I saw a video shot by a Romanian cameraman on a mountain climbing expedition in Nepal recently. It shows Tibetan monks & nuns trying to cross the border into Nepal and some of them being gunned down by Chinese Red Army troops in cold blood. How appropriate that today is the 50th anniversary of the Chinese invasion of Tibet. This video is a classic example of how religious freedom and freedom in general in Tibet has been squashed by the Chinese government. And unfortunately, we Americans have been financing this sort of repressive action by buying goods made in China. Now, I realize that many times one has no choice to do so since it seems that EVERYTHING is Chinese made. Thanks to companies like Wal Mart and many others, our markets are flooded with these goods, so that they can increase their already huge profit margin. And are you aware that we owe the Chinese government billions of dollars in Fed Treasury notes? What happens when the Chinese government decides to cash these in? This country wouldn't have the resources to pay that. And then what happens? Your guess is as good as mine in this case. This may seem like it means nothing to you in your own life, and that is more than likely true, but in a country that talks a lot about personal freedoms, can we as a nation continue to justify and allow the actions shown on this video?
Namaste'
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Incident?
A word of warning, I'm about to go on a political rant....
A few days ago, I emailed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding her (and the Obama administration's) collective lack of backbone when the issue is Tibet. Ms. Clinton in the past had ripped W's administration in dealing with China, but when she stood face-to-face with the Chinese, she showed that she is just as much a politician as her husband was. I received an automated reply today that was labeled incident. I wonder what exactly that means. Am I considered a problem now? I realize that as a Buddhist I should just let go. But when it comes to Tibet, I have trouble what that. I cannot idly stand by and let the people of a peaceful, Buddhist nation continue to be repressed by another once-great nation.
I am both worried and upset about how dependent on China our country (and many others) has become. It seems that nearly everything I purchase has the made in China label on it, and I am aware of how much in Treasury notes the Chinese hold. I am concerned both of these will be used against us (maybe already) and how I have little choice in my money going to a government that does little but ruin its own people's lives with its policies (US) and to another that kills, detains without reason, and generally causes suffering on others. (China)
Yes, I do put my money where my sometimes-unmindful mouth is. I am a member or many groups, such as FPMT, Students for a Free Tibet, and a few others. And I do let my representatives in DC know what I feel on this subject. I just wish there was more that I could do.
Namaste'
A few days ago, I emailed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding her (and the Obama administration's) collective lack of backbone when the issue is Tibet. Ms. Clinton in the past had ripped W's administration in dealing with China, but when she stood face-to-face with the Chinese, she showed that she is just as much a politician as her husband was. I received an automated reply today that was labeled incident. I wonder what exactly that means. Am I considered a problem now? I realize that as a Buddhist I should just let go. But when it comes to Tibet, I have trouble what that. I cannot idly stand by and let the people of a peaceful, Buddhist nation continue to be repressed by another once-great nation.
I am both worried and upset about how dependent on China our country (and many others) has become. It seems that nearly everything I purchase has the made in China label on it, and I am aware of how much in Treasury notes the Chinese hold. I am concerned both of these will be used against us (maybe already) and how I have little choice in my money going to a government that does little but ruin its own people's lives with its policies (US) and to another that kills, detains without reason, and generally causes suffering on others. (China)
Yes, I do put my money where my sometimes-unmindful mouth is. I am a member or many groups, such as FPMT, Students for a Free Tibet, and a few others. And I do let my representatives in DC know what I feel on this subject. I just wish there was more that I could do.
Namaste'
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Taking the road to becoming Buddhist
It was a (for me) strange combination of events that led me to Buddhism. For most of my life (after high school), I was I guess one could say wavering between agnostic & atheist. This comes mostly I believe, that I was forced to go a evangelical Protestant church until I graduated from high school, when I was given the option of going or not. I chose not, since about 75% of the people who went to this particular church are what I would describe as "Sunday Christians". Not to say they were bad people, but their religious practice stopped the moment the left the church parking lot. So, I kind of went along my own way, being rather the hedonist,and blowing up my 1st marriage in the process.
The a few years ago, I started noticing Buddhism. At first it was watching a documentary on the Dalai Lama on the History Channel. Then in my1st year of Nursing I noticed a classmate reading "Making The Mind an Ally", By Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. I asked the girl what she thought of the book, and she told me that it was about meditation, but she found meditation to be incredibly boring. Then a month or so later, I saw an article in one of the Student nurse journals regarding relaxation techniques. Meditation was prominently featured, and I read it with great interest. So, I started to try my hand at meditation. I found it difficult, but having read about the potential benefits (better focus, less nervousness) I committed myself to work at it. I also bought myself a copy of the Sakyong's book, and voraciously read it. This began my path to the teaching of the Buddha. I read everything I could get my hands on regarding Buddhism, and decided to begin a practice at home, which I continue to this day. Now, I know that I really should be visiting a meditation center and become part of the Sangha (followers of the teachings of the Buddha), and I intend to do that, but only as I feel comfortable with the idea. I still read & view all that I can find on the Dharma (Teachings) and I meditate everyday for at least 10-15 minutes, but mostly I do about 30 minutes/day.I am also a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, which I give to regularly. I don't know that all Buddhists would consider me much of a follower, but I'm still working on it.
An interesting insight was afforded to me recently when I mentioned to my mother that I considered myself to be Buddhist. Mom is pretty much an agnostic, but seemed interested in what Buddhism was about, and I explained (not very well) what I knew of it. Sometime later, she had mentioned my conversion to my brother who apparently thought it was humorous. Now, my brother had himself converted to Roman Catholicism some years earlier when he married his wife, something that only recently I found that my late father quietly but immensely disapproved of. My father, raised as a Baptist, had issues with Catholicism (the reasons for which I never did learn) but kept his disapproval a secret to all but Mom. Anyway, Mom told my brother of this fact and also told him that he might consider allowing me to practice my own religion in my own way, just as Dad had done for him. Very Buddhist, in her own way.
Combining My religious practice and nursing also seems a perfect fit. Buddhists aim to end suffering and Nurses do the same, except in a different manner. So, I believe for the 1st time in my life my being and my life are in synchronization.
Namaste'
An interesting insight was afforded to me recently when I mentioned to my mother that I considered myself to be Buddhist. Mom is pretty much an agnostic, but seemed interested in what Buddhism was about, and I explained (not very well) what I knew of it. Sometime later, she had mentioned my conversion to my brother who apparently thought it was humorous. Now, my brother had himself converted to Roman Catholicism some years earlier when he married his wife, something that only recently I found that my late father quietly but immensely disapproved of. My father, raised as a Baptist, had issues with Catholicism (the reasons for which I never did learn) but kept his disapproval a secret to all but Mom. Anyway, Mom told my brother of this fact and also told him that he might consider allowing me to practice my own religion in my own way, just as Dad had done for him. Very Buddhist, in her own way.
Combining My religious practice and nursing also seems a perfect fit. Buddhists aim to end suffering and Nurses do the same, except in a different manner. So, I believe for the 1st time in my life my being and my life are in synchronization.
Namaste'
Introduction
I suppose that since I just started this blog and I've been a Nursing student longer, I should write an overview of what's happened so far...
I started this journey (nursing) in the Fall of 2005 strangely enough with the intent of becoming a Rad Tech. Unfortunately, the college neglected to tell me until the fall of 2006 that they only accept 7 students into the program a year. Needless to say, I didn't make the cut since there were over 40 people trying to do the same. So, I switched my major to Nursing and started in Fall 2007. My first year went well, passing both Nursing I & II within 2% of a B. Summer went OK, but Fall 08 was not what I wanted. To be quite honest, this was at least mostly my fault. I did not put the sort of effort into Maternity lecture, my test taking strategy was wrong, and I wasn't aware that a case study I was responsible for meant that I was also responsible for being the instructor, which I feel I was not prepared to do nor do I feel that I was qualified to do. Consequently, I failed Maternity by 4%. Critical care started poorly, but I picked it up, and managed a strong C. Pediatrics was a whole other situation. The clinical end of it was in my opinion, nearly a waste of time. We were NOT permitted to do anything aside from bathe & feed the babies, and though I tried to learn as much as I could, it was a little frustrating. Lecture was worse. The teacher did not seem interested in her task, and she seemed to not care for any sort of questioning. I studied harder for this rotation than any other, and ended up failing the semester by.2%. That's 2/10 of 1%. So, (space depending) I'll be back to re-take the semester in this fall ('09), with at least the advantage of having done it once already and a knowledge of what I did wrong. That, and with a renewed sense of purpose.
Namaste'
I started this journey (nursing) in the Fall of 2005 strangely enough with the intent of becoming a Rad Tech. Unfortunately, the college neglected to tell me until the fall of 2006 that they only accept 7 students into the program a year. Needless to say, I didn't make the cut since there were over 40 people trying to do the same. So, I switched my major to Nursing and started in Fall 2007. My first year went well, passing both Nursing I & II within 2% of a B. Summer went OK, but Fall 08 was not what I wanted. To be quite honest, this was at least mostly my fault. I did not put the sort of effort into Maternity lecture, my test taking strategy was wrong, and I wasn't aware that a case study I was responsible for meant that I was also responsible for being the instructor, which I feel I was not prepared to do nor do I feel that I was qualified to do. Consequently, I failed Maternity by 4%. Critical care started poorly, but I picked it up, and managed a strong C. Pediatrics was a whole other situation. The clinical end of it was in my opinion, nearly a waste of time. We were NOT permitted to do anything aside from bathe & feed the babies, and though I tried to learn as much as I could, it was a little frustrating. Lecture was worse. The teacher did not seem interested in her task, and she seemed to not care for any sort of questioning. I studied harder for this rotation than any other, and ended up failing the semester by.2%. That's 2/10 of 1%. So, (space depending) I'll be back to re-take the semester in this fall ('09), with at least the advantage of having done it once already and a knowledge of what I did wrong. That, and with a renewed sense of purpose.
Namaste'
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