article from 17.01.2021:

This week I was particularly concerned with the many reports about the children and young people in schools. The so-called "distance teaching" (or: homeschooling) is currently replacing face-to-face teaching in many countries. Unfortunately, at least in Germany, the summer months were apparently not necessarily used to prepare viable concepts, although the cold season and the increase in the number of infections in closed rooms were foreseeable.

With all reports about overloaded servers, missing or outdated equipment at the students and schools, poor internet connections, tasks put together without ideas, technically overwhelmed teachers and hours of idling at home, because the tasks are often completed in a much shorter time than with a normal timetable, I wonder how this young generation is going to find meaning in their lives?

Apparently the usual daily rhythm in the industrialized countries gets completely mixed up in a lot of people, they only sleep irregularly and eat too much, exercise is neglected, boredom spreads and countless hours are spent on the Internet and with console games. Since the prospects for the next few weeks are not really rosy, little will change without a RE-THINK.

Couldn't one even teach the students a "different way of thinking"? Stimulate their creativity? Let them think completely different thoughts?

There are so many things they could do:

-Write at least one letter to relatives every week (grandma and grandpa would certainly be very happy about something like this; this also trains motor skills and spelling as well as grammar and encourages the children to think about what they could tell)

-Search for poems or pictures on the Internet that they like, translate poems into other languages, describe pictures and then introduce them to their classmates

- make up their own poems or paint pictures that reflect their own thoughts and wishes

-Look for videos about activities (yoga, dumbbell training, workouts, walking in the living room or similar) or hobbies on the Internet and present them to the respective class or record their own ideas with the mobile phone camera and then present them

-Build up an exchange with students of the same age in other countries and join lessons on the various dialogue platforms

etc....

I think the generation urgently needs a wake-up call, so that they don't have to feel powerless, that they might have dreams and that they should keep thinking about which path their own life should take.

And one must not forget that children and young people in industrialized countries are still comparatively "good" off. I read a message from Unicef ​​on the Internet that since December 2020 around 320 million children worldwide have no longer been going to class, and for 90 million of them that means at the same time NOT learning ANYTHING at all - neither via worksheets nor online. For them, educational inequality and poverty are inevitable. They will be the real losers of the pandemic, as they are already suffering from hardship on a daily basis and remain "trapped" in these conditions due to a lack of everyday supplies and a lack of education. How are these children supposed to develop a perspective?

What is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for if it is ignored by leading politicians???

In this respect, politics and schools worldwide still have to learn and change a great deal in my opinion in order not to bring up a frustrated, fatalistic and insecure generation. For the post-corona period, a more conscious generation is worldwide urgently needed that strives for improvements. If the concepts have to be reconsidered anyway, politics and schools can finally think about how they can convey inspiration and hope to the younger generation and thus contribute to a higher quality of life.

article from 04.01.2021:

At the beginning of the new year I thought about what I would like for myself and in general for 2021. Of course, keywords like peace, confidence, mindfulness or friendliness come to mind. But I find one word particularly beautiful - and that is HOPE!

The new issue of the Forum (= SGI-D magazine) is entitled "Hope is a decision!" In various articles it is examined how and by what means hope arises. Actually, it always arises through DOING / ACTING.

In the articles various well-known people such as Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi or Greta Thunberg are named, who in my view differ from many people in one very decisive point: they not only talked, but also showed through their actions in small steps that an individual can set something in motion even if, like Nelson Mandela, it took 27 years to get out of jail and make a change. Or when you consider what Greta triggered with her school strike three years ago, I also find her example very impressive and encouraging.

When I try to protect the environment more or to be more careful in dealing with other people, I also develop the hope of making a small contribution to a better world and not being completely at the mercy of any politicians doing nothing. Of course, it is clear to me that for a "big" change of direction many people would have to change their minds, but I trust that even small actions can be "contagious".

The current pandemic gives us a good opportunity to question our values ​​and initiate a change. If "hope" were as contagious as Corona, we would be a long way ahead by the end of 2021 😊

article from 12.12.2020:

An article in my local newspaper from wednesday was subtitled "Heroes are left behind". A study from the Bertelsmann-foundation has found out, that many single parents and women, who work in sectors such as hotels, restaurants oder services will be left behind in the development of the average income in the next few years. This will especially affect carers and sellers, who are actually in Corona-times praised as "indispensable".

But only nice words will not help these people - I think, they wish recognition in form of fair payment.

According to Nettolohn.de the average income of carers amounts to 2.200 to 2.300 € per month (or nearly 27.000 € per year).

On the other hand the top-managers of VW or Daimler Benz earn "only" between 8,5 Mio. € and 12 Mio. € per year, after their income was capped (Handelsblatt.com - 12.3.19/ Gruenderszene.de - 24.2.20).

If you compare these values, you realize, that a nurse has to work for 370 (!) years to reach the income of such a manager in 1 (!) year. (And the income of managers in the USA should even be much higher than in Germany. So there are even more drastic constellations.)

And if you consider, that these managers are tricking environmental standards and are not contributing what is necessary to climate change, I can´t understand, that this behaviour is rewarded with such amounts.

People, who have brilliant ideas, explore something revolutionary or do something good in another way, should like to receive "good money". And I think, it´s an utopia, that people will live in equal circumstances, earn nearly the same money or are equally happy. There will always be differences; but for me the question arises how to deal with the differences.

In that regard, I would like more of the mentality of Bhutan. In this country "happiness" was declared as a national goal. Happiness means the unit between faith, culture and population in harmony with nature. And "Gross national happiness" is understood as the development and the interaction of material well-being and spiritual needs (www.bhutan-horizonte.de).

An envy debate, that "those up there have so much", wouldn´t surely lead to any change, because the dividing is emphasized. But it might be an approach, if everybody considers and thinks about his own position, what he can do good for a better life or a better society. According to the principle "property obliges" wealth and power mean to me "responsibility", to handle this wealth or power wisely. And somebody, who ist very rich or powerful, has more responsibility! One question, everybody should ask himself at the end of every day, should be: "HAVE I LIVED UP TO MY RESPONSIBILITY?"

Against the background of an aging society and a rapidly changing working environment, we will not get around to ask such questions, to pay adeaquate salaries to low-income groups to maintain social peace and to participate rich people and companies in the compensation through taxes.

But for such changes the consciousness must change! Sometimes I think, I would have to shake some people awake and ask them, HOW they can live so ignorantly. Only because there are some positive examples, that rich people take responsibility, support good projects or initiate change, I don´t want to give up hope. And with every person, who changes for the better, the people around may be encouraged, to follow this example, so that the world is gradually becoming a better place...

article from 18.11.2020:

Today I want to write about a bizarre state. In the local newspaper "Neue Westälische" from 2020-11-17 was a very small article with the title "Global warming demands more and more victims". In the last decade more than 410.000 people died because of climate catastrophes and 1,7 milliard people suffered from flooding, hurricans, Landsleute or heatwaves. They lost their possession or their job or had to flee. According to the Red Cross we could be able to help the population in 50 third-world countries, if we spent 42 milliard Euro.

The article hat a size of 5 x 16 cm. The main part of the newspaper in includes 12 pages with a size of about 32 x 48 cm.

Percentage this small article has a share of 0,43 %!

I think, there is something wrong in the world, if nearly 2 milliard people suffer from the lifestyle of the industrialized nations and it's not worth to us more than 0,43 % of our news.

In the newspaper from 2020-11-18 was a similar article with a size of 9 x 5 cm with the title "hurricane rages in central america". Two weeks ago there was a devastating hurricane called "Eta" and now 2 million people have to experience the even stronger hurricane "Iota". This very sad news has only a share of 0,24 %!

Shurely Corona isn't very "pleasant", but illness like cancer or catastrophes like war and escape aren't it neither.

I wish the heads of state and politicians would have a look at "the big picture" and see Corona in a relation to other incidents and problems. There is not only Corona and we will not save every life from this disease. We also have to search for the causes of the problems in the world and have to distribute the wealth in a different way.

It's a pity that there is no medicine, that causes "more humanity" :(

article from 08.11.2020:

Now one week of "lock down light" is nearly over and I wish, that the people will learn in these hard times, that there is something, which is existential to mankind and will always be: SOLIDARITY!

According to the dictionary this value means the "unconditional togetherness due to similar views and aims".

If we want to live on this planet we should take care, that it stays livable (or that it becomes livable in some parts of the world). At this time you almost read, hear or talk in Europe about Covid 19 or the election in the USA. Surely Covid is very threatening - it destroys proximity between people, to avoid infection, it can be harmless or fatal and it is threatening many existences.

But in the privileged world as in Europe we often forget, what other kinds of desasters are also in the world (like earthquake, monsoon, drought or illegal slash and burn). These desasters are threatening many millions of people, who have no chance, to get help from any utility program, because they are no consuments and so they are of no interest for example for companies in Europe.

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE SOLIDARITY?

I think it is shameful to read an article last week in a newspaper with the title "profit jump with weapons". A german company has reached a turnover about 200 Mio. € and the profit increases to 13 Mio. €. Amongst other things this profit was generated by the waiver of the workforce for the salary for 2,5 hours per week. Is that a notice, which should make us happy, because it´s going upwards with the economy?

I´m sure that you can destroy many things with weapons in the value of 200 Mio. €. And later on you can send experts for reconstruction and make money with building houses and streets and supply systems. But I refuse to accept this as an meaningful economic policy!

Only because someone has the luck to live in good circumstances, he should NEVER lose sight of "the big picture". How fast it could take revenge, if perhaps even more people in India gets Covid 19 and die, when our medicine or the ingredients are produced in this country? There is no "island of the blessed", on which one can live happy alone independent from other countries.

If we consider us as human beings in the first line and LIVE solidarity it would improve the situation for all human beings. For me this would be a "good company"!

article from 03.11.2020:

After creating the website I think about how to go on and if I ́m aloud to ask these questions. You could tell me, that I have no experience with real need and that I shouldn ́t write about poor and people. Fortunately that ́s right, but just because of this fact I personally take this as an obligation to be conscious of this priviledge and handle it carefully.

If I read or see reports about crises or the poverty in other countries I admire the population for theircourage to master their situation. I don ́t know, if I would despair (I hope so not, but I won ́t make a try.) And I have the same thoughts while hearing reports about the fight of many people against terror and oppression. It takes a lot of courage and trust in oneself and believe in good values to risk one ́s life. But I know I haven ́t to be ashamed because I was born and grew up in Germany. I did nothing to deserve this and other people in bad conditions likewise. It ́s neither a reward nor a punishment.

I grew up with catholic religion and I was told to care for others before I think about my own wishes. Someday I ended in a complete depression. I was not able to feel good or to enjoy something, because I knew there would be always people who were suffering. When I got into contact with buddhism I learned to care for myself, because if I have no power I couldn ́t give something to other people in good conscience. In addition to donate money for humanitarian purposes I try to give in form of encouragement for other people in my surroundings orat work. I think that ́s the meaning “to fulfill one ́s task at one ́s place”.

I know that I can ́t save the world and often I can only pray for suffering people in the world, but when I started to do what is possible I stopped feeling resigned. I don ́t longer expect superhuman orimpossible things from myself. I think, nobody in a war zone expect me to give everything away, because this won ́t help him. And often the people in the reports show a inner power to master their situation that I can even take them as an idol.

If everybody starts such little beginnings, it would change the world. It ́s like throwing a stone in a sea. The circle are expanding.

Once I read a saying: For the victory of evil it ́s enough that the good people do nothing!I would be very pleased, if every day some of the people would think about what they can do to make the world a little bit a better place. So first everybody enlarges his own inner wealth and then he contributes to the wealth of other people.

article from 01.11.2020:

I find it amazing and liberating to get rid of my thoughts, even if no one else would read this.I like the idea, that someone could read this, has similar thoughts or get ́s courage to behave in another way in his microcosm for the future...

The things I write about buddhism are based upon the buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. There are different kinds of buddhism, but I only know this one.In this buddhism I like it very much, that his aim is the luck of all people in this life.

You don ́t have to be reincarnated for several times to get blessed in any future or another life. No – you can decide in every moment, that you make the best of it NOW and find deep luck, which is independent from the surrounding.

In this context I want to explain the term of “kosen rufu” in the title of my blog.

It ́s a part of the 23. chapter of the Lotos-Sutra and describes a philosophy of appreciation and the wish to bring all people into contact with their own Buddha-nature. Because the historical Buddha was a human being everybody is a Buddha himself inside. It doesn ́t depend on a special religion or nationality. In the first line all people should be human beings who care about humanity.

One of the principles of this buddhism is “dialogue”. I think it ́s an important attempt and I learned in the last 15 months, that I act different, if I take this to the basis of my behavior and thoughts.

Certainly there are people I don ́t like so much. But they all started as little sweet babies! Sometimes I think: what ́s going wrong on their way from birth to now?

But if I treat the person with respect, I often get surprising results – a greeting or a smile, even though there are worlds between us. Perhaps they experienced so many negative things, that they think, they are underdogs or have no perspectives and so they act in a bad an destroying way.

The question for me is: if we belong to the privileged people – shouldn ́t we accept some tax to help needy people? Many people are afraid of radicalism and the splitting of the community. Doesn ́t it make sense, to change the thinking? What about being rich, if I always have to be afraid, that these people could take their “right” with violence? I would prefer to share values and live little less rich but satisfied!

That could also be an approach for the crises in the world. Can I take amiss to the refugees, that they won ́t live with bombs and terror, that they want a flat over their head, a bed for the night and some food for the next day?I ́m convinced that the resources exist, if they are distributed in another way.

Some nations spend so much money for weapons, airplanes, tanks or rockets... Wouldn ́t it make more sense to put this millions and millions in humanitarian projects?

Everybody who tries to get rid of taxes or redistribution should spend three days in a refugee-camp on Lesbos in november instead of flying for a shopping-trip to London or Paris (on top of that with a 19-€-ticket without any thought about CO2 and the climate)