Natural disaster

In the wake of natural disasters, how do we move from shock or rationalizations to compassionate action?

If we cannot turn to the great suffering far from us, we can at least see and know the suffering of the world near us and, with compassion, act to alleviate it. By clicking “OK”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Some of our luxury may even come at the expense of these people, as we enjoy cheap products and food from the hands of low-income workers in places where infrastructure is weak. Sri Dhammananda reminds us: “The disaster is a reminder for us to rejoin in the age old truth of moderation. Also in Taiwan, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation has announced a US$1 million matching fund along with 25 tonnes of blankets for relief work in Türkiye. It is always in a state of flux, of continuous change and is always seeking a balance. Many of us live in extreme luxury compared with the people who have suffered in the 2004 or 2023 earthquakes. Thailand’s government quickly moved to donate 5 million baht (US$145,000) toward relief efforts in Türkiye and a further 1 million baht (US$29,000) to Syria. This is true in these days and times when over-development has caused great ecological imbalance.” (Dharma Records) The important thing is that we each have choices to make. It is the law that governs changes in a body, such as old age and illness, or in an ecological context, with respect to such things as climates, seasons and earth movements. While Buddhism teaches us that we are the architects of our own fate and that as human beings we can eventually control our kammic force, Buddhists do not believe that everything is due to kamma. The Buddhist teaching of karma is profound, important, and deep.