I love Donald Trump.
There, I said it.
I love The Donald.
I love his presidential candidacy. And I love his supporters.
Does my love make you angry?
Are you thinking, “How the f**k can a Zen teacher possibly love Donald Trump?!?”
If so, then please keep reading. This article (and the free guided meditation at the end) are perfect for you.
No, I’m Not Joking
If you think I’m somehow joking about loving Trump, then you’re going to be disappointed.
I’m not joking. I do actually love him.
The more he opens his bigoted, hate-filled mouth, the more love I send.
Early this morning, I sat on my meditation cushion and sent loving kindness toward Donald Trump using an ancient Zen technique called Metta.
I did the same thing yesterday.
It looks like I’ll probably be doing it again tomorrow.
Why Loving Kindness is the Answer
Trump’s candidacy is running on a platform of hatred, mistrust, fear, and anger.
Do you stand against those things?
If so – and I’m assuming that you do if you’ve read this far – then it is critical that you do not become that which you stand against.
If you respond with hatred, then hatred wins.
And when hatred wins, Trump wins.
Your outrage against Trump’s bigotry is 100% justified, but your hatred is not.
This might be a good time for a quote from a little green Zen master:
What Trump is Teaching Me about Zen
Listening to Trump makes me want to scream.
Not very Zen, I know. Perhaps you can relate?
I know that anger and hatred are not the solution. And yet, I know that I have to do SOMETHING.
This quote comes to mind:
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” – Albert Einstein
Thanks to Trump, I’m learning that there is something I can do — something important, something that will not only have a positive effect on the world, but also on me.
Here’s what Lao Tzu said 2500 years ago:
“If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.” – Lao Tzu
You want to awaken all of humanity, right?
I bet you want to wake up Trump supporters, shaking them until they come to their senses.
It won’t work. It never works.
If you want to awaken them, if you want to show them that hatred is not the answer, then start with yourself.
Why I’m Taking a Stance
Let me back up a bit.
Let me explain why I’m taking a stance on this issue:
Because my wife is brown. She was born in Venezuela, she is beautiful, and she is brown. Trump didn’t specifically say anything about Venezuelans, but he might as well have insulted all Latin Americans for all the bigoted comments he made about Mexicans.
Because I want to stand in solidarity with my Mexican friends and students. I’ve been to Mexico, and I love my friends and students there. I want them to know that I don’t agree with what Trump has said about Mexicans.
Because I want to stand in solidarity with my Muslim friends and students. Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric is dangerous, and unacceptable, and I want that to be clear to everyone. Below is a picture of me and my wife at a Muslim wedding a year ago. If I’m slightly scared to post a picture from a Muslim wedding, what must it be like for all my Muslim-American friends?
Because of what a middle-eastern Jewish Rabbi once said. He said that we should love our enemies, that we should bless those who curse us, and that we should do good to them that hate us. I think those are pretty wise words. [Matthew 5:44.]
Because of what an Indian monk said 2500 years ago. He said that hatred does not cease through hatred, that hatred only ceases through love. [Verse 5 of the Dhammapada.] He also gave us a technique for practicing this, which I’ll share with you below!
Because…science! Meditation can change the world. Here’s some proof.
What Happens if We Don’t Take a Stance
They say that those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it.
Well folks, we are watching history repeat itself. It’s happening right now.
Normally, I cringe whenever someone compares a politician to Hitler. It’s usually just hyperbole.
Trump’s comments, however, rightfully deserve to be compared to Nazi Germany. And to McCarthyism. And the Jim Crow laws. And to the unconstitutional internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.
Recently, Trump called to have a special database to identify Muslims in America.
And then the other day, Trump called to block all Muslims from entering America.
It’s tempting to dismiss Trump.
And yet, he is the leading candidate for a major political party, running for the highest office of the most powerful country in the world.
Resist the strong temptation to dismiss him and his supporters.
Do something.
What You Can Do
Below is an audio file with a 10-minute guided meditation that you can practice right now.
There are no gimmicks here. You don’t need to buy anything. You don’t even need to give me your email.
The audio is free.
I give it to you in the sincere hope that you will actually practice it.
Remember – it takes practice to be a master of loving kindness.
If you practice this meditation, and find it difficult – congratulations! You are human!
It is sure to be uncomfortable and awkward for you to practice loving kindness toward Trump and his followers.
But you know what? You are already uncomfortable! Every time you read about Trump in the news, you cringe. Right?
The discomfort that you experience during Loving Kindness Meditation is no worse than what you feel when reading the news.
And it gets easier. The more you practice, the easier it gets.
Loving Kindness Guided Meditation (10 Minutes)
To save this audio file to your computer for future use, just right-click here and then choose “save as”.
Best regards, Sifu Anthony
I’m Anthony Korahais, and I used qigong (pronounced "chee gung") to heal from clinical depression, low back pain, anxiety, and chronic fatigue. Today, I'm the director of Flowing Zen, an international organization with students in 48 counties. I've been teaching qigong since 2005, I've served on the board for the National Qigong Association, and I’ve helped thousands of people to use qigong for their own stubborn health challenges. If you're ready to get started with qigong, there's no better way than my best selling book, which comes with free videos and meditations. The sooner you read my book, the sooner you can start healing! Click here to see my book on Amazon.
Way to get my attention, Anthony! I have been doing a daily meditation for the high school student in South Carolina who was brutalized by her school’s ‘security’ officer a couple of months ago and I have been deeply grateful for the way this has also transformed me. It is such a great teaching to remind us to love not just the people we identify with, but those we fear as well. Thank you.
Glad to hear I got your attention, and I’m also glad to hear that you’re helping someone with this technique. I really believe that it can change the world. Really!
This is so beautifully articulated and so deeply true. Thank you.
THANK YOU, Sifu! Yesterday afternoon, just a few hours after you posted this email but before I saw it, I was sitting with 2 of my dearest friends, commiserating about our deep concerns regarding Trump and our country. You know I forwarded your message to them immediately! I am so grateful for your spirit, generosity, and presence in the world. Anne Young
Sifu, thank you for the reminder! I will try the meditation later today. ?
Well-done, Sifu Anthony! Thank you!!!
Trump is not racist or biggot. He sees things as they are and not in PC loony lefty way. You should listen to people as Waffa Sultan or Walid Shoebat, ex-muslims who know better than us. Islam is and always was all about hatred, suffering, fanatism, terrorism, genocide, raping, torturing, enslaving. Try to visit websites such as The Religion of Peace or Jihad Watch. You love muslims. They hate your guts and will kill you as soon as they can. You are thinking in mirror. They are not as you think they are. Every day they kill, torture, rape, tousands of inoccent people. They don’t give a damn about your love. There are not such thing as moderate muslims. Moderate muslims show jihadists where «infidels» hide. Open you eyes!
Hi Alex.
I have to disagree. Trump’s statements are bigoted. I don’t think you have a strong argument against this. When you look at his words, they clearly meet the definition of “bigotry”.
I also disagree that Muslims hate my guts. Did you see the picture of me and my wife at a Muslim wedding? Those people don’t hate my guts.
And even if some of them do hate my guts — I still love them. That’s how I choose to respond to hatred.
P.S. – Sorry if my previous comment was harsh. I don’t hate muslims, or anybody else. But I’m aware that muslims hate non muslims. Not all muslms are like that, but almost all of them are. I study Islam as you study Martial Arts, for a long time and in depth. P.P.S. – I uinterstand you cannot publish comments as this and the previous one, or you’d be in danger. That shows what Islam is.If you have the time, try to visit this website: https://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/
You will change your views.
Alex, that website will not change my views. I still do not agree with you that, as you say, “most” Muslims hate non-Muslims.
Muslims account for 23% of the world population. To say “most” of them hate non-Muslims is a strong statement with a weak argument behind it.
And again, even if you were right that they hate me (I don’t think you are), I still choose to love them. I still choose to practice loving kindness. I will not respond to hatred with hatred.
Thank you
Thank you. A bit challenging to do but good for the soul.
Hmmm…. food for thought…
Greetings Sify Anthony,
I came across your website recently and your opinions and views are desperately needed in the present day world where everyone seems to be at war with another either literally or on social media….
Just wanted to say thanks for posting the Loving-kindness meditation. I have been meditating for close to 2 years and this will be another “weapon” in the arsenal to combat hatred, divisiveness and my owns demons of anger and judgementalism.
Best wishes,
Sajeev
You’re very welcome, Sajeev. And thanks for the kind words!