Centuries ago, Chan master Mazu Daoyi (709–788) taught that the “ordinary mind is the Way” after the devastating An Lushan Rebellion, which involved intense political, social, economic, and intellectual upheaval during the Tang dynasty (618–907).

When the going gets frightening and weird, I turn to Buddhist teachings for guidance. This week I got such a reality check from Guo Gu, a Chan teacher and professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He reminded me that it is natural, not the exception, that things do get weird, and that when they do it is important to “face everything with an ordinary mind.” An ordinary mind is a mind unfazed by vexations and deluded views. It is undaunted in the face of difficulties. 

"People typically see others through a self-referential lens, and thus are driven by the polarities of gaining and losing, having and lacking, seeking and rejecting, and, ultimately, success and failure. But, whether in politics or everyday life, there are no real winners and losers; selfing and othering harms everyone. We easily notice such unskillful behavior of other people, but we must also have the humility to recognize that we engage in the same habits. Each of us contributes to the ripening of conditions.

"The ordinary mind accepts that everything changes, and it sees that change is full of potential. In the grand scheme of things, everything is workable. As long as we practice and engage with the world for the benefit of others, humanity will survive the rise and fall of any politician or ideology." - Guo Gu

ARTICLE: All Things Are Impermanent, Even Political Situations Seemingly Beyond Repair