The message I shared in this Buddhist community is true, factual, & timely. Reading & discussing suttas is a Buddhist practice, including outside temples. I’m an anāgāmi & bodhisattva - please don’t assume this isn’t the case, and please don’t hate me for declaring this.

By ‘refuge in Saṅgha’, I mean āryasaṅgha - those who have attained full enlightenment or at least the first stage of enlightenment.

What basis are you saying I should go to azbuddhisttemple.org for help?

The tone is dismissive, though I’ll try giving sincere responses and address what you’re saying.

In Buddhism, we take refuge in the Triple Gem. That is, the Buddha, Dharma, & Saṅgha. It can be said the Triple Gem already functions as police - the Buddha is the chief, Dharma the law, Saṅgha those who uphold the law under the Buddha. The police already have been called by others during past assaults. They saw no issue when my apartment was broken into and I was assaulted, and contributed to the attacks themselves. I don’t view them as protectors, and it’s an affront being recommended to. I’m satisfied with refuge under the Triple Gem. I’ve just finished reading the Mahāvagga yesterday, and was surprised how much of the information directly addressed & aided my present context. I can pray to Avalokiteshvara whenever, which the Lotus Sūtra explains as ample protection.

People have been helping me on Lemmy. Even just small moral support can be like the small handhold needed to complete a rock climb. I think there’s an aversion to generosity that can be toxic, and gets encouraged by non-Buddhist traditions. Karma guarantees that generous intentions give merit to the giver that will return pleasant results (in the present and/or future). It’s more guaranteed than even money. May this view help in understanding how e.g. requesting & giving alms can be wholesome/skillful.

Pity isn’t inherently wrong. The word ‘pity’ is rooted in ‘piety’, with senses like ‘dutiful’, ‘holy’ ‘conscientious’, & ‘love’. I wrote the line “Piatus religious” in a recent poem, which alludes to this etymology. I put a lot of sincere contemplation into my writing; if anyone doubts this, I’m willing to explain a word or line in a poem.

I think some of what you’re saying is also over-ly totalistic - framing things as an all-or-nothing extremes, when the truth isn’t so.

I expect this to be unbeneficial.

I’m currently being gaslit & threatened, and forced to beg for help trying to migrate elsewhere. There isn’t any place where sleeping is allowed, and I’m being targeted with genocide.

I live in the Phoenix area, Arizona, United States. I’m unsure what form of aid I can currently offer that would be tolerated and wouldn’t be too forced, so it seems more appropriate to directly beg.