Best of a bad situation

"Dilgo Khyentse, one of the great Tibetan masters of the 20th century, was once asked, “Why do we practice?” His response: “To make the best of a bad situation.” I find his response wonderfully fascinating and extraordinarily deep. Some people may take issue with the characterization of life as we know it as a bad situation, but all of us know that, however fortunate we are, we still end up struggling in and with our lives. Those struggles arise out of the natural course of life, imbalances generated by wanting to be with those whom we love and avoiding those we don’t, with getting what we need and keeping what we have. How do we know which imbalances or struggles to address, which way to turn, or where to direct our attention and energy?

This question takes us beyond the domain of Buddhist practice to the notion of practice in general. The German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk’s response is that in the modern age, we have to develop a life of practice, of consistent repetition and refinement. But what practice? What in our lives, he asks, is really worthy of practice, repetition, and refinement?

One of the most important understandings from my own practice has been to see, if only in a small way, how the world may appear through the eyes of others. To do so, I have to let go of my own identity and imagine myself in the shoes of others, and that is always a challenge. With respect to Black Lives Matter, for instance, African Americans frequently experience the police not as a source of safety, but as a source of danger. The resentment of the white working class in many places in the country is readily understandable if you consider that you have to work two or even three jobs to keep food on the table while government or corporate bureaucrats impose their agendas and values on you.

So while I disagree deeply with those who back a completely unsuitable candidate, Trump’s supporters, and their anger, fear, and desire for change is part of my world, too.

Where do we go from here? I don’t know. I think the best thing many of us can do is to use our skills to reach out and talk with those with whom we disagree. Bridges have to be built, not barricades. In order to resolve conflict and polarization, each party has to recognize the legitimacy of the vital interests of the other parties. You cannot expect anyone to compromise on what is vitally important to them. Human connection is everything; without it, society falls into Darwinian chaos.

For me, at least, Buddhism doesn’t tell us how to address these issues per se. Buddhist practice can and does provide the tools to develop the intention, skills, and capacities to engage them. But how we respond depends on many factors, including the circumstances of our lives. It is up to us to figure out how to respond to the challenges of the 2016 election, not as a Buddhist but as a human being."

- Ken Mcleod, unfetteredmind.org