That "look" was in the content of my written contract I'd presented to the voters during my quest for the presidency in 2008. I was the only presidential candidate in the history of this country to offer such a contract. Perhaps the question is: Were the voters ready for such a landmark innovation? After all, the Buddha spoke of great doctrines as being presentable only when the time is right.
I believe the time was right and, actually, there were others who thought so too. Others who were in a position to help Barack Obama's candidacy and, therefore, feared even the faintest threat of competition which my candidacy represented. I believe that is the reason why my blogging privileges were revoked, without warning or explanation, by Daily Kos and by My Space. Barack Obama was their darling and no distractions would be tolerated.
[To the good folks at Daily Kos and My Space: You should have been careful what you wished for - now you've got it for the next 2 to 6 years.]
Over those upcoming years, I hope people will review my contract from time to time and come to appreciate what could have been:
What type of organization...
...could usher in a new & truly independent politics? Back in 2006, I tried to describe what kind of organization could overpower the entrenched special interests dominant in American politics. Oh, make no mistake, they're still very much entrenched and that's a non-change you don't have to even bother to believe in. My piece from 2006, entitled My Master Plan, opens with these lines:
QUOTE:
Question: You describe a new type of political party: "The Best Party Available [hereinafter re-named The Independent Contractors’ Party] will never have a nominating convention, or a party headquarters, or a staff - or even members." How can a political party exist without members?
Response [by Steven Searle]: Not only won't it have members, but it won't even have a street address, won't own any property, and - best of all - won't have any hierarchy.
Question: You mean no one will be in charge? Not even you?
Response: Me? Heavens, no! My role, regarding The Independent Contractors’ Party, will be as spiritual advisor. The ICP will exist - and will find its greatest strength - in not being an actual organizational entity. The ICP is an idea, not a pile of bricks (that is, no party headquarters); not a club with membership lists and officers. None of that.
Question: I'm lost. No members? No leadership? No tangible assets? What will it do, exactly, and who will be doing it? Ghosts?
:UNQUOTE
The answer to the last question above ("Ghosts?") is: Flawed human beings, like myself, who I hope will join me in a mutual quest for enlightenment. For those who believe in the concept of engaged Buddhism, I offer the possibility that this quest take the form of a political movement with the power to attract the many. Much as the Soka Gakkai International had over 35 years ago. [NOTE: SGI promotes the chanting of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.]
This new movement I propose will not make the mistakes of the SGI, the biggest of which was oversimplification of the Buddhist practice itself. This does not mean those of the Abrahamic faiths aren't welcome, for I regard even those faiths to be forms of Buddhism. However, if they care to join us, they will have to set aside such petty concerns as "Would the Pope approve?" or "Is this new politics going to be good for Israel
The days of the quiet and contemplative Buddhist are over. Now is the time to do some serious preaching. We do our compassionate brothers and sisters no good by silently observing them wallowing in the petty and erroneous. And the most severe of their errors must be addressed head on - namely: The End of Days. All of the Abrahamists have this doctrine in common - Jews, Muslims, Protestants, Catholics - all of them. And they are all wrong.
The belief in the End of Days is even more destructive than the belief in God the Creator and Master of the Universe.
We as Buddhists know how suffocating is the belief in the End of Days. For such a belief encourages people to believe that their own efforts will ultimately come to naught, so they give up trying to create that better world we all dream about. [Not to mention, they abandon all thought of actually becoming Buddhas.] Instead, they indulge themselves in the comfort of petty doctrines or the embrace of their fellow believers (or tribesmen) while waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Now is the time for Right Effort
Right Effort is part of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. And there was a time when Right Effort included putting on parades when that could serve to increase public awareness of Buddhism's accessibility. I applauded the SGI's participation in, for instance, the annual Gay Pride Parade here in Chicago
Bravo! But...now it's time to move on. Over 35 years ago, we in the SGI used to sing a song with these lines:
"Keep chanting, keep chanting, we've just got 20 years to go [before the era of world peace arrives]"
Well, you in the SGI did keep chanting but you failed. The 20 years came and went - as I said above, we had sung that song 35 years ago - but you're still spinning your wheels (but no longer singing that song, I notice). By now, the more astute among SGI members realize that chanting alone wasn't enough. Unfortunately, none of these members are speaking up. Instead, they're playing "follow the leader" - the "leader" being SGI President Daisaku Ikeda.
What is needed, instead, is for someone (lots of someones) to stand up and say, "We've ignored the Buddha's highest teaching for too long and we're paying the price: Loss of membership and diminished enthusiasm. Not to mention drifting farther and farther from the goal of becoming Buddhas - each and every one of us, without fail. It's time to embrace the Lotus Sutra and it's time for Right Effort. It's time to speak up and take a stand. For if we don't, people will assume we're going along with the program. That we embrace Change-You-Can-Believe-In instead of a Belief-You-Can-Change-With."
The hardest thing in the world is to change - and that goes for organizations as well as the people who support them. And the easiest person in the world to despise is the reformer who insists on change, who insists that we stop being lazy. When Nichiren Daishonin first introduced his form of Buddhist practice to the world, they tried to kill him. "They" being lay believers from other Buddhist sects, secular authorities, and religious authorities.
But Nichiren was persistent. And I admire that about him. I pray that I can be as persistent and persuade as many people as possible: We've got to start moving on this. Oh, by the way, if this Butterfly Effect takes hold, campaign funding won’t be a problem. In fact, I will not accept any campaign contributions. But…more on that, later.
Steven Searle for U.S. President in 2012
Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party
"Don't know who said this, but it fits: If not now, when? If not us, who?" - Steve.
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