Friday, June 11, 2004
Buddhists across nation mark `Change Your Mind Day'
A diverse group of Buddhist teachers from around the country led meditation, gave talks and played music. The afternoon event, called "Change Your Mind Day," was held in nearly 50 cities in North America, Ireland and Australia. Washington's event marked the first time the 10-year-old event has been held in the nation's capital.
Though some have called the event an anti-war protest, Byrne said "Change Your Mind Day" is instead a way to cultivate a change of mind that can lead to a change in the world.
"The central theme is peace in our hearts, peace in the world," Byrne said.
"I began looking for a more Buddhist way to respond to the war," said Hugh Byrne, a Buddhist minister at Georgetown University and meditation teacher at the Smithsonian Institution. "Buddhists don't look for peace in the world, they look for peace in themselves."
Byrne got together with some like-minded friends and created the Washington Buddhist Peace Fellowship in early 2003. The group's first public event was a silent peace walk from the Washington National Cathedral to the White House last year. Its second and larger event took place Saturday (June 5) amid a steady drizzle in downtown Washington.
Virginia psychologist Lorne Ladner spoke about the importance of compassion in realizing peace in the world.
"People think of compassion as being sweet, friendly, not hurting anyone's feelings," said Ladner, director of the Guhyasamaja Center, a Tibetan Buddhist teaching center near Washington. "But it takes real power and strength to be compassionate. It's about having the courage to speak the truth."
Judy Lief, former dean of Naropa University in Boulder, Colo., said one of the most remarkable things about "Change Your Mind Day" is that it joins such a diverse group of Buddhists.
“We call it `ri-me,"' Lief said. "It's about getting wisdom in various, unbiased and nonsectarian ways."
"I went to the anti-war march this morning," said Jenna Foust, a northern Virginia Web developer. "There were people jumping out at you, saying you should be angry. I said, why? There are better ways to do things."
This is exactly the message Byrne was hoping people would take home from "Change Your Mind Day."
"It's unproductive to bring anger and greed to our work for peace," Byrne said. "Buddhism is not unique in acknowledging this idea. It's just that Buddhism articulates it most clearly."
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