Volume 59. January 18, 2025
American scholar Joseph Campbell once wrote, “Politics is the art of gaining power over men.”
Elbowed out of office, Democrats are feeling pretty low these days.
As Republicans gleefully assume control over the three branches of federal government (legislative, judicial, executive), and as Donald Trump gleefully resumes his three ring circus of corruption, cruelty and chaos, depressed Democrats need encouragement.
How can Buddhism help the Blue Team? Perhaps, with a story.
One day, Sojitsu, an outstanding monk, was assigned head priest of a rundown old temple. Conditions there were very difficult.
Leaking roofs. Sodden floors. The temple was so poor no smoke was seen rising from the cooking fire for days on end.
Temple rats were so hungry they were reduced to gnawing on their own entrails. At night, the gods of poverty howled.
When his sympathetic brother monks heard the news, they felt sad and angry. They furrowed their brows and grumbled.
Finally, they complained to their master saying:
“Master, our brother is a true Zen hero. We were sure he would receive a top post at some great monastery. He was going to make his mark on the world. What a disappointment you assigned him to that old temple. What a waste to throw a man of such talent into a weed patch like that! It’s worse than sending an innocent man into exile on a remote island. It brings tears to our eyes just to think about it. You might as well toss him into a pile of rubbish. Your decision greatly dispirits us. Master, you alone seem to rejoice in this appointment. Why?”
The Zen master replied, “Let Sojitsu explain.”
The monks visited Sojitsu at his rundown temple. He seemed quite happy, not angry at all. Puzzled, they asked why he had accepted such a degraded position.
Sojitsu said, “I have always held with the deepest regard the great kindness and compassion my master has regularly bestowed on me. If he had told me to live among barbarians or man-eating demons, how could I have refused him?”
The monks pressed their palms together and bowed. The End.
What’s the moral of the story? One word, humility.
Humility is a lack of pride, arrogance, swagger. It takes a special person to remain humble in the face of honor or dishonor.
Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings. They have perfected the virtue of humility. Bodhisattvas are not attached to their egos. Bodhisattvas realize their true self is the No-self.
Anyone cast out into the wilderness, wincing at a painful loss of power and prestige, like a depressed Democrat today, faces a tough test of their spiritual mettle.
If you’re here to gain power over men, you’re on the wrong path.
If you’re here to humbly help others, you’re on the path to enlightenment.
The Buddha Times 