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Things you can do for you and those around you

December, 2001
Responding to 9/11 and the War
(Reprinted from the Winter 2002 Turning Wheel)

1) Be peace yourself.
Take the time to stop, breathe, and notice your feelings and reactions. In the wake of September 11th's tragedy and the spiraling cycle of violence since then, face your own sense of helplessness and powerlessness. But don't stop there. Consider how your every word and interaction carries the potential for peace or war. The gift of engaged spirituality is the invitation to begin from a place of peace within ourselves, a center of action beyond dualities of good and evil, liberal and conservative. Nurture your soul with readings that water this deep desire; one of the best is Thich Nhat Hanh's Being Peace.

2) Cultivate an environment of peace and tolerance in your community.
Stand up for and speak out for groups that are bearing the brunt of ignorance and hatred. See the Web site of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, www.adc.org, for ideas about how to help. You may also want to contact a local mosque and ask what kind of support they would find useful.

3) Stay in relationship with those with a different point of view from yours.
Don't assume that there is one "right" Buddhist perspective or spiritual position. The complexities of the situation are beyond any simple answer or solution. Respect each other's questioning of responses. See Rosa Zubizarreta's article in the Winter 2002 Turning Wheel. Reading suggestions: Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone and Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion by Marshall Rosenberg.

4) Don't just sit there, do something.
Socially engaged Buddhists sit down, and they also stand up. It can feel good to take action, and there are numerous ways to be of service and help alleviate suffering:

• As the winter snows move into Afghanistan, millions of refugees are in need of food, medicine, and warm clothing. You might organize a blanket collection in your community, or make donations to UNICEF or Doctors Without Borders.
• Suffering continues at Ground Zero in New York City. Consider giving help to those who may be underserved, like the thousands in the service industry who lost jobs. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has set up a fund to assist workers and their families affected by the tragedy. Mail contributions to SEIU September 11th Relief Fund, c/o SEIU, 1313 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
• Organize a weekly vigil or another kind of gathering, as some BPF groups have done (for a calendar of events, see our Gatherings and Vigils page). Gatherings could include meditation, music, time to talk in small groups, readings, or speakers. Also see our Dharma Centers and Chapters Action page for actions that dharma centers and BPF Chapters have taken.

5) Educate yourself.
Find out more about Islam and the history and culture of the Middle East by attending teach-ins and by speaking with people of Middle Eastern descent. Find out more about the causes and conditions that have led to the current crisis. Study the history of the U.S.'s oil needs. Reading suggestions: Islam: A Short History by Karen Armstrong, Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World by Edward Said, and Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid.

6) Contact your government representatives.
U.S. mail has traditionally been the most effective way to express your opinion to your elected representative, but the threat of anthrax has changed this, at least for the time being. Fax and phone are more reliable. E-mail petitions are not taken seriously-don't be lulled into inaction because you've "signed" an electronic petition. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (www.fcnl.org) highlights important legislative issues and makes it easy to contact your senator and congressperson. To contact the Bush Administration, call the White House Comment Desk: 202/456-1111. Why not do this as a daily ritual?

7) If you are of draft age, consider your options.
If you are a young man between 18 and 26, U.S. law requires that you register for the draft. The interview with a Buddhist in the National Guard in the Winter 2002 Turning Wheel may help you sort through your feelings about military involvement. The American Friends Service Committee provides excellent information about your options at their Web site: www.afsc.org/youthmil. You can also reach AFSC by phone: 215/241-7176 or fax: 215/241-7177.

8) Make your sangha a place of safety and refuge.
In the same way that we would pull together as a community to plan for a natural disaster, it would be wise to make preparations for acts of war and terrorism. Coordinate to make sure there is enough food and water on hand in the event of a crisis, and discuss how best to contact each other in an emergency. This can be done from a place of wisdom rather than panic. Realize that people∂s fears are very easily triggered now, and find a way to act from non-fear in order to offer stability.

9) Find joy and balance.
If there was ever a time when this world needs your compassion, intelligence, and courage, this is it. But you can only be of service if you have not burned yourself out. During the Vietnam War, Thich Nhat Hanh and his community went out every day to help those who were affected by bombing. Every week, they stopped for a day of mindfulness in the midst of the chaos. Do the same for yourself--a day out of the week, an hour out of the day, a breath out of the hour. Read writings that inspire you and give you strength and sustenance. Take care of yourself and one another.

Please note: We recommend two back issues of TW as particularly relevant now: "Fundamentalism" (Fall 1995) and "Hatred" (Summer 1997). Available from the BPF office for $6/each.

Written and compiled by Maia Duerr, Tova Green, and Mushim Ikeda-Nash