Following Edge

Anne Marie and I had independently been thinking this week about how to support efforts to reduce the suffering of millions in the path of the Asian Tsunami. Everyone must be feeling compassion for the victims of this disaster, but some of us wonder how to support the folks that will most directly assist in the most direct way and others worry about how much they can help when their time and money already seem exhausted. In the last few days, John Kaza has confirmed that these misgivings mustn't delay us too much and Michael (of our namesakes Michael and Anne-Marie in Portland) pointed out that we can't expect our government to do the work. So, I'd decided that we would soon decide how much and whom to support.

And... as I believe happens when you put an intention in your mind (or heart, if you please), a blog entry came to my attention today indicating the request for tsunami relief donations for the Oregon Buddhist Vihara in Hillsboro, OR. Buddhist monks at the Vihara (temple) from Sri Lanka have recently were anguished worrying about their friends, family and home temple in Sri Lanka and have decided to visit Sri Lanka in less than 2 weeks and take whatever donations they receive to both help with their labor and with the donated resources. I believe the Buddhist concern for compassion and proper intention will help them use the donations for great good. So, even though I would normally be concerned that they aren't a "tax deductible" charity, Anne Marie and I are sending them a donation for the tsunami relief effort and a saparate donation for support of the Vihara.

While the Vihara has no web page, you can read an online account of one person's account of visiting and meeting the monks.

I encourage you to think briefly this week of the people whose homes and industries and families have been wrecked by the Asian Tsunami and concentrate on your compassionate feelings until you feel the natural desire to help as much as you can. Remember how most of us here are blessed with the opportunity to be generous even in a small way to these people that are suffering.

If you'd like to donate to the Oregon Buddhist Vihara, you must do it this week as they will be leaving soon. You can donate at any Bank of America branch through a deposit to account #004540092749. If you don't have the faith in the Buddhist monks that I do, you can also choose any organization from a huge list and make a meaningful difference for someone suffering. Certainly much more meaningful than allowing your generosity and compassion to be immobilized by doubts.