Roshi Joan Halifax, an abbot at the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, discusses the transformation of positive states into negative ones. Topics include wearing masks, the nature of God, the presence of Neem Corolla Baba, the state of the world, the impact of compassion and social justice, and connecting with family and friends.
Compassion and non-harming are essential in promoting social justice and ending harm.
Mindfulness teaches us to appreciate the beauty and miracle of the present moment, finding clarity and connection to our own humanity.
Acknowledging and celebrating the positive actions and anomalies of goodness can counter our tendency to focus on negativity and compassion deficits.
Deep dives
The Power of Compassion and Non-Harming
Compassion and non-harming are essential principles in promoting social justice and ending harm. It is important to see every human being as worthwhile, even if we may not agree or like them. Engaging in bullying or denigration only degrades our own character. Rather than responding with moral outrage, it is crucial to hold ourselves accountable and see beyond the personality of others, recognizing them as wounded beings. The goal is to re-humanize even those who cause harm and work towards justice without demeaning or disparaging others.
Embracing the Present Moment
While altered states and heightened consciousness can be intriguing, the practice of mindfulness teaches us to appreciate the beauty and miracle of the present moment. Allow yourself to deeply experience this moment as it is, without getting caught up in illusions or seeking greater states of consciousness. By embracing the present moment, we can find clarity and connection to our own humanity, appreciating the dignity and joy that exists within each person.
The Anomalies of Goodness
While it may seem that acts of compassion and selfless service are anomalies, there are many positive anomalies out there. There is an abundance of goodness happening in the world, often overlooked due to our tendency to focus on negativity. Rather than getting caught up in compassion deficits, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the positive actions and anomalies of goodness occurring in our society. These individuals, often camouflaged, are making significant contributions without seeking recognition or validation.
The importance of balancing altruism and self-care
The podcast episode explores the concept of altruism and the importance of finding a balance between helping others and taking care of oneself. It raises the idea of pathological altruism where individuals harm themselves or the very people they are trying to serve. Examples of self-violence in the pursuit of altruism are discussed, highlighting the need to set boundaries and avoid enabling harmful behavior. The episode emphasizes the significance of starting with family and friends when practicing altruism and offers personal anecdotes to illustrate the rewards of providing care and support to loved ones.
Moral injury and the insidiousness of moral apathy
The podcast delves into the concept of moral injury, the distress and suffering caused by witnessing or participating in activities that harm others. It emphasizes the pervasive nature of moral injury in various domains such as military service, medicine, law, politics, and education. The episode discusses the insidiousness of moral apathy manifested through addictive behaviors, distractions, and numbing of one's awareness of the suffering in the world. It explores the detrimental impact of fixating on the state and politics, which can overshadow the larger problem of human selfishness and mortality. The podcast encourages starting altruistic efforts with one's inner circle and warns against falling into moral colonization and loss of boundaries.
Roshi Joan Halifax is an abbot at the Upaya Zen Center is Santa Fe. She's also a peace worker, an activist, an author, and a personal inspiration.
Her book "Standing At The Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear And Courage Meet" is an exploration of the way that states like altruism, empathy, integrity, respect, and engagement can actually transform into violence and selfishness if we aren't careful and precise.
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