Health care is the political buzz word of the hour in the other Washington. I’m not sure what that concept means to all the lawmakers and lobbyists representing the big players in the current crumbling not-for-all system. I’m actually more interested in what it means to you.
Too often we are thrown off balance by the calculating competitive battle of ideas in the media, the cold black and white jargon, while forgetting to still our minds and listen to the moral purity, the basic kindness towards others that all beings possess within their hearts.
As an example, in the current war of words, the big question – that is, the question that grabs the most attention in the media is “who is going to pay” for single payor. Without dismissing the importance of answering these weighty questions, I like to approach the whole debate from a different perspective.
Of course, it is obvious, we are all going to pay. And personally, I believe that those who can afford to pay more should pay more. But coming back to health care (as a verb), instead of seeing it as a problem (the noun), why not accept that sacrifices are necessary in order to achieve the goal of universal health care? Why not see this as an opportunity to more deeply connect with the basic fact of our interdependence with every living being on the planet?
Nobody wishes to ever suffer, fall ill, live in poverty, neglect, despair, or lacking in basic phyical, emotional or spiritual needs. When we remember to reflect on these truths that unify our human experience, we are less likely to be preoccupied with self centered American dreams of getting ahead in a world of perceived scarcity. Although traditional economists view growth in materialistic terms – how much mindless stuff gets purchased in big box stores, etc. (all of which ultimately comes with a price in terms of planetary resources and carbon footprint) – I pray for a deeper economic recovery.
The real economy is based on health care – as in caring for each other and every living thing on this planet (and beyond if we want to get very Buddhist here). That’s where I invest my life currency. Yes, we each need an income in order to pay for the basics of life, but first and foremost, the purpose of our work – whatever job we do – is to serve others, in order to help them be well fed, with adequate housing, education, medical care, etc.
Keeping that in mind does wonders for cultivating peace, contentment, and stillness in one’s heart, regardless of what the Wall Street economy is doing.