I am not Buddhist. I am nothing that ends in -ist. I belong to nothing that ends in -ism. I am not comfortable with indoctrination. Oh, but I do follow the Buddha's teachings...well...some of them...the ones that work for me. I also do take part in the Unitarian Universalist church that Becky goes to here in Santa Fe...precisely because they don't indoctrinate. They include all faiths, which includes one of my faves...Buddhism.
Why am I talking about this? What has any of this to do with the holidays or the holiday spirit? Well, maybe it's a loose connection, but maybe not. It remains to be seen as I continue to write.
This holiday season has gotten me to thinking about community. No. More than that. It's gotten me to really contemplating community, endeavoring to understand the true nature of community. It's obscene really that I've never contemplated it before. I've barely even thought of it. How, in the midst of such a populated nation, growing up inside of one of the most densely populated areas of that nation, can one be 32 years old and not yet have really thought about what community is? Well, one can be from an extreme individualist society, that's how.
Buddhists don't celebrate Christmas. But I realized something today. Having come to the understanding that Christmas is not about mass-produced merchandise and spending oneself into debt, but instead is about community, I realized today that Buddhists act as if every single day is Christmas. Now, there are many levels of Buddhism in the world and I've only experienced a few in person, and yes, I've met a Buddhist here and there that deviate from the norm. But, the prevailing spirit of Buddhism I've experienced in person is that of giving and of community. It is a life value, not a seasonal value.
Where am I going with this? I'm not sure...;-) I suppose here: at the end of this holiday season, let's all keep the spirit of giving and of community. Let's make it more than a seasonal thing. Let's make it an every day thing.
We are part of the most powerful nation in the world. What each individual one of us does will make a VERY big difference. So, this holiday season I say never mind to my request for books. Psha! I'm ashamed I asked for that! I don't want books. I want a community oriented nation.
Let's do it!
Please?
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