A Painful Truth?

London RiotsMy post yesterday about the London riots seems to have ruffled a few feathers out there. I had quite a few messages about it, some supportive, others less so, but all from people who rarely, if ever, make comment about my blog. So let me set the record straight.

In no way was I condoning the mindless actions of the people involved. Like all public spirited people, I was shocked by something like this happening on the streets of Britain. The very fact that it was reported all round the world tends to suggest that it is, fortunately, a rare occurrence.

The idea that we should try to see both sides is right at the centre of Buddhist thinking. Having the wisdom, courage and compassion to give up our ingrained mindset and expand our vision will not present us with all the answers, but it will give us a more balanced view.

I thank those of you who made your opinions clear, whether you agreed or not. At least we are thinking about the issue, and we as individuals can do little more at this time. It is never my intention to anger or alienate anyone with my posts, simply to offer thought provoking ideas. Some of those ideas are less painful to consider than others.