Compassion and Interdependence

By Andy Yamashita | He/Him/His | Seattle, Washington | Seattle Betsuin

June 13, 2020

Anything I had planned to write about was wiped away this week.

Another month, another murder, another dead black man at the hands of institutional racism, police violence, and an oppressive system that was built to keep power in the hands of a select few.

I’m supposed to write about a moment that impacted my view or perspective on Buddhism. Yet it is by following the beliefs instilled in me through my religion and my community, that I can’t do that right now.

One of the key pillars of Buddhism taught by Rev. Bob Oshita and the rest of the staff at the Youth Advocacy Committee is interdependence. Another is compassion. Those two ideals compel me now to tell anyone who will listen that we need to support our black brothers and sisters who are fighting to prove they have a right to simply live in this country.

“It’s easy to say this isn’t our fight. It’s easy to say that as Asian Americans we have our own issues that need our focus and energy. It’s easy to do nothing.”

But as Buddhists, I think it is our responsibility to support other groups fighting oppression. Our compassion is needed by the black community now more than ever, especially because Asian American’s status as the model minority was created to keep other groups, specifically black people, down. In fact, the histories of both Asian and Black Americans are as interconnected as any, and though we’ve been pitted against each other before, we can’t be divided like that now.

Just because we don’t face the same struggles that black communities do doesn’t mean we can’t try to see the world in their shoes, understand their problems. Ohigan was once explained to me as offering a chance for us to cross over and see the world through another lens — essentially compassion. That’s what’s needed, not tweets, lengthy Instagram posts, or transparent shows of support.

“Instead, we need to do what we can to show we’re allies.”

Actions speak louder than words, so donate to groups like the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, or George Floyd’s GoFundMe. Show up at protests and show that we stand with them. Stay active in black communities when this eventually ends.

Being a Buddhist has taught me that we’re all connected, so we must show compassion to as many people as we can. Now, we have a chance to turn those practices into reality.