Within the scriptures of Buddhism the word right is translated as wise or ideal or wholesome.
These principles are not to be seen as rules or commandments but suggestions of a pathway for wholesome living.
Right action is not about getting everything and doing everything perfectly,
That's not possible,
But if we make choices and consider others in those decisions then our actions will come from a place of compassion and harmony.
If we think about spotting a fire in a building and the fire alarm did not go off there would be some right action to take.
That action would likely come from a heart of compassion.
You would want to sound an alarm to make sure everyone could get out of the building safely.
The opposite to that would be from a selfish motive,
Getting yourself out of there,
Never mind anyone else.
That is probably unthinkable for most people but we often live our lives a bit like this.
Right action is ensuring our actions do not bring harm to ourselves and to others.
We know the obvious ones,
Don't kill or hurt others,
Don't steal partners or possessions from anyone and we also spoke recently about right speech,
Not lying,
Gossiping,
Abusing or idle chatter.
We know these things cause pain to others but maybe there are less obvious ones.
Do we honour all life,
Have reverence for all life,
All human beings no matter the colour,
Gender,
Age,
Sexual preference,
Religion,
Political stance?
Do we include animals in all life?
Do we have a generous spirit,
Not necessarily with finance but also with our time,
Our words,
Our smile?
Having a generous heart is not just about money,
Are we generous with our compliments?
Do we share our time and our energy or do we live clinging and grasping and have a mean spirit?
Practising mindfulness can help us by giving us an embodied and experiential way of knowing which ways are right.
We might recognise this just doesn't sit right with me.
Being carefully and continuously aware of your present moment brings a wisdom.
Doing something selfishly will leave a certain sensed feeling in the body as will doing something selflessly.
Just close your eyes for a moment.
Remember a time when you acted benevolently?
Maybe you gave somebody a gift for no reason or you complimented someone or you gave a homeless person money or food.
Can you remember how that felt in your body?
And now remember a time when you acted selfishly,
Said something unkind,
Wouldn't share,
Refused to help someone.
Can you remember how that felt in your body?
And now open your eyes.
So right action is not only good for harmony and a peaceful society and world,
It gives us a personal sense of joy,
Satisfaction and fulfilment.
The Buddha gave these teachings for the good of the many,
For the happiness of the many,
Out of compassion for the world and so practising these suggestions are a good way to live.
Chief Seattle,
A Native American Indian chief said,
Man does not weave this web of life,
He is merely a strand of it.
Whatever he does to the web,
He does to himself.
In the history of Haudenosaunee,
An alliance of Native American Indian nations,
There was a man called the peacemaker.
He wanted to create unity between the five different nations in his area.
He created a council with representatives from each of these nations.
Their charge was to care for the welfare of their own people and all that share the earth.
The peacemaker told the council members that they must not take any decisions until they consider its effect on the next seven generations of people and also on the earth.
Imagine if our laws and decisions were made like that.
Would we have the problems with climate change right now?
And so we come to examine ourselves.
Do we make decisions and choices based on the effect on all life and on the earth or just ourselves?
Do we consider how our actions affect others and future generations or do we only consider the benefits and rewards for ourselves and our nearest and dearest?
The seventh principle of Unitarian Universalist is respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
And so today's meditation is upon this,
The interdependent web.
I invite you now to close your eyes.
Take your attention now to the top of the head and with each exhale allow the scalp to soften.
And now the forehead,
The eyes,
The mouth and the jaw.
Allow the throat to settle.
Allow the shoulders to become heavier and softer.
The chest softens and relaxes as does the stomach.
And the bottom,
The thighs,
The legs and the feet all become heavier.
With each exhale the body relaxes.
Feel the tension release out of the fingers and the toes.
Notice the breath.
Feel the whole journey of the breath.
Where does it start?
Where does it end?
Can you notice pause in between the inhale and in between the exhale?
Take your attention to the feet on the ground and become aware of the earth beneath your feet.
Imagine for a few seconds what the world would be without gravity.
How amazing that the earth holds you.
That you have the security of being held by the earth.
Think what is below the earth,
Below the soil,
Down to the core of the earth.
And be aware of the energy and the power beneath our very feet.
And yet the earth holds us carefully,
Gently,
Safely.
Become aware of the nature of the breath that your inhale is rich in oxygen and your exhale in carbon dioxide.
Your inhale nourishes and feeds the blood in your body and keeps every cell alive and functioning.
Your exhale is removing waste and toxins from your body,
Keeping you healthy and alive.
Consider now the plants,
The flowers,
The bushes and the trees.
Reflect on this.
Your exhale is food and nourishment for them.
They live off your waste.
Observe that the oxygen they emit is your life force,
The very oxygen you need.
You are keeping each other alive.
Become aware of your breath in your room.
We share breath.
We are all part of the same earth,
The same breath.
Our exhale becomes another's inhale.
Our inhale another's exhale.
We are all connected.
Whatever we do affects the other.
It affects the web.
And so let us be mindful of all our actions,
Our conduct and the effect on the earth and on the next seven generations and on the other.
Become aware now of your feet on the ground and your body in contact with the seat.
Become aware of any noises outside of the room and inside the room.
Become aware of all the space around you and have a picture of yourself in this space.
And when you are ready slowly and carefully open your eyes.
Thank you.
