Birmingham Pledge
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n 1997 the folks in Birmingham, Alabama created a pledge against prejudice that was hoped to be a grass roots effort to recognize the dignity and worth of every individual.
“• I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
• I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.
• I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
• Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
• I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
• I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.” (Birmingham Pledge)
I hope you will take a look at it and consider signing your name to this pledge.
Over 2500-3000 years ago the Buddha taught the equality of all beings. This truly came to fruition with the teaching of the Lotus Sutra where the Buddha talks about the enlightenment of women, a concept previously denied. Also taught is the belief that all living things, plants and animals included possess the potential for Buddhahood.
“My treasures are limitless. I should not give inferior, smaller carts to them. They are all my children. Therefore, I love them without partiality. I have a countless number of these large carts of the seven treasures. I gave one of these to each of my children equally. There should be no discrimination.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter III)
When the Buddha taught the Lotus Sutra he gave all beings a wonderful immeasurable gift. The seven treasures were given equally to all beings. The truth of enlightenment equal to even all the Buddhas was made available without reservation and without discrimination.
We as Buddhist should be leading the way in the practice of the elimination of prejudice.
This is not easy, for many of us will struggle with deep seated thoughts and beliefs we learned from early childhood. We may not always be as pure minded as we wish. But as with all things in Buddhism, it is the continued mindfulness of ourselves and the desire to change, this is the way we make steady progress.
“I see all living beings equally. I have no partiality for them. There is not ‘this one’ or ‘that one’ to me. I transcend love and hatred.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter V)
