"All people are equally endowed with the inherent capacity to respect others, and this capacity is a source of inexhaustible hope because it embodies a universal truth that transcends the specifics of religious creeds. The respect offered by Buddhists to other people is offered in virtue of their humanity, without regard to their religious belief or creed. Nichiren described this with a poetic metaphor, saying that when we bow to a mirror, the figure in the mirror bows back reverentially at us. This is the true spirit of Buddhism, and yes, it is reason for great hope."
This point of view is one which I share with reverence and hope, praying that one day soon the entire world will take it up and run with it. Respect for others seems to be in short supply, no less than respect for oneself. There are so many ways in which people disrespect themselves, wasting their lives, their minds, and - most importantly - their souls. And there is no end to the disrespect which we show to others, thinking ill of people who are different from us, who hold different values and beliefs, by looking at others with suspicion and fear in our hearts. What an enormous waste of the potential we all hold for creating a better world!
I receive frequent emails from a beloved family member, who unfortunately holds different opinions than I, criticizing and accusing people of different cultural, spiritual, and political groups of being "Un-American." These emails have been forwarded to him by various contacts, and he passes them along to me, in the mistaken belief, I am sure, that I would share their narrow-minded, defensive, separatist point of view. It is extremely distressing to me that he feels it necessary to continue to send these negative messages out into the world. How can he not see that this negativity is what makes this world a more dangerous, unaccepting place for all of us to live?
I have always understood that what we believe becomes real, as our minds create the reality in which we exist. "The right belief is like a good cloak," writes Brandon Sanderson in his novel Mistborn. "If it fits you well, it keeps you warm and safe. The wrong fit, however, can suffocate." I feel that this small planet is suffocating beneath the weight of a cloak woven of suspicion, distrust, hatred, and fear. We all deserve so much better!
I do not have children, nor will I ever, but I feel that everyone I meet is the child of my soul. Every person born on this planet deserves to be cherished and nurtured, and deserves my respect. Everyone on this planet is a member of my immediate family; I pray for the comfort of the ones who suffer; I pray for the ones who cause harm to be completely happy,so that they no longer feel the need to hurt others; I pray for those who are insecure and fearful to feel confidence in their lives and in their choices, so that they don't spread their negative feelings to the world; I pray for the ones who are filled with joy and light and love to share their blessings with everyone they meet.
And I pray for everyone to find the spiritual path which will strengthen and uphold them, and make their lives a better, brighter place to be, so that they in turn will be able to spread their joy and comfort to everyone they meet. Let us weave a new cloak to encompass all the people of this world, made from a fabric of bright threads and sparkling strands, gossamer and light and protecting all from the elements of hatred and fear. If we each just take up one strand and begin the weaving, it will be ready to wear in no time at all.
Bright blessings to you all!
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