L0oking for material to post for Pesach, I can across this remarkable evocation of Buddhism as an explanation for our new First Lady. What is remarkable/ The Buddhist post evokes the central teachings of the Passover Seder.
"Michelle's Way: Lessons In Buddhism From The First Lady"
Tonight, for the first time in history, our First Lady will attend a Passover Seder in the white House with her two daughters, as the President honors the Jewish people. For the last week she has been electrifying Europe with her warmth and her fearlessness in showing that she cares. She is adored wherever she goes for one simple reason: She brings hope. The hope that the world can be a caring and compassionate place, and the hope anyone of any color or background can fulfill their dreams.
It brought tears to our eyes when the children at the school Michelle Obama visited in London jumped up and down and hugged and hugged her and she hugged them back. We could see in their faces that, because of her, they too felt they had a chance. Her charisma and confidence make others feel comfortable in her presence. Deb, being English, was delighted to finally see someone arm in arm with the Queen!
A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things that renew humanity. -Buddha
<see original for full comments about Michelle>
A person who gives freely is loved by all. It's hard to understand, but it is in giving that we gain strength. But there is a proper time and a proper way to give, and the person who understands this is strong and wise. By giving with a feeling of reverence for life, envy and anger are banished. A path to happiness is found. Like one who plants a sapling and in due course receives back shade, flowers, and fruit, so the results of giving bring joy. Through continuous acts of kindness the heart is strengthened by compassion and giving. -Buddha
When people speak badly of you, you should respond in this way: Keep a steady heart and don't reply with harsh words. Practice letting go of resentment and accept that the other's hostility is the spur to your understanding. Be kind, adopt a generous standpoint, treat your enemy as a friend, and suffuse all your world with affectionate thoughts, far-reaching and widespread, limitless and free from hate. Buddha"
What could be more appropriate for Passover? Last year BHO attended an informal Seder on the campaign trail organized by Eric Lesser, a special assistant to White House official David Axelrod. At the end, they wished each other "Next Year in the White House!."
And that came to be! The photograph has a lot of content. Barack is at the end, not the head of the table. How do I know this? The Seder was overseen by Eric Lesser and he is sitting in the center seat. I note that the Seder plate is not in front of BHO .. and that there in , in addition to the Obama girls, at least one young person at the other end of the table. I assume this person. rather than the President read the four questions!
There is more ... the cushions at each place, the portrait on the wall, the crystal chandelier, the friends gathered to celebrate freedom. I hope this is the first step in a new American tradition of sharing the best of all cultures.
5 comments:
More or less in the same time when Obama asked from the European Union to receive Turkey in Europe (sic!), an anti-Israel country, that didn't yet recognised the Armenian genocide, the Kurdish massacres and where the human rights are not respected. Obama is standing at the Pessach freedom table but I'm suspicious of his aims.
Mirel ...
I hope you can see further than that. If we are ever to have peace, then we need to learn to tolerate some friction.
The Armenian genocide was a terrible event and Turkey should accept and learn from its past as the US has from slavery and Germany from the Shoah.
However, I also remember the words from our Haggadah .. there is no revenge possible for the death fo a child. There is nothing to be gained by one side, no matter how righteous, demanding guilt from the other side.
I think Barack/Baruch's intent is clear. He is a great teacher and wants more than any previous US president to help us make peace. He gave a very similar lesson on hos speach in Prague ... peace requires a willingness to tolerate the other side. This seems to me to be the very lesson that Hillel taught to OUR people 2000 years ago.
Peace between us and the Arabs .. not just the Palestinians can only happen when, as Gandhi and King taught, the "weapons" of non violence and tolerance are used to their strongest.
These heroes, however, also taught that when nonviolence is not enough,we have no choice but to protect ourselves. I know many of uas understand that. When the other side learns the same thing, we can begin toward peace.
That is Barack's "parshah" for Pesach.
In the meantime, I hope someday we can join you for Sesder! Chag sameach!
Waiting for you, dear friend! Chag SameacH!
Steve and Barbara and others, Gut Yontiff to you and yours. May we feast on milk aand honey peace after having to be content with the bitter fruit of the past 8 years.
Your older Goyim brother,
Stefan P.
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