A Few Words on the Historical Moment
Zoketsu Norman Fischer
January 22, 2025
Remarks offered at the beginning of our weekly Dharma Seminar
Before I begin my talk tonight I want to say a few words about the historical moment. Monday’s inauguration was a dramatic and important event. Immediately afterward there was a flurry of activity. From my point of view, none of it was good.
The assault on immigrants was terrible, inhumane. I don’t want to make a list, you all know the list, but I was very dismayed by the pardons. It means that the militias will feel on call, empowered, and immune. This implicit threat, along with the many other threats, will cause people to be afraid, numb, submissive.
We can’t do that. We can’t be afraid. We have to pay attention and voice opposition where we are opposed. No, this is not alright. I stand in opposition. We have to say that, even if it seems as if it doesn’t matter.
The new era has begun, and we must observe what happens. I said after the election in November, and I feel the same now, that it is time to pay attention to our lives, not to let our lives be overcome with the confusion of the moment. We need to take care of ourselves, have some happiness, keep our feet on the ground.
And we have to pay attention, speak up and act where we can. We can’t go numb. We can’t hide in the transcendent. When something happens, it happens. To regret, blame, be confused or afraid is a luxury we can never afford. What is is. Any goodness, has to be built on the ground of what is the case, not on what might have or should have been the case.
No one can know how things turn out, the course of human events is a very twisting path. When conditions are bad, and there’s nothing to be done, you endure. When there is something to be done, you do it. Sometimes you do something just because you can’t stand not to.
The classical Chinese theorist of war, Hsun Tzu, said that the most effective way to defeat a strong enemy is not to engage in direct confrontation, but, rather, to strengthen yourself, pay attention, and wait for the moment when your enemy becomes weak, due to his own conduct and the passage of time.
In the long run, this is a good path.
So far we have done a good job of encouraging one another in these difficult times. And I am sure we will continue to do this. Practice helps. So thanks, as always, for being here.