We Care A Lot

Regarding the current heart-breaking news about children being separated from their parents at the U.S./Mexico border (an imaginary line on a rock hurtling through space), as a contemplative stoic I ask myself what in this situation is within my control to do something about and what isn't.  The first and obvious thing I can do about it is to vote those responsible for these inhumane actions out of office come November, as well as those who aided and abetted in these actions, and I fully intend to do just that, at least as far as the 2018 ballot will allow.

And then I got an email this morning from Zen Mountain Monastery of the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism identifying some additional things that can be done. 

I visited Zen Mountain Monastery, located in Mt. Tremper, NY, in 2003 and have been on their mailing list and their email distribution ever since that time.  In those 15 years, over the course of at least two wars, countless scandals, and seemingly endless famines, earthquakes and catastrophes, I can't recall once ever having received a politically oriented letter from them until today.  While they don't like to be partisan, this was apparently too much for them to ignore, and they sent the following - and may I add, totally appropriate - message out to their list:

Dear Sangha,

Over the past few weeks, thousands of children have forcibly been taken from their parents at the US-Mexico border by US Customs and Border Protection. These human rights violations are based on a “zero tolerance” policy that includes separating immigrant children from parents who enter the country illegally, even those seeking asylum. Earlier this week, President Trump signed an executive order that he claims will end family separations at the border.  According to the American Civil Liberties Union, “the reality is that it may not stop separating families, will not reunite the thousands of families already torn apart, and aims to lock up even more children and families.”

As Buddhists and human beings we want to make our voices heard and stop this inhumane treatment of children and their parents. 

Be encouraged to add your name to the list of practitioners signing the Soto Zen Buddhist Association petition to the Department of Homeland Security asking border agents to permit families to remain together after crossing into the United States.

change.org

In addition, if you’d like to make a donation towards this cause, consider supporting the work of an organization like RAICES. They’re currently raising funds to pay the $5000 - $10,000 immigration bond required of detained parents, as well as provide access to attorneys to reunite them with their children.

https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/bondfund

Today, In the House of Representatives, House Speaker Paul Ryan is working to pass a bill that would sanction mass immigrant detention and incarceration and give the President a greenlight on his brutal anti-immigrant agenda. If you haven’t already, you might want to write, email or phone your congressional representatives, asking them to prevent inhumane treatment of families.

Finally, consider attending one of the “Families Belong Together” events on June 30.  There are events in Washington D.C., New York City, Woodstock, Rhinebeck, and hundreds of cities across the nation.  Click here to find an event near you​:  

MoveOn.org

If you would like to join other MRO sangha at the marches, please write to dharmaaction@dharma.net and we will try to help people meet up.

Thank you for your practice and your support.

The Dharma Action Group at Zen Mountain Monastery

The common criticism of Zen Buddhists is based on a misconception that they don't take overt action to change the world, but instead merely retreat to an internal practice of meditation, which arguable makes the world a better place, but when the house is on fire, meditation doesn't really do anything to extinguish the flames.  The truth of the matter is a large number of the individual Buddhist practioners that I know are very active in various protest and advocacy groups, and while Buddhists may typically avoid getting involved at the organization, sangha, and order level, that doesn't mean that individual people who make up those groups don't.

For the record, the Atlanta "Families Belong Together" event will be held June 30 at 10:00 a.m. at the Atlanta Detention Center (254 Peachtree St., SW).  Meanwhile, if nothing else, vote.