Friends,
One of the greatest understandings of the Buddha, which he embodied in the midst of his own perilous times, is that there are no enemies. No matter what, he saw the potential in people for awakening, which as we saw during last session could include even hardened criminals.
Now, as we watch the war in the Ukraine, and face the possibility of worse to come, it’s important that we bring this teaching of “no enemies,” into our hearts.
We’ll be sitting together, meeting together, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21, to consider these questions. This is a chance to look deeply into our own instincts to demonize, and how we can instead cultivate compassion, even for those whose actions are damaging, in these most difficult of times.
We’ll be meeting online and in person, as we have been doing now for some months.
If you wish to join online, the link is https://tinyurl.com/Eastside-Insight-9-1-2021
If you wish to join in person, we’ll be in the Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church chapel, at 315 3rd Ave S., Kirkland, WA 98033
If you will be in person, and you’re able to help set up, deep bows of gratitude. Bonnie Kosnmyna was able to help last time, and much gratitude to her.
If you will be able to help, it’s especially helpful if you can sign up. That way it’s easier to estimate how long it will take.
Here’s a link to sign up to help, and thank you in advance - https://docs.google.com/document/d/18OKEUO7ubunOG_q9r8MaBFWXqmWScOm4LIsv8MdnBU8/edit
Thank you also for your generosity in offering dana, both for Northlake and the teacher.
Here is a link for Northlake dana
https://tinyurl.com/NorthlakeUU-Paypal2022
And here’s a link and address for the teacher.
Steve Wilhelm
7510 117th Ave. NE
Kirkland, WA 98033
We hope that you can join, and we’re of course always open to your ideas about what we might explore on Thursday evenings. Also of course we will be bringing in other teachers, as is our teachers.
We’ll close with the Buddha’s words, about how to respond to those who approach us with hatred or ill-will. He said:
“We shall abide compassionate for their welfare, with a mind of loving-kindness, without inner hate.
We shall abide pervading them with a mind imbued with loving-kindness; and starting with them, we shall abide pervading the all-encompassing world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility and without ill will.”
May you walk in peace,
Steve