Buddhist politics

Last week, I wrote about how Buddhists are approaching this election. As is often the case, some good stuff got left on the cutting-room floor. (That’s what happens when your editor wields a hatchet.*) One of the most interesting conversations I had was with Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, executive director of Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Headquartered Berkeley, […]

Last week, I wrote about how Buddhists are approaching this election. As is often the case, some good stuff got left on the cutting-room floor. (That’s what happens when your editor wields a hatchet.*)

One of the most interesting conversations I had was with Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, executive director of Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Headquartered Berkeley, Calif. and with about 30,000 members worldwide, BPF is the largest Buddhist social justice group based in the U.S.

Zenju said that at least one of BPF’s 30 U.S. chapters has been meditating for peace before the presidential election. Another chapter, in Nevada, is gathering for sesshin, or a period of intense meditation, to prepare for the election.


“That’s our quiet way of participating in politics,” Manuel said. “A lot of people would not think we’re involved in politics, but this is how.”

So how can meditating quietly affect politics?

“When we take time off, even for a moment, to breath in and out, bringing together body and mind, our actions with the world, our karma, will change,” she said. “We’re not talking about being quiet. We’re talking about being awakened to our intentions and motivations and actions.” This mindfulness ripples out, she says, through the meditator’s contacts with friends, family and others. To put it simply, being nice to others means they, in turn, may pay it forward, or at least they won’t be a jerk because of something you did.

Whoever wins tonight, this is useful advice, I think.

*Just kidding, Kevin.

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