JOSEPH SHERMAN
October 10, 2010
Here is a simple test:
You are walking down the street, and you come upon a person sitting on the ground, dressed in used clothing, dirty, smelling like neither he or the clothing have been washed in weeks. This person is holding a cup out to you for change.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
1. walk by quickly as if you do not see them
2. tell them to get a job
3. throw some money into the cup
4. all of the above
A trick question – since all of the answers are reactionary. An actionary – would have noted that there is a problem of people without homes, jobs and etc. Without ever seeing the person on the street bumming money. They would have gone to these places looking for them, with food, water, clean clothing. They would take actions to get to know these individuals. What they need and find ways to help them meet those needs both in the present and in the future.
A reactionary gives material items to others, who claim to do good deeds for the less than desirables and those in need due to **Natural Disasters**. An actionary goes to the location to help. Giving of themselves as well as their material goods.
SO WHAT ARE YOU?
DOES IT MATTER?
Not really. Some are actionaries- others reactionaries. Some are both.
In 2002, I met three actionaries- Danny, Shirley and Ping at the Calipatria State Prison.
Then Deborah Tobin and Ven. Xian Zhong, our Dharma guru from India.
The sponsoring group stepped out of the picture. Danny, Shirley and Deborah took actions to get another sponsor –INTERNAIONAL BODHISATTVA SANGHA AKA I.B.S. - was the outcome of their actions and reaction to change.
Danny and Shirley continue to take action to keep helping those individuals incarcerated in this overcrowded operated prisons. Deborah stays in contact with many of us. But family matters require her attention. And other change have also occupied.
Since 2002, I have learned a lot from each and every person who have come in with Danny and Shirley. Also from my fellow prisoners. My thought patterns, habits and outlook has matured and changed for the better. Balance is becoming a way of life. With balance, peace and tranquility.
Change is life. How we act to these changes define us. Do we react to these changes? Positively ? Negatively ? Neither ? NO!! We should not react to changes.
Do we act with these changes? YES!! Thus we grow and mature, and become part of the changes. We are change, change is us, and change is life. As part of life, we can change things for the better. Regardless of our surroundings, an actionary- not a reactionary. An active part of life and not a stranger- watching life go by, feeling powerless and alone, afraid, angry, sad or happy. Just like everyone else watching life go by and blaming others for the bad things.
Let us go back to the previous example of what appears to be a person in need. Dirty, smelly clothes, sitting on the ground with a cup in their outstretched hands.
It could have been a worker that has been clearing out the empty lot down the street taking a short break with a cup of coffee before going back to work.
OR:
A person dressed down to appear to be a bum while conducting a stake-out of sometime- thus and undercover police person.
A person who is supporting a drug and or alcohol habit.
OR:
Anything else from someone down on their luck. An army discharge that is off their medications or a con person.
But you don’t know because you just reacted to appearances. You did not act to find out the truth.
You see advertising on television, feeding the children, helping the refugees, help the survivors of some natural disasters. You send money to help and may get a photo and letter from some child or family that your money supposed to help. But do you know for sure how much of your money actually reached the needy and how much of it went to someone’s pocket. Did you just react to the advertisement or did you check things out first before hand?
What do you know about I.B.S.? Their work with prisoners. Their other projects. Is it all simple and mirrors? Or are there dedicated people actually making a difference in this life? Do you get involved or just go off on appearance?
Do you believe that it is a good thing to donate money to charities? That by doing so makes up for the bad thing that you do? Sort of balance out the scales of judgment?
My challenge is this: come and meet us. Talk to us. Get to know us. Our past, our present and our futures. Why just go off of appearances and media dogma?
Look us in the eyes and see for yourself what I.B.S., Buddhism, Danny, Shirley and Ven. Xian Zhong have helped change for the better. Decided for yourself, live life instead of react to it. Make a real difference in your life and mind settings.
Get actively involved with your life and the world around you. See that those who are part of the changes and steer the course of the changes. Do you just cast a vote or send money to those who are actually involved? Hoping that they know where you want to go.
I.B.S. has my name, number and address if you wish to get it in touch. Ask anything about me, my case, and my life. Anything you want to know. How I.B.S. members have helped me along my path to Buddhahood. I will try to answer in a timely manner.
Joseph Sherman
