tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post6236323331205844709..comments2023-10-22T12:12:04.100+01:00Comments on American Buddhist in England: Burma: a sadness so unbelievableBuddhist_philosopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14246929532585980356noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-48538160944518178632007-10-15T01:54:00.000+01:002007-10-15T01:54:00.000+01:00The situation in Burma seems so hopeless right now...The situation in Burma seems so hopeless right now, but there's some solace to be found in contemplating that everything in life is impermanent (anicca). And that includes the Burmese junta. <BR/><BR/>A quality that is promoted in Buddhism is khanti, or patient endurance, and the Burmese people over the past four decades have shown so much of this towards their government. Unfortunately, it looks like they will need a lot more of it in the future.<BR/><BR/>The Net is awash with Buddhists, as well as other people, searching for answers to the question, "What should we do?" Some believe that the UN, US or whoever should invade Burma just as Iraq has been. This is not a Buddhist response to the situation, however, for to take life is against the first precept of the Buddha Dhamma, and as Buddhists we need to act wisely as well as compassionately to all concerned. (Looking at the present mess in Iraq, it's not clear that similar action in Burma would be that beneficial, either.)<BR/><BR/>The admission of the Burmese businessman that if he'd not seen the way other countries do things, he would probably be a military man or an informant for the government is both honest and revealing. How many informants and soldiers would prefer not to betray their countrymen but feel there's no alternative right now? What would we do if we'd been born and brought up in Burma, and faced the same dilemmas that the Burmese struggle with an a daily basis? <BR/><BR/>The Burmese junta, the armed forces and their informants are human beings, just as much as their victims. The Metta Sutta encourages us to have metta (loving-kindness) for all beings, and that includes 'the bad guys'. Ajahn Sumedho gives a wise and compassionate response to the situation in Burma at the following link: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=70,5034,0,0,1,0<BR/><BR/>Let's hope that things improve in Burma, and that the regime listens to the world community protesting at its awful treatment of monks and laity. Moreover, let's hope for the day when the Burmese junta listens to its own people, putting their interests above its own, as the Buddha advised rulers to do in his teachings on the Ten Duties of a King (dasa-rajadhamma).<BR/><BR/>Be well,<BR/>Gary at Forest Wisdom.<BR/>http://forestwisdom.thaipulse.com/Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.com