The following talk was given at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California.

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So we come to the fifth talk on non-violence and I think most of you clearly know that

this is a maybe understated way of responding to the typical horrific violence that's happening in the Middle East.

But also in my heart, the horrific violence in Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, Burma, all over the world.

And then this last meditation I led, it might not have been maybe the most popular meditation that I've guided meditation I've given.

Maybe because many people associate Buddhist meditation with acceptance, with relaxation, with allowing, with just settling back and being no one going nowhere, nothing to do.

And I'd like to propose that that's only half the picture.

In fact, to make that the full picture of what Buddhist practice is, is to a short change oneself, is to not really step up to really live in this world in a completely free way.

The Buddha did not avoid the world after he was enlightened. He engaged in the world.

He intentionally went into places where people were back to his home, one of the first things he did was go back to his hometown and visit his people.

And so half of the practice might be considered relaxation.

The other half of practice is to awaken an energy, a capacity to act, to not be held in check by fear, not be held in check with resistance, not be held in check by diminishing ourselves,

or making ourselves some artificially little.

There's a way of letting go of self-conceit, letting go of fear, that allows us to show up more fully.

In fact, to practice mindfulness, to really be present in such a way that we're no longer limited by our fear.

There's nothing that limits us from acting wisely, well, compassionately in this world.

And Buddhist practice is about going forth, is about connecting, is about living for the welfare and happiness of everyone.

I quoted it earlier in the week, but one of the very important quotes for me in the Buddhist discourses, one that says that a wise person does not intend harm to self, to others, to self and others and to the whole world.

Rather, a wise person intends welfare for self, intends welfare for others, intends welfare for self and others, intends welfare for the whole world.

It's not just intending, but it's also showing up.

I would like to give a couple of quotes and then make what for me is a very important statement.

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