The best way to affect change in the world is to love and forgive everyone. It is a common belief that the ego’s desires for the future can be made reality through prayer and visualization. The impossibility of this becomes apparent when we realize the natural variations present in each individual instance of the ego. A better way to bring about a positive difference in the world is to express loving care for each being encountered and accept the current state of affairs as they are.
What does it mean to love and forgive everyone? Understand, this does not mean we say yes to every proposition that is posed to us. This does not mean that we endorse or enable unskillful behavior in others. What this means is that we express a true feeling of loving care towards each being as we recognize their struggle to find meaning and function in this world. As you are painfully aware, this world does not offer an easy path to follow. Recognize and acknowledge that each being you encounter faces the same dilemma. Even those you may view as the most heinous degenerates are, in fact, searching for love and understanding in their own way. The variety that exists in the very nature of the ego mind ensures that the resulting abundance of observed behaviors will include such undesirable demonstrations. Do your best not to lay blame and pronounce judgements on your unskillful brothers and sisters as they struggle to find their way in this world.
We must care for those who fail, we acknowledge their pain and suffering, as we do our best to help them along by sharing our personal experiences in hopes that they may improve their ability to navigate the complexities of this existence. Some beings will naturally pose a threat to the safety of others and should be secured and treated as a dangerous element. As it is now, it will become increasingly apparent in this world that imposing cruel punishments for angry and violent behavior is ineffective and a detriment to the advancement of society. The administration of institutionalized cruelty helps neither the victim nor the perpetrator to find freedom from the painful shackles of the ego. When we begin to treat all others in a way that supports their growth and the realization of the joy of peace, this world will benefit in astonishing ways that will highlight the failures of previous generations in a valuable and impactful way. Recognize the timelessness of the following statement: “Just as we may currently look back at the failures of past generations and gasp at the insane conclusions and obvious fallacies; future generations will look back upon the current era and make the same assessment.” The continuing revelation of peace lies before us, know this to be true. Do not be discouraged by the day-to-day happenings that seem to hasten its arrival. The passing of a lifetime is but a drop of water in a deep ocean of experiential existence.
Zen Momentum 