Could a diplomatic dispute between United States and Canada over navigation rights within the (newly forming) Arctic Ocean be a concession of global warming from this administration?
In my understanding of Buddhism, one does not suffer "for one's sins" (a Christian notion of an external punisher) but because of them. This is demonstrated well in this excerpt:
When somebody comes to us and asks if he or she should stop drinking before receiving the five mindfulness trainings (the precepts), we always tell them that they can continue to drink, but they must drink mindfully. If you drink your wine mindfully for a few weeks, and you practice deeply, you will stop drinking after a few weeks. Nothing is forced on you; it is your own understanding, your wisdom, that tells you how to behave, that tells you how to conduct your everyday life. In Buddhism, when we practice five precepts, or ten, or two hundred and fifty, it's not because the Buddha wants us to do this, but because we are practicing deep looking. We see that practicing the precepts is protecting ourselves against suffering. The precepts are a guarantee of your freedom. - Thich Nhat Hanh (2004:76), True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart.
BTW: My meditation group's web site is now up: Rock Blossom: Brooklyn's Community of Mindfulness.
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