[Buddha-l] NYTimes.com: Let Us Pray for Wealth

[Franz Metcalf]

Joy et al.,

Joy answered Stan Ziobro's question on why paying taxes might be 
considered a more religious (or moral, or spiritual, or Buddhist) act 
than giving to a charity. In fact, he answered it so well I think it 
bears repeating:

> For a Buddhist [paying taxes] comes as near to the absence of the 
> three circles as one can get as a member of society: the subject, the 
> object of the giving and the act itself are so diluted that it almost 
> looks like the simple act of survival of society itself, almost devoid 
> of the notion of individual selves.

I just want to say thank you for this. It gave me one of those rare 
"aha!" moments when my eyes are opened to a truth so clear it was 
hiding in plain sight. Paying my taxes is indeed a beautiful, and 
highly Buddhist, act. Or it would be if I were living in the Vajji 
confederacy. But the mere presence of this new understanding in my head 
somehow changes me and my relationship to my government.

Bowing,

Franz
(who's about to send off a check for $1800 in property taxes to the 
County of Los Angeles)