The Beggar's Bowl: February 2008

The Begging Bowl

Buddhist monks, in practicing their call to holiness, rely upon the alms of the lay faithful to provide them with food, clothes, and other needs. Often, these alms come in exchange for spiritual services the monks perform for the laity such as weddings and funerals. The posture a monk observes when receiving alms is holding the empty bowl in hand so that the almsgiver may place the alms in the bowl. However, when a monk turns the begging bowl upside down, rendering the possibility of giving alms impossible, the monk is withdrawing consent from the the spiritual practice of the community.

In Burma, the upside down bowl became a powerful symbolic action in response to the military junta's repression of the pro-democracy movement. In a devoutly Buddhist country, the withdrawal of the monk's begging bowl represents the denunciation of the systemic violence and oppression of the country's military leaders.

06 February 2008

The Sacrament of Voting

I have grown tired and weary of the accusations that I am part of the problem in my choosing to not vote in the primary elections. There are many reasoned, rational, and well-researched arguments I can present for my not voting but at the end of the day, I have chosen to vote with my conscience and that choice was to not vote. We, the U.S. as a country, has turned the holy act of voting into a political sacrament that is to be received with humility and grace. I am not opposed to the act of voting, in fact, I believe every person's dignity brings forth the inherent right to voice their belief and choice. There are many people around the world whose lives are denied them because they have no right to voice. But there are also many other people around the world whose lives are granted such right. I do not think America's current political situation and system allows for enough adequate change in anything other than rhetoric. In participating in our voting structure, I do not wish my voice to be silenced through the machinations of ballot boxes and check marks. If I vote, I agree to participate and condone the system as it is. My conscience will not allow me to do that and I will continue to work for greater political and social change between election days.