“Don’t worry about the situation of the world. You must be happy – very, very happy! Only through happiness and waves of bliss, you will be able to help your country and the entire world. You will remain ever invincible when you don’t allow anything to obscure your happiness.” ~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

On a separate but related note I’ve been following the works and words of Thich Nhat Hanh for some time now. Sometimes I can even make it work, this in the now thing. At least for awhile. Sometimes I can even feel at peace–for awhile. I consider getting back to meditating and even have my own zafu and zabuton. But then I have also purchased a Yoga mat and hand weights. I’m sure I’ll get to them too.

This is all to say and finally speak to the cliched elephant in the room–Trump. The Trump world of Republicans and sycophants and followers. And I swore I would never bring him up. But like the huge festering boil of old, there it is. And the biggest scream factor that I have is my inability to understand the people who still see him in a good light, even a positive one. Those who still can see a green reflecting pool as blue. Or now as it turns out to admittedly be green, turned so by vandals.

Actually I do understand it. People don’t want truth, they want to feel safe. This sentiment is lodged in works by our pal Fyodor Dostoevsky, who wrote, “People don’t want truth; they want comfort dressed as truth” and in Kafka’s observation that people “rent illusions” to avoid the weight of reality. I understand it but I don’t. Feeling safe can kill you.

I mostly wonder what will happen to those who have to know, yet say the words and kiss the ass anyway. Marco Rubio, JD Vance, et.al. When I see them I want to cry. How could they betray us so for personal gain. Is there no integrity at all?

For God’s sake! Eating pets? Litter boxes for toilets in schools? A war!

It’s the weight of it, the sadness, the frustration. And the just plain exhaustion. As I try to picture the goodness in others, say the metta for all, and move the mala beads that were once rosary beads, I wait for the election of 2028. Will the revolution come then? Who can believe the ‘great he’ will leave peacefully. Will we be ready for the chaos this time or will we again be taken by surprise? Know this much: they will certainly be ready even if we are not.

In the new Zen, the Zen of Thich Nhat Hanh, there comes a time when the monks must not stay silent or inactive. It is an involved Zen. And the now of it will soon enough become 2028.

Copied from internet under photos of Thich Nhat Hanh.