What The Buddha Would Say To Sarah Palin

Former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin has become a beacon of light to her devotees. There is no doubt she wants to do good and that her intentions are meaningful to many. When it comes to popularity she can also certainly sell books.

Words have power to destroy or heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. - The Buddha

At the moment Palin is touring the country to promote her book, which has a very large number of words in it, but not all of them are necessarily either true or kind. Nor were her actions particularly kind when hundreds of eager autograph hunters were turned away, despite standing for hours in the rain and cold. All of us have the capacity to be caring and thoughtful, yet it can be so easy to put our own needs above another's.

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill. - The Buddha 

Going Rogue, the name of Palin's book and the ideology she professes to adhere to, implies she wants to start a small revolution. Yet, having already ditched the governorship half way through her term, it is difficult to imagine what she wants to revolt against -- is it having no governors at all?

It would appear Sarah Palin believes that because she thinks something is right then that makes it right for everyone else as well. Many politicians  think like this and want to impose their beliefs on us all. However, such beliefs are, by their very nature, severely limited – just as we cannot presume to know what another's needs are, so in the same way no one can please all of the people all of the time. Rather, we need to find a way to accommodate all our differences.

Palin seems to be striving for money power and fame, but that can often be at the expense of truth and kindness and not necessarily because she genuinely cares about helping the needy and poor, improving education, or providing health care. In August she called President Obama's health plan "downright evil" and said he was creating a "death panel" that would deny care to the neediest Americans. As both these points are false, we can only presume that her true priority in saying this was to gain media attention.

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. And it will leave you unfulfilled. - Barack Obama

The Buddha believed in going rogue and he did so by creating a spiritual revolution that continues today. But he did not always have an easy time of it. In his journey to awakening he encountered all manner of obstacles in his own mind that he recognized as delusion, illusion, and the ego at play.

In the same way, Palin needs to be careful that she is not seduced by the delusion of power that leads to further illusions of grandeur. As this will, in the long run, harm her more than she harms anyone else.

The moment that you think of doing harm to someone, that thought harms you first. Unless you hate yourself, you can’t hate others. If you love others, that means that you create the feeling of love within you first, and then you offer the love to others. Your thoughts pass through your entire system, and are expressed through your mouth and through your hands and actions. Without thinking, you cannot speak or act. So the harmful thought, from its very origin, spoils your system. In other words, you can’t hit anyone else without striking yourself. - Sri Swami Satchidananda

What do you think it would take to make politics kinder and more honest? Do comment below. You can receive notice of our blogs every Thursday by checking Become a Fan at the top.

You can order a copy of our book at: BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World

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Ed and Deb Shapiro’s new book, BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors such as Marianne Williamson, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Beckwith, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jane Fonda, Jack Kornfield, Byron Katie, Dean Ornish, and others is published by Sterling Ethos. Deb is the author of the award-winning book YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND. Ed and Deb are the authors of over 15 books, and lead meditation retreats and workshops. Enjoy their 3 meditation CD’s: Metta - Loving kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi – Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra – Inner Conscious Relaxation, available on their website: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

 

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Comments

[Bob Weisenberg]

I have no further suggestions, but I just want to say I enjoy the way you apply ancient spiritual teachings to everyday life in plain English. Talk about bringing it alive for people!

Thanks,

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey Bob - thank you - comments like yours is what makes us blog

I look forward to seeing

http://yogademystified.com/

In Yoga,

Ed (Swami Brahmananda)

[babyboomerorig]

Thanks for the excellent article.

Send it to Mrs. Palin. Maybe she will catch on to the existing together concept.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi babyboomeroig what a name ... fun....

She really is a character

I just noticed she spent $4,000 an hour on a jet to fly her to her booksignings

at a time like this when people are trying to get their lives together is is a bit much. Don't you think?

Ed

[babyboomerorig]

Thanks for the response! The name is appropriate...too appropriate.

Question on the $4,000 an hour on a jet...what about the bus? Was that on the plane, too? The bus was more than a bit much. And, what she did to the people in Noblesville, IN, who had waited for their signing in the rain? Crude....

Seems as though whatever Sarah does is a bit much. She has no regard for the rest of civilization...just Sarah.

[Outsideadog]

I'm late in commenting too, although I read the post when it was first put up.

Thanks Ed and Deb for continuing the good work, as they say.

Funny how I read certain things and my mind is drawn back to this article and its relevance.

Today I was reading a Christian philosopher arguing how Kant's notion of deontological ethics doesn't account for God's love as Jesus taught it.

That little piece is here: http://www.molloy.edu/sophia/kant/deontology.htm

There's an aspect of Buddhist thought about moments in history when the Dharma (which I think aligns with Christian love and Islamic charity) is in decline, or when it's not attended to. This period we're in now must rate pretty high on that scale. SP as the 'banner person', given all the dishonesty associated with the politics of it (read Max Blumenthal on that). A seemingly perfect storm of ignorance of the second noble truth. Praise desire and hatred!

Well, it's enough to throw our hands up in despair, but good folks have to retain hope and be a bit stoic I think - challenge the political and media (enabler) aspects.

By the way, I don't think Kant was all that wrong, he just needed to embrace love, compassion, and charity, so that his 'duty ethics' becomes a 'duty of care' ethics. He was right about good will.

Metta and namaste, and more power to your kusala (skillful actions) in addressing akusala (unskillful actions) in this crazy world.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Outsideadog Appreciate your comment. Also for your kind words

This is quite interesting:

There's an aspect of Buddhist thought about moments in history when the Dharma (which I think aligns with Christian love and Islamic charity) is in decline, or when it's not attended to. This period we're in now must rate pretty high on that scale. SP as the 'banner person', given all the dishonesty associated with the politics of it (read Max Blumenthal on that). A seemingly perfect storm of ignorance of the second noble truth. Praise desire and hatred!

BE THE CHANGE

Ed

[beyondliberal]

Once SP pays the taxes on her advance, she'll net $2.5m.. She won't make much on book sales, even if she gets $2/copy.
I love how she thinks she's a jet-setter with that paltry sum. She'll find out soon enough just how much she's spending on riding a Gulfstream around the country. At over $10,000 a pop, it's pretty pricey.
Palin has won the lottery, but as most winners do, will spend all the money with a year or so. She'll be sorry she didn't buy the Alaska state jet she claimed to have sold on eBay.
Maybe she can be a hockey coach?

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

beyondliberal - thanks for your comment

her publishers pay for her jet hopping around the country .. that comes with doing booksignings. We just returned from our booksigning and although we may not have the perks of Palin we sure were treated first class.

It can be quite exhausting getting in and out of limos and into bookshops with screaming fans (ha)

she certainly did well for a person who didn't write the book.

BE THE CHANGE

Ed

[kkrimmer]

You can always tell a closed-minded extremist (Palin), but you can tell them much... they don't listen.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

kkrimmer Thanks for your comment

I do agree with you

but

you can keep them in your heart

Love can melt ice and open doors.

BE THE CHANGE

Ed

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

great one. Sorry so late to the blog here. What a great story, and I love the quote from Barack about a poverty of ambition...
it is sad our politicians have lost the loftiness of their profession...
Much love!
Kari

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Kari - you are never too late .. just great to see you here

sorry we missed you at NYC or Springfield?

I hope you have a great excuse (no only kidding)

I loved Obama's quote too

BE THE CHANGE

Ed

[termgirl]

Sarah Palin was plucked out of Alaska by the GOP to represent her party and run for the second highest office in the land. As a result, she, no doubt, believes she is special. Now she is flown around the country on Gulstream jets to promote her book.
Why change a thing? She quits her job as Governor, but is still the featured guest on Fox and Oprah.
Her fans are irrationally loyal. She's paid large sums to be a " headline speaker."
She believes she is right. Her followers believe she is right.
I'm afraid words of wisdom from the Buddah, or any "wise man or woman" would fall on deaf ears.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

termgirl - thanks for your accurate view - she sure appears to be living the life of Reilly as they say BUT and that's a big but it doesn't work that way... at least in the land of karma

what you cause you must reap - you just dn't get away with things you do especially when you create harm and lad people into mistruths.

Sarah Palin has a great responsiblily. There are loads of people who follow and adhere to every word she speaks and as we all know they are usually misinformed and self-serving.

I wouldn't want her karma jets and all.

her karma runs over her dogma

and that can be pretty serious

BE THE CHANGE

Ed

[termgirl]

Please Karma. Hurry up!!!

[ALFisALIVE]

The question of what the Buddha would say to Sarah Palin bounced around in my head and got turned upside down:

If the Buddha were to speak to Sarah Palin, what would Sarah Palin hear?

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

ALFisALIVE thanks for your comment

THE BUDDHA

or her own

MONKEY MIND

I would think the Buddha would be skillful , compassionate and wise

He would wisper sweet

NOTHINGS!

Ed

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

whhooopppps

He would * WHISPER * sweet NOTHINGS

FYI: nothing or emptiness is Buddhist wisdom that says all things are not solid ..

there is no thing

emptiness is form

form is emptiness

[tapeatsbill]

Hey Ed and Deb,

You always lay some wonderful nuggets on us with your bloggatories.

Sarah writes of, 'downright evil" and death panels." You quote, "The moment that you think of doing harm to someone, that thought harms you first." Sri Swami Satchidananda

Is Sarah some kind of narcissistic slicer? Maybe so, I don't know. What can we do? I suspect you might say, "be the change. Be compassionate, be loving, be happy, be helping others. It will radiate outward to others."

Love your words both true and kind.

Big love,

BB

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi BB - always great to hear from you

You know each of us has to face our own karma .. what we put out we reap. Often it appears that people do harm and they get away with it but in the long run NO

It catches up to us sooner or later

This life is no dress rehearsal it's the real thing

it's better off to lead a just life do your best .. be caring and compassionate

so do your best and leave the rest

life then becomes sweet

I humbly speak from experience

serve others is the key

BE THE CHANGE

Ed

[Dr. Andrew Lange - Huffpost Blogger]

Ashoka for president in 2012! Is he an American this time?

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Dr. Andrew Lange You are one of my favorite new bloggers .. welcome to the HuffPo Community

Ashoka was an Indian Emperor.

n the history of Buddhism Ashoka is situated just next to Gautama Buddha.

so yeah maybe we can have a grass root people vote

He sure was impressive in da old days.

BE THE CHANGE

Ed

[khanti]

We don't even know where he is now. Maybe someone with similar wisdom and kindness wil do.
I certainly wouldn't want the young conquering Ashoka.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

khanti - maybe he matured by now as he was awake and with da Buddha

the is hope for everyone even Sarah

Milarepa always stands out as he was a murderer and then became the greatest Yogi in Tibet

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Palin would try to convert him to whatever form of Christianity she believes in.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Mt. PresidentRobertBooth - thanks for your comment

you have a great sense of humor

You betcha

Ed

[mamacat]

What would the Buddha say to Ms. half-term governor?

"Read some books, grasshopper, read some books. In fact, read a whole lot of books. Then, and only then, come back and talk with me. In the meantime, please try not to open your mouth when you go out in public."

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

mamacat - tha'ts for your comment

you do nail it

and have a knack with words

have fun

enjoy the journey

Ed

[khanti]

Especially Be The Change. I think you should send her a personally signed copy.

[mybostonjack]

Mrs. Palin is the cause of suffering for herself, her family and the country.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

mybostonjack - thaks for your comment

She is caught in ignorance,

she is deluded by money, fame, and power

it is difficult to overcome

you betcha

May all people be happy

Ed

[ArthurTwoShedsJackson]

Oh, would that xtians practiced Right Speech. For if they did, Fox "News" would have no viewers and fold overnight. Fundie megachurches would have to be repurposed. Alas, the opposite is all too true.

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow Ed and Deb,

You penned a hot one here! Politics for me is a tricky area of life, having a family member as a politician.

What a politician has to do for a vote very often is seek approval or attention somehow. Not always good. However, on the good side, there is always value to be found.

I am learning to give thanks for everything because I do not know how even the events or people that strike me as distasteful, in some way have an important part ot play in the larger picture. Who am I ever to judge?

With love and blessings to you both,
Anne

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi dear seet Anne,

You have such wonderful pure energy .. and a compassionate heart .. so happy you are part of the HuffPost community

Yes we have to give thanks. have a sense of humor and not take ourselves too seriously

and

not put anyone out of our heart

BE THE CHANGE

Ed