Rev. Danny Fisher

Just a Buddhist Minister Trying to Benefit Beings
November 26, 2009

A Gift of Dharma for 11.26.09

Today’s Thanksgiving-themed quote comes from Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.

Born in the Khumbu region of Nepal, Lama Zopa was recognized at a young age as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama.

He travelled to Tibet in 1957 to ordain as a monk and study at Dungkar Monastery.  He was forced to flee Tibet in 1959, however, immediately following the Chinese occupation of the country.

His teacher Geshe Rabten Rinpoche referred him to Lama Thubten Yeshe.  With the charismatic Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa co-founded both the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition and Kopan Monastery.  Following Lama Yeshe’s death in 1984, Lama Zopa assumed the primary responsibility of serving as spiritual director of the FPMT.

Lama Zopa’s many books include How to Be Happy, Ultimate Healing: The Power of Compassion, Transforming Problems into Happiness, The Door to Satisfaction:  Heart Advice of a Tibetan Buddhist Master, and Dear Lama Zopa: Radical Solutions for Transforming Problems into Happiness.

Here’s the quote–tipped to us by our buddy Waylon Lewis at elephant journal:

Animals have feelings. They have the same mind as we have, and also want happiness, like we do. For example, if you suddenly touch them, they are immediately frightened. They get frightened if somebody beats or hits them with a stick. We also get frightened. If somebody throws cold water on our body, suddenly we feel a shock. It is the same for animals. They have the same mind, and it is very important what happens to them.

Even if they can’t speak, can’t express themselves, animals can show their fear through their body. For example, they try to run away. Human beings can talk and complain. They can bring court cases. Human beings can report things to the police. Human beings can do so much, but animals can’t. They can do nothing. They can’t express their suffering. Human beings can talk about their fears. Whether other people accept your suffering or not, at least you can explain it and the other person can hear. Animals can’t, but you can see how they feel from their movements. If someone tries to attacks them, they run away. They are afraid, which means they want happiness and not suffering. This is a very important point, that they have the same mind as us.

November 26, 2009

Today is the National Day of Mourning

Today is the National Day of Mourning.  The Pilgrim Hall Museum explains:

On Thanksgiving Day, many Native Americans and their supporters gather at the top of Coles Hill, overlooking Plymouth Rock, for the “National Day of Mourning.”

The first National Day of Mourning was held in 1970. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts invited Wampanoag leader Frank James to deliver a speech. When the text of Mr. James’ speech, a powerful statement of anger at the history of oppression of the Native people of America, became known before the event, the Commonwealth “disinvited” him. That silencing of a strong and honest Native voice led to the convening of the National Day of Mourning.

The historical event we know today as the “First Thanksgiving” was a harvest festival held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and their Native American neighbors and allies. It has acquired significance beyond the bare historical facts. Thanksgiving has become a much broader symbol of the entirety of the American experience. Many find this a cause for rejoicing. The dissenting view of Native Americans, who have suffered the theft of their lands and the destruction of their traditional way of life at the hands of the American nation, is equally valid.

To some, the “First Thanksgiving” presents a distorted picture of the history of relations between the European colonists and their descendants and the Native People. The total emphasis is placed on the respect that existed between the Wampanoags led by the sachem Massasoit and the first generation of Pilgrims in Plymouth, while the long history of subsequent violence and discrimination suffered by Native People across America is nowhere represented.

To others, the event shines forth as an example of the respect that was possible once, if only for the brief span of a single generation in a single place, between two different cultures and as a vision of what may again be possible someday among people of goodwill.

History is not a set of “truths” to be memorized, history is an ongoing process of interpretation and learning. The true richness and depth of history come from multiplicity and complexity, from debate and disagreement and dialogue. There is room for more than one history; there is room for many voices.

For more, visit http://www.uaine.org.

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November 26, 2009

A Thanksgiving Reunion

Photo by the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reports on an amazing story today:

A Holocaust survivor and the Polish Christian who risked his life to save him are especially grateful this Thanksgiving season: The two men were reunited for the first time in 65 years.

Read the rest here.

November 26, 2009

Did You Know…

Visit http://www.unaids.org.

November 26, 2009

A Very Buddhist Thanksgiving

A few Thanksgiving-themed offerings for today:

  • Over at the Buddhist Military Sangha, Lt. Jeanette Shin showcases drawings and letters from young students at the Ekoji Buddhist Temple Dharma School in Fairfax County, Virginia, to our service men and women overseas.  (One of those letters is posted to the right.)
  • Our buddy Waylon Lewis at elephant journal ponders Thanksgiving as a practicing Buddhist.
  • Over at Shambhala Sun Space, John Tarrant Roshi offers an exploration of “practices of gratitude.”
  • For those Buddhist vegetarians out there, Slate rates the best vegetarain turkey alternatives.  (Thanks, Phil!)
  • Lastly, Faithful Progressive offers a look back at a post of his from 2007 about interfaith prayers for the holiday.

In addition, our friend Maia Duerr at the brand new, super-cool blog The Jizo Chronicles offers suggestions for “Black Friday” on ways to “give a gift that does more than gather dust and may make a difference in someone’s life.”