No Enemies: Maintaining Compassion in Difficult Times

No Enemies: Maintaining Compassion in Difficult Times

Steve Wilhelm
4.13.25 | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | In Person and Online

While it’s tempting at a time of political division to think of enemies, the
Buddha taught there is nobody who is inherently evil, nobody to hate.
Instead each person is a mosaic of component parts – the aggregates — all of which have causes and conditions. Through mindfulness practice this impermanent stream of causation clarifies. As we see this not-concreteness of each person, we realize we can’t hate any being, even if we disagree with actions they take. In fact we can only love each being, because at essence they’re no different from ourselves.

From this comes a freedom, and a natural goodwill toward each being, a wish that they might be free and happy.

The event will include a talk, a brief meditation, and ample time for discussion.

Steve Wilhelm has been meditating since 1968, and engaged in Buddhist practice since 1987. He has studied and practiced in the Tibetan and Vipassana traditions, including extended retreats in both, although his practice is now primarily Vipassana. Steve has facilitated Eastside Insight Meditation since 2000, and serves on the boards of the Tibetan Nuns Project and Friends of Clear Mountain Monastery. He retired in mid-2016 from a 34-year career as a journalist, currently edits Northwest Dharma News and recently completed editing a sixth dharma book. In 2017 Steve graduated from the fifth Community Dharma Leaders program, offered through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He lives just east of Woodinville, Washington, near Cottage Lake, with his wife Ellen and the bemused dog Annie, and cat Aerazele.