Don't Be Scared of Coronavirus. We Were Built for This

When people think of Buddhist practice, a variety of images appear.  Sometimes, they picture a woman with perfectly manicured nails; sitting on the beach in full-lotus position.

Other times, they envision a bald man in robes; prostrating in front of a Buddha statue.  And if they stretch their imaginations, Americans see the typical Buddhist as a college student, resting under a tree as they read the Dhammapada. 

When people think of Buddhism, what they almost never see is poor people, hungry people, desperate people who are struggling to survive.  But that's been the reality for practitioners of the Way going back to ancient times.  

Buddha's mother died a week after his birth.  Shinran Shonin lived in exile for most of his life. And Rev. Koyo Kubose was sent to a Japanese internment camp during World War 2.

Thus, the history of Buddhism isn't one of people sitting on beaches and college students reading books in the quad.  The history of Buddhism is a history of pain.  It's a history of people using their religious practice to survive war, famine, and pestilence.  And the practice allowed them to not only survive these things but to come out stronger on the other end.  

As Buddhists, we must remember this as we deal with Coronavirus.  

Yes, it's scary.  Yes, things are spiraling out of control.  But we were built for this.

All of those hours spent sitting in meditation halls.  The thousands of prostrations we did in front of the altar, the times we chose to go on a retreat instead of partying with friends; those choices prepared us for this moment.

We've spent years building up a core of spiritual resiliency, and we can call on that core in our moments of need.  We have rituals in the way of chanting, bowing, and meditation that act as anchors; settling our minds when they're tossed about by worldly seas.  

And we have our Dharma ancestors supporting us; holding us up from behind.  They didn't fall in the face of adversity, and they won't let us fall either.

Yes, Coronavirus is strong.  But we're stronger.  And we will come out of this pandemic better than we were before;  part of a long legacy of survivors that stretches back to ancient times.

Namu Amida Butsu

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Don't be scared of Coronavirus.  We were built for this