically and appropriately to each situation and idea we encounter.
The freedom to act authentically and appropriately is a heavy responsibility which is why we must examine our emotional and cognitive reactions to situations and events before we act. Please, let us take the time to examine our response to this difficult time, especially our habitual “knee-jerk” responses as these are typically manifestations of fear, anger and uncertainty.
When the Buddha taught that it is Good in the beginning, Good in the middle and Good in the end, he was not only referring to our practice but also to the ever changing dharma world as a whole. Reminding us that everything is perfect just as it is.
Now, this reminder does not mean that we are “cosmic door-mats” and we should just take it! It is a reminder that only through realized and carefully deliberate compassionate action can our collective consciousness more closely resemble an Enlightened Consciousness of Equanimity.
I believe it is our responsibility as Zen Practitioners to truly try and live for the enlightenment of ourselves and the enlightenment of others through compassionate, action born from a place of loving-kindness during these difficult and trying times.