Robert Thurman on Trump

[harumph]

1. I've always thought the principle of auspicious birth

to be problematic and asked a monk once, "Master, one person is born into
a rich family, but with a cruel and controlling father, and another person is born into a poor family but with two loving parents..."
Which person led a more righteous existence in his/her former life? He gave me a very muddled answer. I'm not surprised.
Conventional (mass appeal) interpretations of reincarnation focus on the rewards of good behavior which is correlated in the next life as great wealth. Seems overly simplistic to me and lacking imagination.

I've always been inclined to reject the Just World Hypothesis completely whether its impetus/cause/matrix is purported as Tao or a personal god.

Trump, has no idea who Trump is because he is pure appetite. He is a broken personality. Our culture collectively is at fault for idolizing such a void of a person. Many people in this country are as ignorant and lost as he - but they lack the power (as yet) to make their darkest dreams a reality.