Enduring the Unendurable

   It seems that in these very trying times it is is getting more difficult to get by and endure what seems unendurable. We are confronted with an economic crisis that is both staggering and the result of unmitigated greed. We are confronted with natural disasters of unbelievable proportion and magnitude. The people who are left to support the brunt of these circumstances are same people who are on the edge of the abyss. It seems like no one can foresee a bright future with the exception of those who are capitalizing on disaster. So, what is the solution ?
   This world has seen an untold amount of disasters and an equal amount of recoveries from them as well. The Buddha reminds us that all compounded things are temporary and all the cause and conditions which caused the event are also subject impermanence. If we look at history as a whole we see similar events transpiring and we can understand that they have brought nations to a crossroad. We have to choose the right path in order to transcend the circumstances that have befallen us as nation, world, and as humanity. President Kennedy once noted," our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. "
   We need to take an honest look at our society, it's problem, root causes and solutions. We need to hold corporations, politicians and our governments accountable for their actions. We also need to not lose our compassionate nature and forget about the most vulnerable in our society. We are headed for harder times but we shouldn't lose our humanity in the process. We should not punish children, the elderly and the most vulnerable in our society for the deeds of the greedy, callous and corrupt.
   We as a society may have to provide more charity on an individual basis to make up for any short fall in our community. We can all donate to our local food banks, donate to United Way, volunteer a few hours a day to local charities, watch a child for a few hours while a mother goes to work or take an elderly person to a doctors appointment.
   I urge everyone to write your public officials and ask them to stop the onslaught of funding cuts on children, the elderly and the poor while the most wealthy get unparalleled tax breaks. It is our Buddhist duty to speak the truth and find compassionate and fair solutions to human suffering but we must also not lose sight of spiritual solutions to material problems as well. The Eightfold Path is a perfect model of behavior for society but perhaps we need to teach them by personal example rather than simply by words.