Robert Thurman on Trump

[usonian]

2. I can't understand the lust for money and power beyond what is reasonable.

David Loy treats this in “Money, Sex, War, Karma”, noting that things like money, fame, power and so on are largely symbolic, and since there can always be someone with more, they are in fact losing propositions. “There can never be enough”, echoing “Too much and never enough” by psychologist Mary Trump.

But, to me, it’s not so much about future lives, rather this life, in which we can indeed, be very happy by caring for and helping others, and very sad trying to disadvantage others. One is a positive feedback loop and the other negative, and it shows.

The greedy, arrogant and deceitful are unhappy people, as evidenced in their constant anger and resentment, whereas those who see others as equal but different, honorable and deserving of fair treatment (as in the golden rule), are at peace in this life and any future lives.

I base those three qualities on The Buddha’s ☸️ actions and the 🪷 Lotus Sutra 🪷

1. We are equal but different, since we are all manifestations of the mystic law/dharma, each of us creating and adding meaning to the universe, hence innumerable meanings.
2. We are all honorable, as Devadatta, the Buddha’s arch-enemy was respected as a future Buddha, given that we all have that potential, and
3. As the Buddha and Ananda encountered a sick monk in the road, neglected by his peers, the Buddha instructed the monks to treat each other as they would treat himself.