A Buddhist Wish for America for Election Day — and Beyond

Writing on Election Day, Josh Bartok, abbot of the Greater Boston Zen Center, shared his community’s inspiring wish for the United States, the world, and all beings.

On this precipitous eve, my Zen community is going to be doing a special liturgical ceremony—basically, chanting our butts off. Most importantly, though, after the chanting, we’ll be giving away the “merit” of our practice—the power for good—with the special dedication you’ll find here, below.

I invite everyone to join us in similarly dedicating the fruits of your own practice, your own bodhisattva hearts, and your own love and care for the world. As we in the U.S. cast our votes, and after, may we act in the service of all beings, and without hatred in our hearts. —Josh Bartok

Buddha-nature pervades the whole universe existing right here, now. Whenever these devoted invocations are sent forth they are perceived and subtly answered.

We dedicate their merits to all members of our single human family, throughout space and time.

We especially dedicate their merits to:

All those who feel fear,
All those who feel anger,
All those who feel unseen or ignored,

and all those whose spirits feel crushed.

And we particularly dedicate our service to the health and well-being of
all those who in live the United States of America,
all those who are citizens of this world,
and all those whom our lives affect.

May we together realize peace;
May we together realize harmony;
May we together realize unity;

May we together actualize wisdom;
May we together actualize kindness;
May we together actualize freedom from fear for all;

and may we realize the Buddha Way together.