251105 What I learned in my studies this morning 5

Today's Meditation(s):

The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Reconciliation

I used this same passage last time I came to this teaching. It's just so good.

One of my favorite sayings is, "Don't just do something. Stand there!" 

[It's a warning against unconsidered decisions I first heard on Capital Hill. Apropos given DC's penchant for taking stupid — or, more likely, deliberately unhelpful or unrelated and unhelpful in other lights) — action.]

"Our world does not lack people willing to throw themselves into action."

And we are the poorer for it.

It's sort of how everyone is always bucking for, and pushing for, people to be Leaders™. And looking down on those who don't follow that path.

If people would understand the value of understanding and compassion over ambition and self-aggrandizement, perhaps we would avoid the  too-many-chiefs-and-not-enough-indians problems which seem ubiquitous today.