This started out as a comment in what is really a heartwarming diary by brainwrap both about some very nasty people, but also about some wonderful giving people. I thought that there are some real lessons for how we conduct ourselves in the world here. Read this moment of beauty, and when your eyes clear up after seeing that photo of a very happy girl who sees love in the world, come back here to sit and think about what it means for us.
I think as passionate people, who care about our world and our politics too, this is the same choice we face every day here: do we get angry and outraged or do we open ourselves to "the better angels of our nature"? I like to step back and try to choose the latter often. Those of you who know me also know I'm not particularly good at it. :D
As a buddhist, I thought I'd take a moment for a little dharma (fancy Pali word for "teaching"), in case you are curious. Karma is an often misunderstood concept, although I think we all know the principle, though.
Karma really is a statement of the law of cause and effect, between how you hold yourself and the world you create thereby. (The Pali word karma derived from the Sanskrit word, Krma, which is the verb "to do"). The notion is that the attitudes you choose, and the actions you take, are self-reinforcing. It is the law of doing. Choose happy, compassionate attitudes, and your world is a brighter place, even if no material benefit ever happens for you. Choose to hold anger and hate, and it will grow in you and create a dark and unpleasant world, because it reinforces itself. In turns back on you. Choose instead to open in compassion and love, and that too turns back on you and makes your world more open.
Remember all that stuff from Yoda about not giving into the dark side? Yep, that's pretty much it. Turns out, Star Wars is just one big allegory about karma, with kickass special effects.
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Do not give in to your hate. Only a fully-trained Jedi Kossak, with the Force as his ally, will conquer Darth Boehner and his Emperor. Be mindful of your comments on dailykos, you must.
O.k. I made that last bit up. Sorry.
Anyway, as we participate in politics, I take two lessons in karma from brainwraps story:
First, of course the Petkovs have approached the world with anger, and done violence to others. On the most obvious level that has led them to actions that have had negative consequencs. On a deeper level, can you imagine living your day to day life being that angry and wrapped up in unhappiness? Even without the conviction, as long as this is their approach to the world, they will live miserable lives, merely for the attitudes they carry. You have all felt anger, I am sure. I'm sure you have had things get under your collar so that you can't get past it. It sucks. Imagine living your whole life that way. Imagine being so wrapped up in that, that you try to run someone over. Talk about forever will it dominate your destiny. Part of me feels sorry for them that they do not know how to let things go and live happily with others. Their lot is a miserable one.
Second, but more importantly, the Masings and brainwrap and the contributors on the otherhand have acted, yes, out of outrage, but one born of compassion. To respond to the kind of malice positively, acting to simply offer love to counteract it is a brilliant move. By being generous and giving and loving, they have brought goodness to a little girl, yes, but also to themselves, just by the attitudes they choose. Even if no one had ever known their names, even if they had been anonymous, by first choosing to be generous, and then acting on that generosity, they have created for themselves a good world. Their choices, their actions, come back to them. Even if they get no other reward, simply by being good people they leave themselves better off.
At the risk of becoming hopelessly meta, I feel like this choice confronts me here every time I visit. Do I get angry, or do I calm down and open with compassion towards those with whom I disagree? Some of each, I'm afraid. As I get ready for the GOTV and debating tea partiers, or the Obamabots, or the Clan of the Ponies, or if I should find myself gasp in an I/P diary, I am going to try to remember the face of the little girl, and as our favorite Republican said, and seek to be touched by the better angels of our nature. Wish me luck!