Hologram Thoughts

I was sitting in my office today and I wondered what it is that sets me apart from you or the rest of the planet.  My name is ‘Matthew Williamson’, but how many other Matthew Williamson’s are there out there?  Google found 3,560,000 references to my name on the Internet.  They are clearly not all me.

I’m six foot four inches tall, with broad shoulders, shaved head and a tattoo; but there are millions of people my height, some of those people are broad shouldered, some of that group shave their head and then some of those even have a tattoo; so that isn’t something that sets me apart and makes me special.

I consider myself a Buddhist Christian, but I know others who count themselves the same way, so that isn’t it.  What makes me different from you?  Is it all of the things in my life added together that makes me special?  Is it my job plus my family plus my personality plus my physical attributes plus my history?  Does the sum of those things make me unique?

OK, sure it does, no other person has lived my life.  But how does that make me any different from anyone else on the street?  I don’t think it does.  Not at all.  So I am unique, but not different.  I am special, but not better, perfect but flawed.

I do know that the people in my life, the ones I know well, I find them all wonderful and complete.  There is nothing about them that they cannot fix with meditation and attention to themselves, which is all most of us really need.  My family and friends, they know I love them and that I am thinking about them during the day.  They know that I place them in high esteem in my life, and other that showing them compassion, what more can one human really offer another?

I think we are all the same.  We all want happiness, which is really just the absence of suffering.  We all want that for our loved ones and friends, and the rest of humanity if we give it a moments thought.

I had a dream last night that made me write this:

I see a future where the roads are self-healing
where the roads are a giant solar collecting grid spanning cities, states and nations
where every house is connected to the grid for free

I see a future that has cured disease with compassion and nature
where your doctor is worried about your health, not about your insurance
where the hospitals are places we meditate and pray, show kindness and love

I can see a future where no wars are fought over land, or food, or things
where nations have welcome centers, not detention centers
where borders are on maps, not fences or walls

I see a future where forests are treated like beings
where children can play in the rain
where grandparents are treated like treasures

None of this will happen unless we realize that there is no real difference between people in your family and people across the world. We are all suffering, we are all wanting the same thing for ourselves and our children; to be happy and safe, warm and dry, educated and heard. We want to have enough food so that our children don’t go to bed hungry, so that we don’t have to decided which child eats and which one has to wait.

As long as nations are run by people who profit from war, as long as companies control food and energy and medicines, as long as we sit by and offer no alternative; nothing can change.

Why would a company develop a road that collects the energy from the sun and then delivers that for pennies to your door? They won’t do that, no profit there. Why would a company cure the sick and dying in your backyard or the African Sahara? They won’t do that either, no money to make there. Cure cancer? No way. But, keep the cancer victim fighting his whole life, in and out of treatment, that is a good business plan.

I am no radical when it comes to politics, don’t misjudge my words. We don’t need a revolution in American politics, but rather a revolution in our hearts and minds, all across the world. If only we would act as if the man or woman we see was our son or daughter, our father or mother; how much better off would this world be? Would we transcend these wars? Would we feed the hungry and clothe the naked? Would we send bread instead of bombs if we were using our hearts, filled with understanding and compassion, instead of greed and hate?

I hope that revolution comes soon.

On January 3, 2007, the leader of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, made a strong statement against eating meat within his monasteries and centers around the world. These rules went into immediate effect that date:

1. No meat is to be prepared in the kitchen of any Kagyu Monastery or Center.
2. No one is to be involved in the business of buying and selling meat — for all of his students this practice must stop.
3. There is to be no killing of animals on Kagyu premises.
4. Karmapa is aware of monks in robes going to buy meat and does not want to see this ever again.

Below is a very well done video of the above rules that the Karmapa has laid out. Note: This video is important, but not for the feint of heart, nor for children.

I started thinking about vegetarianism a few years ago, but I was misinformed by the American medical and food industries. One book I read brought me a long way on the road to a meat free diet though, Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, I highly recommend it. I have educated myself, and with the help of some good friends, I am getting better and better at eating a solely vegetarian diet. This is not an easy task in America. This is the land of the fast food burger, pepperoni pizzas and even our American past time, baseball, demands you enjoy a hot dog or two.

December 28th, 2007, that was the date that I said, I can do this, to eating vegetarian. Yes, I have cheated a few times since then, but in large part I have been meat free. Beans have become my friends, though those around me may counter that comment. Salads are now a mainstay of my lunch and dinner. They have even become a breakfast option for me, and I like it too. Fruits and veggies were always high on my list, now they are simply the largest part of that list, along with grains, rice and other staples. Have I mentioned how much I love fresh tofu yet? Not the stuff you get in Wal-Mart or the local grocer either. Nope, I love the stuff you get in your city’s Asian district. Hey, I live in Oklahoma City, if I can find fresh tofu surely you can too.

Let me speak for a moment about vegetarianism from the Buddhist standpoint. The Buddha said, among other things, that we should give up evil actions. I view the killing of animals as an act of aggression against a sentient being. Every action produces karma, good or bad, without consideration as to our intentions or the outcome. Eating the meat is no different from being the person who slaughtered the animal for you to eat that flesh. To think otherwise is an illusion. Being a person on the path to Enlightenment, foloowing the Dharma, means I listen and try fervently to follow the Buddha and those in his lineage, such as H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Orgyen Trinle Dorje.

I feel better physically when I am meat and dairy free too. I used to eat lunch or dinner and feel bloated and lethargic, not anymore. Here are some links you might find helpful.

• Vegetarian books I can personally recommend are found here
• Vegetarian cook books in general can be found here
• Shabkar.org is an excellent site devoted to vegetarianism for Buddhists

I know this is a big step for anyone, let alone an American, so just think about it. Be mindful of your actions, show compassion and educate yourself.