Thich Nhat Hanh: What Is Engaged Buddhism?

Being engaged is living fully in each and every moment. What is it about Thich Nhat Hanh's image that makes me smile?

Thank you Wil for your comment and link to further resources on Thich Nhat Hanh.

Does Natural law without Christianity Exist?

Dene elder, Isidore Deranger 1909-1993
Fort Chipewyan, Alberta

I recently traveled to Alberta to participated in a “Natural Law" workshop lead by Canadian First Nation elders from the Treaty 6 area.  But what actually occurred was confusing to me.

 My understanding of “natural law” is based on what I perceive as Indigenous Peoples' integral relationship with nature. Indigenous ways of knowing in my opinion is not religions; rather it is ways of life centered upon the complex relationships between Indigenous societies with nature (Mother Earth). Each Indigenous culture had its own holistic and sophisticated structure based on the laws of nature which existed prior to European contact and, more specifically, prior to contact with church missionaries.
My opinion is that christianity was transferred at initial contact to Indigenous peoples as a means to control and conquer them. Some people argue that the colonizers were “saving the souls” of the Indigenous peoples from a certain peril of hell, but in fact what resulted was a genocidal erasing of Indigenous peoples' beliefs that had served their societies for a long time. And I am not to mention the residential schools scattered across Canada who did so much harm it will take many generations to heal the inter-generational harm.

Christianity is centered on a hierarchy religion reflecting a European paradigm, where Indigenous beliefs on the other hand are non-hierarchical and egalitarian.
What I was hoping to learn from the teachings of the elders was 'natural law' without the Christian bits, but sadly, I left disappointed and confused.  The elder began his speech with letting  story of Adam and Eve and how we are all sinners. Are some of today's Indigenous elders   confused as a result of being indoctrinated by Christianity, and are seeking to explore their spirituality by collapsing Christianity teachings with anything that is organic and fluid, meaning spirit or energy? Unfortunately, the indoctrination of Christianity is so well embedded and woven into the fabric of these Indigenous elders' teachings and is passed off as "natural law". What sadden me the most is that they seemed unaware that their teaching was in fact based on Christianity. This is what colonization looks like.

I am not judging Christianity as something that is bad. I was raised Catholic I know a little something about indoctrination. My mom is devote and many family members as well.   All I am saying is that I was interested in learning the true teachings of 'natural law' in the form of a decolonized (or better yet pre-colonized) and pure teaching, which I am positive continues to exist in First Nations country somewhere. 

 The photo above is a picture of a spiritual Dene man, my Dad, who had knowledge of 'natural law' as understood by the Dene people.  But I was too young and maybe too stupid (or at least too willing to believe in the lessons of priests and nuns) to accept his teachings had merit, until sadly it was too late.  

Drum Dance - Dene Artist, Roger Deranger

Drum Dance

deep within the Dene forest home
spirits dream wholehearted to roam
they dwell honorably during mystic time
when the heaven and earth vastly rhyme

upon a painted sunset, a silence broke
it was an ancient flame that spoke
and the drums mysteriously, exhilarate
altering each soul into a radiant state

chants and pulse, conjured, impulsively
blessing everyone into a circular flee
round and around they sacredly dance
drowning themselves into a joyous trance

poured with euphoria, the beings paced
leaving each step then majestically traced
within its midst, the fire proudly sing
drawing the ritual into a universal ring

the stars above also harmonized along
ensuring the divine hoop is kept strong
for every life is absorbed into solidarity
a movement of strength and reassuringly

the dance, song and heartbeat, all is real
giving the entire cycle a seed to heal
from dusk to dark, the spirits fly
until our dance has reached the sky

Bob Thurman: Becoming Buddha -- on the Web

Bob quite cleverly explains how to be compassionate in less than 15 minutes in a manner that makes me smile. I like that.

Ram Dass interviews Thicht Nhat Hanh

Anger is an emotion people hold onto by choice unaware that with a simple breathing technique they will find peace. Being angry harms the person holding on to it more than the subject of their anger. Letting go of the anger through mindful breathing releases the heavy burden on your mind and body.

The choice is yours to nourish your emotion and transform the anger into understanding and compassion.

Libby the Wonder Dog (poem)

My friend Carol posted this beautiful poem after reading my blog "Its all in the eyes". She wrote it for her trusted companion Libby before she died. (get some the tissue because its really touching)

This is my dog, Bodhi, taken this afternoon, the snow is melting finally, and he is somewhat muddy. I left his coat long for protection against the inclement weather but it's time to take him to the doggy spa.

The Ten Ox Herding Pictures

Where do your emotions live, can you point in your body where love, happiness, sadness, anger, is? Emotions live in the territory of the mind. Search for the mind - is what is called spiritual path.

Don't fight with your mind, accept it, and it will free you. Fighting with your mind drains you of your energy. Sit still and gradually your energy will increase and you'll find peace.

Say to yourself, "whoever I am, whatever I've done in life, the door to my heat is always open to me unconditionally. Come in." Accept yourself, be kind to yourself, love yourself, be at peace with yourself.

Take an hour and listen to the other jewels of wisdom in this speech from Ajahn Brahm.