I don't know how to feel anymore. I was making progress on my study of zen journey last year but this election has completely destroyed my peace of mind. I cannot pretend things are going to be ok, and that there is anything to be optimistic about. I think my faith in humanity is permanently shattered.
My faith in humanity has also taken a big hit in the wake of this election, but I'm not ready to say that it's been permanently shattered. Remember that half of the country does not subscribe to the MAGA view of the world. Buddhism reminds us that the essential nature of reality is that everything is changing, all the time. Accordingly, it's my hope that, in the chaos that will surely unfold in the year(s) ahead, many of the people who voted for Trump will change their minds about him. In the meantime, as a way of coping with my own anxious uncertainty about the future, I'm striving to cultivate what Shunryu Suzuki called a "beginner's mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change". {from the Epilogue, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"}
Thanks for your reply. I was having a dark night of the soul and searching for guidance when I found your post. I too hope that people will wake up to how idiotic and evil he is but I don't know how much longer I can keep that faith. Its been a decade since he descended that escalator and started his campaign calling immigrants rapists and criminals. Its been all downhill from there and he's more popular than ever. The hatred I feel for these people genuinely upsets me, but turning the other cheek and "going high" doesnt work anymore either. Its so hard to see a way forward. How does one stay zen while living in a fascist state where violence pervades every aspect of life? I guess we are about to find out.
I don't know how to feel anymore. I was making progress on my study of zen journey last year but this election has completely destroyed my peace of mind. I cannot pretend things are going to be ok, and that there is anything to be optimistic about. I think my faith in humanity is permanently shattered.
My faith in humanity has also taken a big hit in the wake of this election, but I'm not ready to say that it's been permanently shattered. Remember that half of the country does not subscribe to the MAGA view of the world. Buddhism reminds us that the essential nature of reality is that everything is changing, all the time. Accordingly, it's my hope that, in the chaos that will surely unfold in the year(s) ahead, many of the people who voted for Trump will change their minds about him. In the meantime, as a way of coping with my own anxious uncertainty about the future, I'm striving to cultivate what Shunryu Suzuki called a "beginner's mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change". {from the Epilogue, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"}
Thanks for your reply. I was having a dark night of the soul and searching for guidance when I found your post. I too hope that people will wake up to how idiotic and evil he is but I don't know how much longer I can keep that faith. Its been a decade since he descended that escalator and started his campaign calling immigrants rapists and criminals. Its been all downhill from there and he's more popular than ever. The hatred I feel for these people genuinely upsets me, but turning the other cheek and "going high" doesnt work anymore either. Its so hard to see a way forward. How does one stay zen while living in a fascist state where violence pervades every aspect of life? I guess we are about to find out.
Agree with you completely. Indeed, we are about to find out.