Cattāri Brahmavihārā

I wanted to share my thoughts on how we might begin to take definitive action against the cruelty being perpetrated on so many but in a way that accords with the Dhamma. I struggle on a daily basis to work out my own response and attitude to so much suffering so please take the following with a huge boulder of salt. It is, like all things, subject to change and will surely be revised through contemplation and testing.

To stand as a human shield against ICE deportations is to embody fierce compassion. We prepare not with hatred—but with meditation, to still the mind and awaken our vow to protect life. We train our bodies, not to strike, but to endure—grounded and unshaken. We study martial arts, not for violence, but for control, discipline, and the ability to remain calm when fear rises.

This is the Dhamma in action. Nonviolence is not weakness. It is love with muscle.

Be a conscientious objector. Be the barrier between cruelty and the vulnerable. Prepare your heart. Train your body. Center your mind. Stand in peace.