Satisfied Buddhist - Domo Geshe Rinpoche

Those in activist communities, or their supporters have a special challenge to remain calm, stable and composed while struggling with what is wrong or actively trying to make change happen in society. For them, equanimity and activism seem to be at odds, in their enthusiasm to make change happen quickly. According to my research, one philosophical view is stated as; “equanimity is the manifestation of equilibrium attained in terms of comprehension of the diverse human emotions. It is the state in which an individual associates identically not only with every emotion, but also with the associated dynamism. This is the commencement of culmination of an individual spiritual journey toward liberation.” I do not agree or endorse this definition, because of the underlying attitude of false superiority displayed. Perhaps it is an atypical viewpoint. Although the unnamed philosopher is stating that it relates to an individual spiritual journey toward liberation, the method seems to make arro...

There are ordinary good wishes for others and then there are the extraordinary wishes. There already exists a wonderful buddhist model for an extraordinary wish for every living being to realize boundless good qualities. “May all sentient beings have happiness and the cause of happiness” This is the wish that desires to lift all living beings away from self-centeredness toward true happiness and freedom. It also lifts us toward the optimistic view that affirms and implies that living beings are truly capable of realizing those boundless and timeless great qualities. Our own personal qualities and ability to actually grant or to wish good qualities for others depends completely on our stage of development. Sometimes it might feel just like when we were small, creating a magic wand from a twig or toilet plunger and happy tapping everyone turn by turn. “Now you are happy”. I knew a little boy who would tap people on the head if they had a cold and he would say, “Now you’re ok.” I have see...