Thanks-giving is a Holy-day!
Today is Thanksgiving Day and a Holiday. For tens of thousands of years, humankind has been giving thanks for the harvest after clearing and cultivating the land, sowing seeds, watering, and weeding. For generations we have aspired and worked – storing seeds and spades, restoring the soil and our surroundings, improving our situations and environment.
We celebrate by giving thanks to and for families, friends, rain, rivers, plants, the planet, the sun, the moon, and all that have brought such abundance. We are the outcome of our ancestors’ efforts, and those of their relatives and all relations throughout the world.
The Buddha said that religion is cultivation. Dogen, the 13th-century Japanese Zen monk and teacher, said that the Awakened Way or Great Way is with all from the very beginning. He described the Awakened Way as a cyclical advancement of aspiration, action, awakening, and unconditioned peace.
If we make the whole more wholesome, we can celebrate this day as a holy day. If we can make every day a holy day, we can celebrate a happy day every day. May we all give thanks to all and live a happy, holy day every day!
With the Eucharist, every day is a holy day and thanks is given every day. We are called to be a Eucharistic people.
Now that we have given thanks for the bounty that is ours. Can we find it in our hearts to help those that are so very unfortunate. Some 25,000 children will mostly likely starve to death this day. When breaking our bread can we find it in our hearts to remember their needs. It is very cruel of us here in the industrialized world with all its means to withold life saving necessities from those that may die without our liberality. A true liberal is a generous person in mind, body, and soul. Will you please in the spirit of generousity find it in you hearts to give unto god what is gods. Their are many good causes that support these deprived children will you please share your bounty with them it can actually save their lives here on earth.
Dear Malachi,
Thanks for your comment.
Zen practiooners says, “Every day is a good day!”
Hoping everyone can say so,
Dear Michael Mullarkey,
Thank you for your conmment and concern.
The Buddha said, “Not yours.” (because of Dependent Origination: interdependence) Nothing is ours. We should share everything. We are responsible for everything (delusion, discrimination, exploitation, extermination, etc.).
As Dogen said, if it is not with all (all shared with all), it is not the Great Way. It is not a real religion (reunion with the whole: holiness) or true friend (mitra, mithra, mazda, messiah) in need in deed.
Let us cultivate ourselves to live with all always.
A wise woman once said that souls are falling into hell like snowflakes fall in a snowstorm. It is always a good day…unless you are one of the snowflakes.