Day: August 11, 2011
An Organizer of the Lobster Liberation Event Writes In
Tsultrim_D in response to my post Iāll Take Responsibility writes-
Thanks for this noteā¦
As one of the organizers of the Lobster Liberation event, I will say that, from our side, there is no anger or frustration at the lobstermen involved, be it a joke or even had it been real. Bluntly, they are doing their jobācatching lobstersāand we are doing ours. It is not our place to tell them how to do theirs or to place any judgment on them.
Buddhists have beliefs about hunting as a profession, and those tie in to beliefs about karma and the like, but none of those are matters of judgment. We all do the best with what we are given. And while the joke may have been a bit crass and at our expense, there are no hard feelings. There has been a lot of feedback, from Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, calling the lobstermen involved names and expressing negative emotions toward them. This really is of no benefit, though, and we are sorry it has happened. Buddhist language might refer to them as acting out of ignorance or self-cherishing, but this also isnāt an insultā¦ as humans we spend the predominant amount of our time acting from these things. We are feeling unhappy so we go out and buy a new car, some new clothes, a piece of cakeāāThis will make me happy!ā Well, sure, it does, for a whileā¦. but not ultimately, not real happiness. That deluded belief, that is ignorance. It is a statement about the human condition, not a judgment.
As you mentioned, the article about our lobster liberation had been picked up by a number of news agenciesā¦ Reuters, who came with us on the boat, Washington Post, Daily Mail UK, NPR, MS-NBC, and so forthā¦ but now the event is getting even more exposure. Two different news stations came to our Center today to do interviews with some of the people involved in organizing and leading the event (NECN and WBZ-TV). This is wonderful, and I rejoice!
The long story short is, we are all doing the best we can do. Whether in good taste or not, there is no offense on our part from the joke the Degelyse crew members and others put out there with the YouTube video. We urge everyone to maintain hearts of compassion and love, and not harbor any ill will toward each other. Anger and similar negative minds are destructive, and donāt ever accomplish anything substantial or lasting. We offered the ceremony last week not just for the benefit of the lobsters involved, but also for the benefit of all beings. There is always a ripple effect to our actions, and when the intention is pure and good, small actions of putting kindness and love out into the world affect more than just those immediately involved. We want everyone to realize happiness, true, unending happinessā¦ the lobsters and the lobstermen!
Thank you for your kindness and humility. I hope that those involved from your side do not get demonized or any more abuse in the press. In fact, next time weāre in Gloucester we would love to take the crew out for a cup of coffee!
Classy baby! Iād love to take you up on that offer for a cup āo joe.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Magnolia Harbor from Thom Falzarano
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
National Fisherman Archives Now Open- from Adam Bolonsky
National Fisherman, the commercial fishing industry magazine, recently opened up its historical archives of east and west coast commercial boats.
Here’s two. One shows the first of the Novi lobster boats built in Plymouth, Ma. at the tiny boatshop on Union Street. Novi boats have long been a commonplace on the Gloucester waterfront.
The seconds shows an impressive wreck on the shores of what I think is Ten Pound Island, at the entrance to the inner harbor.
The Coast Guard kept an air station at Ten Pound.
Sadly, the island’s a mess: thickets of poison ivy, crumbled walls and staghorn sumac that do a very good job of keeping vandals away from the lighthouse and foghorn.
Good Morning Gloucester 