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

[Joy Vriens]

Franz,

>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) 

Thank you for thanking me and the only answer to your bow is a bow to you. 

Another advantage <warning: we are clearly leaving the absence of the three circles behind us> is that by stoically welcoming and even desiring the taxes, we can elect our politicians for more authentic reasons than economic self interest. I don't know whether that possibility exists, but as good Buddhist citizens we could make donations to our national and local governements by paying more taxes than we owe them. I would love to see them react to that spontaneous act of generosity. Instead of civil disobedience, civil overobedience :-)

Joy