Buddhist Thoughts is the SLC Buddhist Temple newsletter which is mailed to Temple members each month. Here we provide excerpts from archival Buddhist Thoughts.

2001 September

The Terror Within
by J.K. Hirano

Let us cease from wrath, and refrain from angry looks. Nor let us be resentful when others differ from us. For all men have hearts, and each heart has its own leanings. Their right is our wrong, and or right is their wrong. We are not unquestionably sages, nor are they unquestionably fools. Both of us are simply ordinary people. How can anyone lay down a rule by which to distinguish right from wrong? For we are all, one with another, wise and foolish like a ring which has no end.

-- Shotoku Taishi

The events of Tuesday, September 11th have affected and will continue to affect and change each of our lives and the way we live. The deaths and injuries, both physical and mental were horrendous and each of us have been changed forever by what has happened. And just as with the death to a family member, many of us react with anger, disbelief, sadness and grief. Death teaches us the ever changing nature of life. No matter how much we may try to understand the fact that death is a part of living. When it comes and touches us, we tend to react in surprising ways.

The nature of we human beings, is often to strike out first before thinking of the cause for our anger and the ramifications for our actions. We want to blame others for traits and instincts that are within each of us. As we heard the news of this terrifying and horrendous atrocity, we wanted to blame someone or something. I was also appalled when I heard that some members of the Christian tele-evangelist's group had blamed this act on God's lifting his veil of protection from the United States as a result of its support of Gays, Feminists, Abortion and the ACLU. This hatred and religious intolerance obviously is not something that is solely among the Taliban or the followers of Osama bin Laden. It is within each of us.

However, during times of crisis, there is a need within us, to do something. I was moved by the outpouring of compassion that swiftly followed, throughout the country and world. Although as a Buddhist, I do not sing 'God Bless America" or such songs invoking God's blessings or protection for our country. I fully understood the feelings that prompted them. For we are Buddhists living in a Christian Society. This is a fact. As Kacie walked through the house singing "America the Beautiful" I sang along with her. As she practiced her pledge of allegiance, I recited it with her. I did not tell her, "As Buddhists we don't say one nation under God." There is a time and place for this type of lesson and this was not the place. Yet, I tried to explain to her about Amida Buddha's compassion and to try to follow the Buddha's teaching of love and compassion for all beings. This is an act that we can take part in love one another to the full extent of our abilities. Give as much as we can to help others.

This is what we can do, act with love and kindness to one another. If we understand the laws of karma and Tuesday's act of terrorism is a good example. There were eighteen or nineteen hijackers, that carried out the destruction that has hurt so many millions of people. Isn't it amazing what a few people can do to change the world. These men, with hatred and anger filling there hearts, managed to hurt so many people. What could we all do, if rather than acting out in revenge, anger and hatred, we moved with acts of cooperation, love and kindness in our hearts. We could change the world with love to negate the karma of hate.

The passage I began with is from Shotoku Taishi, the founder of Japanese Buddhism. As he said, Let us cease from wrath, and refrain from angry looks. Nor let us be resentful when others differ from us. For all men have hearts, and each heart has its own leanings. Their right is our wrong, and or right is their wrong."; It is not for us to judge others. As an example, it was religious hatred and intolerance that have created this terrible tragedy. These were the feelings of the terrorists that they are doing what they do for their religion. >

Now in the United States, as I have mentioned some religious leaders are saying that the tragedy of Tuesday is proof that god has abandoned his protection on the United States because of our liberal thinking on Abortion and Gay rights. Are any of these thoughts sensible. The seeds of hatred our within each of us. In all human beings. All we can do is try to work on our selves. Try to not hate, try to love all sentient beings. This is something we can do. This is what we should each dedicate ourselves to.

As adults, we should reign in our anger and work with love and compassion. For many of our Dharma School students, they can begin by being nice to all the people in your classrooms and neighborhood. Not just your friends but everyone.

If eighteen men, filled with hatred could change the world with terror. Imagine what all of us can do, moving with love and kindness. This is the heart of the Buddha's teaching love and compassion. As our friends the Christians sing God Bless America, let us realize that Amida Buddha's loving compassion blesses each and everyone of us throughout the Universe. We can help funnel this compassion, with our actions. As the Dhammapada states "Let us live happily then, hating none while in the midst of men who hate. Let us dwell free from hate while among men who hate." Namo Amida Butsu.

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