Vol. 42. August 20, 2023
American singer Tony Bennett passed away last month at age 96. He is remembered as a masterful stylist of American musical standards. He should also be remembered for his pacifistic views.
As a soldier in World War II, he saw firsthand the horror of war. He fought. He dug graves. He buried corpses. The last assignment of his regiment was to liberate a concentration camp near Dachau. The whole experience soured his attitude toward war.
The legendary crooner later said, “Violence begets violence. War is the lowest form of human behavior.”
He never made it to Ukraine, where the lowest form of human behavior is on full display today. People are sick and tired of war. They need peace. Buddhism offers a path to peace.
In Buddhism, there is never any violence. There has never been a war waged in the name of Lord Buddha. Why? Because there is nothing to fight for.
In Buddhism, there is only nirvana, a fundamental state of unity. Nirvana is Blown-outness. Gone-ness. Nothing-Happens-Ness. The Snapped Link of the inexorable Chain of Causality.
Nirvana is the calm depths of the sea. Undisturbed Unity.
Our rational minds relentlessly disrupt this unity with ceaseless thoughts of self. Like ripples on the surface of the sea, our egotistical desires disturb the Undisturbed Unity.
If we entertain one thought, follow one sensation, surf on one ripple, we fall into a sea of suffering.
Buddhism says, “Identify with the depths, not the ripples.” How? Meditation. Dhyana automatically results in a state of tranquility. Peace. Unity. Blown-outness.
Peace is how we make it as a species. Peace is within our reach if we are humble enough to let go of our self-centered concerns.
There is no reason for killing, destruction or heartbreak.
The war in Ukraine is all due to satisfy one man’s mania.
Letter to Putin
Dear Vladimir,
Leave “you.” There is no “you.” Nothing exists except nirvana.
You are no more than a lonely skunk on Planet Buddha.
Skunk in the woods, running around rabidly in the forest of desire, rest beneath the bodhi tree and suffering will never happen again.
Make Buddhism your business, not war.
Violence begets violence. Peace begets peace.
Listen to the musical wisdom of Tony Bennett, but don’t leave your heart in San Francisco. Open up your heart. Show a little love. Leave your heart with every person you meet.
Together, we can make it work out better.
With peace and love,
Most of humanity
The Buddha Times 