Today I read a New York Times article about three men in the Bronx who were held captive and tortured because of their sexual preference. The alleged perpetrators are now in custody and the police are investigating. I should link to the article but I can't. What happened was too horrifying. My teacher says we are not supposed to avoid suffering but honestly I would rather not have that article on my blog.
When I read about what happened I was furious. I wanted to hurt the people who are accused of this crime, to make sure they received in full measure the suffering they had delivered to others. This went on for a while and I became more and more miserable. Finally I stopped, took some breaths and worked to calm myself down.
I started to think about all the other people who would read that article. I imagined them reacting like I did, becoming angry and frustrated. Then I imagined them going about their day, spreading that anger to others. What would happen to all the anger that was created? Could anything good possibly come of it? I began to understand a little how this whole karma principle works. How cause and effect are carried on endlessly, how suffering is created, continued, compounded. Karma is efficient and it is brutal.
Every moment of our lives carries equal weight. There are no unimportant moments. No inconsequential actions. I can't change what happened to those men in New York. I can't change what will happen to them or their perpetrators. But at this moment I can vow to take care of my anger. I can hug my kid, I can smile at the person behind the counter at the coffee shop. I can weep for those who are victimized. I can call my friends.
These things I can do.
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