Bangkok Post: Seeing Barack Obama's historic campaign in a Buddhist light

[BigBearJohn]

It is my belief that Barack Obama's successful presidential campaign, which was based on the concept of "change we can believe in," and its underlying message are synonymous with Buddhist self-transformation. In Buddhism, people who are transformed become selfless and dedicated to serving others. This is what many people felt when they watched the broadcast of Obama giving his somber, determined victory speech in Chicago on election night.

Something in the back of our minds said that we were witnessing history, and that we seemed to have arrived at the dawn of another chapter in a more principled humanity. In the candidate himself, there is a powerful lesson that we can learn from. It is not just for politicians who dream of running a successful campaign and a landslide victory; the lesson is equally valuable for the rest of us. It would be ideal, though, if the world's politicians could learn the underlying message that Obama delivers, and the values that drove him and shaped his character.

Mindfulness leads to clean politics

By being constantly mindful, Obama was able to look at issues objectively. The result is a proof that human beings feel more comfortable with objectivity than with mud-slinging, name-calling politics. For example, Obama preferred to refer to the current problems as resulting from "failed policies" rather than "failed individuals."

Obama also went out of his way to show his constant respect for fellow human beings, even when he has been the target of disappointing or harmful words and actions by some of them. In other words, we know that he values forgiveness and unity because he actually practices them.

Obama's values in a Buddhist perspective

Obama was able to achieve this formidable feat simply because he believed in the virtues and capability of every human. How could a politician achieve such an ethical outcome?

From a Buddhist point of view, it is because Obama has a firm grasp on the fundamentals of dhamma, the nature of things, as well as karma, the law of cause and effect of action. Obama himself stressed throughout his campaign that he himself was not perfect and that he expected to make mistakes as president. This is a fundamental understanding of human nature and of dhamma.

Much more & in greater detail:
http://www.bangkokpost.com//211108_Realtime/21Nov2008_real001.php

[FirstLight]

1. Very cool insight and perspective.

perhaps we humans CAN evolve ourselves into a peaceful world? yay!

Would you mind if I post a link to this thread in the Astrology, Spirituality, Alternative Healing Group?


thanks again for sharing!

[BigBearJohn]

2. I'd love it. I didn't know such a group existed here.

[FirstLight]

3. Welcome Big Bear John !!

We are friendly group :) come and visit and stay a while :hug:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x79768

I gave you the credit for finding this :)

[Celebration]

4. interesting

Probably a Buddhist would be wondering about his past lives, as well.

[Odin2005]

5. I'm an Atheist, though one with Buddhist sympathies, and that is some interesting stuff! n/t.

[AllyCat]

6. Buddhism does not see itself as an isolated "religion"

There is no reason one cannot be a Buddhist christian, or a Buddhist atheist for that matter.

It's a neat piece, isn't it?

[Odin2005]

7. Very nice piece!

My interest in Buddhism started after hearing about something called "mindfulness-based cognitive therapy" from my psychologist, which is Buddhist meditation used to supplement traditional therapy (which I have been getting for anxiety and Depression). I also found it interesting how meditators discovered aspects of how the human brain works through introspection that have only recently been verifed by neuroscience, like the lack of a coherent real "self" (this delusion of "self" being similar to what philosopher Dan Dennet calls the "Cartesian Theater" assumption.

[gblady]

8. thank you for the article...

very interesting...
and right on the button, IMHO.

There is something deeply spiritual about Barack...
that kind of depth that comes from inner exploration.
He speaks in the spiritual language of faith, hope,and compassion.

[BigBearJohn]

9. I'm glad others could appreciate it too. That's what I like about DU

[Hekate]

10. KnR. I know a couple of folks besides me who will really enjoy reading this. Thanks! nt

[BigBearJohn]

13. You're quite welcome

[Hekate]

11. Now that I've read the whole thing, I have to say it's really a delightful piece. Thanks again. nt

[SalmonChantedEvening]

12. Great reading BBJ, thank you my friend :)

New perspectives make for broader minds. :)

[BigBearJohn]

14. Hugs to you my friend

[Kind of Blue]

15. Thanks so much for posting this, BigBearJohn.

:kick:

[qwlauren35]

16. As a Buddhist, I Concur.

And many of my Buddhist friends feel this way as well. He strikes us as having very Buddhist qualities. I find him refreshing and inspiring.

[Bonobo]

17. Thank you. I have been saying and thinking along the same lines for some time.

I am happy to see my own thoughts mirrored here in a much more full and developed way.

[zensense]

18. Thank You from the Author

Dear friends,

I followed a link to your wonderful forum and was very humbled to find that I'm not the only one who saw that fine mindfulness quality in Mr. Obama.

Thank you, Big Bear John, for kindly sharing this piece with your friends.
I am grateful that someone out there find my humble article of some use.

And thank you all forum readers for the compassion you show in your reply.
In this ever-shrinking world, it is the kindness towards one another like this
and the strive to find common values is what lifts us out of trouble, together, as a people.

Now I start to sound like an American rather than a Bangkok-based, Thai Buddhist!
But, then, again, we are but one people sharing universal values in this planet.
And look at your President Elect. How we wish our own Buddhist-born politicians
are equally mindful!

Again, my deepest gratitude for sharing my article and for your kind words.
As a new writer, I could not come up with enough words to say thank you.
It is such sincere consideration that encourages us writers to strive even harder to serve
our readers.

May you all be happy, peaceful, and free from suffering.

Respectfully,

Nash Siamwalla
Bangkok, Thailand

p.s. The link you have here of the article to the Bangkok Post will expire in 7 days.
Should any of you need the article for future reference, feel free to drop by and get it
at my web site http://zen-sense.blogspot.com In fact, I believe you would be pleasantly
surprised to find the introduction piece of this article there also. It ran in the Bangkok Post
one week earlier under my usual column, Zen Sense. It was my humble
interpretation of Mr. Obama's concept of change in Buddhist light.

The piece on Mr. Obama was chosen to be featured as the sole cover story
was because our editorial board felt the need to "educate" our local politicians as well as
the society so that we could also be mindful and come together to lift ourselves out of
the current political mess. Many locals feel hopeless already. But one should never give up hope, right? Just look at Mr. Obama's campaign!

[BigBearJohn]

20. Thank YOU

Sawasee Khrap Khun Siamwalla,

It was my absolute honor to post a portion of your
wonderful article here on Democratic Underground. It was
so well written and well reasoned and I am sure many
people here found comfort, enlightenment, and agreement
with your words of wisdom.

I also sent it to all my friends, and especially my friends
in Thailand. Several in Thailand have thanked me profusely
for alerting them to this article. They too found it to be
very enlightening and thanked me for sending it to them.

I am so grateful that there are people of your wisdom, insight,
and caliber on this planet. You are such a breath of fresh air.

Keep up with the excellent work. We look forward to hearing
more from you and hope that you will continue posting on
Democratic Underground. We welcome you with open arms.

Choke dee (good luck),

Big Bear John

[zensense]

21. The Words are Yours as much as they are Mine...

Dear Big Bear John,

No, no, I dare not take the credit for myself, Big Bear John!
For the words in the article belong to you as well.

From the little mindfulness training that I had, I came to realize
that we tend to see things as we are. Therefore, if you happen to see any
comfort or enlightenment in my humble article, it is because you already
have that comforting, enlightenment qualities in your heart. :-)

The fact that I may have written what has been in your mind or some forum readers' mind
does not mean the words belong to me. The real value itself is
our ability to be aware of those values that are already
present in our heart and the willingness to pass it on.

In other words, I believe that it is the ability to see positive potentials in things,
especially in our ability to develop our mind, that defines us as humanity, and not mere mammals.

Thank you again for your warm welcome to this DemocraticUnderground Forum, Big Bear John.
It seems like a very friendly, educated and mindful place. In the web nowadays,
those adjectives are rarely found together! I don't know if I would have much time
to drop by often in the near future due to my upcoming exams. :scared: (please pray for me!)
But I'll surely check it out now and then.

Meanwhile, I ran across something that I would like to share with Forum members
that may not live in Thailand and/or Asia. There is a Canadian gentleman who lives
in Thailand who, for some reason that he did not explain, took the photo of my cover
story in Bangkok Post and posted it on his photo web album, Flickr. In fact, he posted
both the cover page and the inside (continued) page. At the very least, I think
it must have mean something to him. For that, I feel grateful.

Here's the how the article looks like if you read it from the copy you buy at a newsstand.
There you go, your President Elect staring out at Bangkokians mindfully. :-)
Photo credit: Jeff McNeil on Flickr






With this, I bid adieu, :hi:

Nash

[BigBearJohn]

22. One more thing.

Yes, of course, your words ring true.
But still, I like to acknowledge wisdom
where I see it.

By the way -- I visit Thailand almost
every year. I have more friends in Thailand
than I do in the USA. Hopefully during one
of my trips, I might be able to meet you.

Were you born and raised in Thailand?

Pope gan mai, Khrap khun khrap.

John

[Canuckistanian]

19. Mindfulness. That's what American politicans need

They can shovel all the "fambly values" and "personal responibiliteh" they want, but in the end it's mindfulness that moves mountains and gets things done that REALLY matter.

Fortunately, both I, the majority of Americans and the Buddhists think that Obama's got it.