Rush -- a Buddhist perspective

[vlyons]

I ask myself now that Rush has died, what is an enlightened way to view his legacy? The answer that I get is to see him in much the same way that I view Trump -- as a master class in ethical morality. That is, as a person completely lacking in the virtues of ethical morality. That is, as an example of how not to be in body, speech, and mind. It's an ugly lesson. Difficult to look on Rush and still maintain a calm abiding mind, because his speech was especially ugly and without merit.

Harsh, angry language that inflames hatred and anger in others is especially non-virtuous. Divisive language that sets people against each other is also non-virtuous. We Buddhists believe that the only thing that we take with us when we die, is our mind. And wherever Rush lands in his next life, his angry contemptuous mind is what he will have as the mental formations that he takes with him.

The master lesson for me is not to follow his ugly example. Anger and hatred is what Hell is all about. If there is a god, do you think he will let an angry foul-mouthed person, who spews angry hateful divisive words, and disturb the peace of mind of those in heaven, and generally stinks up the place? I don't think so.

I ask my special spiritual friend to help me see what he sees. And he answers, see those with angry speech as an opportunity to value and practice self-discipline over my own speech.

[PatSeg]

1. Excellent perspective

[Dorian Gray]

2. That's an amazing way to look at it

and I hope for the discipline to do so myself.

[Zoonart]

3. Had this precise discussion today with a drama buddy of mine.

The most unlikely people can be our greatest teachers.

[vlyons]

6. Take everything into the path

BTW: I don't hate Rush.

[Zoonart]

7. I meant to say Darma buddy....

but you know our old friend auto correct.

[Turbineguy]

4. Sort of like

how many learned how not to raise kids from their parents.

[Deuxcents]

5. Thank you

[OAITW r.2.0]

8. In his last cogent moments, I wonder if Rush was wishing for a "do over"?

[lunatica]

13. Maybe he wanted one about a minute after dying

A doozy of an oops! moment.

[sanatanadharma]

9. ethical morality majority

we all are mortal
ethical morality
shows those not moral

[bronxiteforever]

10. K&R This is really thoughtful and helpful. Thank you n/t

[safeinOhio]

11. Taoism explains

the mutual interdependence of polar opposites. There would be no good without bad to define it. Two sides of the same coin.

[Doreen]

12. He is going to have some hard learning in his next life.

We can hope he becomes enlightened in his next life but he may have many ahead of him to get it.

As someone who follows Buddhist teachings I only wish him well on his continuing lessons.

[vlyons]

26. I'm sure that I have many lifetimes before I'm completely and perfectly enlightened too.

I guess the most compassionate thing that I can wish for Rush is the very good fortune to meet an authentic wise teacher, who will inspire him to practice loving kindness and ethical self-discipline over his thoughts, words, and deeds. For those of us on the Boddhisattva path, it doesn't matter how many eons of lifetimes it takes to get there.

[Tommymac]

14. I respect your point of view.

But I respectfully reject it.

Not on spiritual grounds - though I am an agnostic/atheist depending on your viewpoint.

But on practical grounds too. Turning the other cheek all the time results in severe neck pain and perhaps a weakening of the upper spine.

[vlyons]

27. I haven't turned the other cheek.

I just see that Rush was an ignorant, delusional man, who spent a lifetime cultivating anger and hatred, which brought no happiness or joy to anyone. The more he cultivated and practiced hate speech, the more it became an unmindful bad habit. He probably gloried in it. I first heard Rush back in the 1980s, when driving long distance, I heard him on the car radio doing a screed about Femma-Nazis. Yikes! I turned off the radio.

There is a place for righteous anger about injustice. But righteous anger calls for us to use the energy of anger to work to correct and make better the injustice. Justice is a very old virtue. Even Aristotle wrote about justice as a virtue.

I learned a long time ago that I cannot control anyone. I can only control myself, at which I have many failures, but keep plunking away at rising above anger.

[Delphinus]

15. I like this.

Thank you for sharing.

[DesertRat]

16. Thank you for posting. k&r

[BeerBarrelPolka]

17. Interesting

It's interesting to me to read other's perspective on things in a polite, articulate way.

[BobTheSubgenius]

18. A very nice perspective, but probably much easier said than done.

Especially for those of us so far from enlightenment.

[blue sky at night]

19. Buddhism

as a philosophy has many advantages over other ways of thinking...I have always admired Buddhists, wish I had the discipline they exhibit. Our Friends son married a wonderful Buddhist Woman with Laotian Parents, it was the best Wedding I ever attended, no stress what so ever and FUN! I was the Photographer.

[Harker]

20. Viewing difficult people as treasure troves has proven

one of the more challenging aspects of Buddhism.

To the extent I'm capable, it's very rewarding.

Rush Limbaugh, unlike a mildly annoying acquaintance, is especially difficult. The unnecessary suffering he has caused is without obvious merit.

[DIVINEprividence]

21. Buddha made clear Trump types go to hell

The Buddha clearly taught a system of rebirth and cosmic karma punishment. Trump has violated every aspect of the dharma and caused tremendous dukkha. Although the Buddhist version of hell is “impermanent”, it still lasts for a long, long, long time

[judesedit]

22. As Rush has nothing but eternity to play over and over in his mind

the ugly, hurtful, most ignorant, yet dangerous things he has repeated over and over through the years, it will begin to eat at him. He will begin to realize his whole life was spent hating almost everyone. That will be his eternal hell. His memories of himself. It is going to be very, very hard for him to redeem himself. It will take a long, long time and may never happen. Instead of using his ability to reach millions to spread love, acceptance, forgiveness, and understanding, he totally blew it. May God have mercy on his soul.

[NBachers]

23. I feel sorry for the citizens of Hell who have to deal with Rush Limbaugh for the rest of eternity.

[Warpy]

24. Buddhists would point to the example of Ashoka

who was an incredibly vicious emperor who conquered and ruled much of the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BCE. He was ruthless, bloody, and enjoyed torture for torture's sake. After a particularly vicious campaign that turned even his stomach, he converted to Buddhism and is remembered as Ashoka the Great, codifying a legal system and becoming a very progressive ruler for his time and place.

Rush, apparently, lacked the capacity to recognize his own errors, even though he lived a very long life and had plenty of time to do so. His final broadcast was 15 days ago and nothing had changed.

I'm convinced that some people live to give the rest of us great examples of what not to do and how not to live.

I can't say I'm wasting much compassion on Rush, but I also realize I'd rather see him than be him, even with all his monetary wealth and fame. I suppose compassion has to start somewhere, and that's where it starts--and mostly ends--for me.

[vlyons]

28. I don't hate Rush, but I don't love him either.

I want to feel compassion for him, but it just ain't coming. Such an evil hurtful man is yet another reminder to tell myself: "Welcome to samsara. Did you forget that you are in samsara?" Seeing him with the discriminating awareness about the harm that he created seems like a very good start to me.

[Poiuyt]

25. I wish I weren't so flawed

I shouldn't be so elated at a human's death.

[bedazzled]

29. if karma must be balanced, and i think it does ..

i wouldn't want to be him. or trump, either. it is difficult to not hate, i will admit, but i try. that is the important part, i guess.

thank you for the unusually kind attitude.

[JudyM]

30. Yes, and also it is a stark lesson in the importance of Right Speech.

Last edited Thu Feb 18, 2021, 11:44 AM - Edit history (1)

How much destruction and suffering he has caused through the negative power of his tirades... He influenced people through various psychological mechanisms to think and even live differently, including alienating them from their own hearts and those of their loved ones. And then in the larger scheme of things, of course, how it snowballed into broader, hurtful culture change that has had a cumulative devastating impact on so many.

Thanks for this post. It is helpful to reflect in a less jubilant way, which was my reflex at hearing the news... Right Effort...