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On May 25th of each year, is an opportunity to be reflective about those who have fallen in war, dying in the service of our country. I am humbled that someone would put their life, their hopes, dreams and body in front of a hostile force, not just to protect me, but my wife and two beautiful daughters. We call it the "Ultimate Sacrifice," because it is said that the greatest gift we have to give is our life's breath in the service to others.

It is a particularly noble sacrifice, because contrary to popular belief, the men and woman who have given their lives know that war is not glorious or to be celebrated. Those alive and decease know the fact that war is indeed "Hell on Earth." That there are people aware of this fact and still have willingly faced this Hell is astonishing and genuinely does bear some deep reflection.

On this day, as a Buddhist, I also consider the cause and reasons that these brave young men and women had to make the "Ultimate Sacrifice" in the first place. War and conflict are started because of something that goes fundamentally wrong. There is a loss of reason. A loss of recognition that we are on this life-boat called Earth and that we truly need each others humanity and support. There is some sort of insanity or delusion that surfaces, preventing the recognition is lost that life is so very precious.

It would not be a wasted moment to reflect upon the question, "How many other planets are we aware of that can sustain life as we are?" Though the probability is very high, we don't know this as a fact. And this being true, we can then consider, what personal actions can we take to reduce violence, given that having this temporary life-form is so rare and precious.

Today, the "Memorial Day Roll Call," that will result in the reading of 148,000 names, over 10 days, by more than 300 volunteers, in Riverside California, will be completed. Because the sacrifice is so great, I feel that ours must be equal to that, reflected in how we lead our lives. Are we here to make money and consume every resource in sight, or is there some better and higher purpose? I'm not just being fanciful. I really mean it with every fiber of my being.

Like it or not, we owe a debt to the brave, fallen soldiers who have given their lives. But it would seem it is a debt that can only be truly paid, by finding ways and means to take positive actions, such as extending kindness, compassion and conflict reduction, in our day-to-day lives. Trust me when I say It's the "Right Effort."

In fact if we genuinely practiced, "Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Contemplation," we'd be much better off. Our life could be very different. We just have to chose that life.

As the expression goes, "It is the butterfly wings in Bhutan that cause the hurricane somewhere else." From small actions, large change will come. We have many options. All we have to do is start using them. Once we do that, we may truly bring the intent of Memorial Day full circle and honor our fallen fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters.

Namaste'

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
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