Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has received the highest civilian honor the U.S. Congress can bestow, despite strong protests from Beijing.
The 72-year-old Buddhist monk was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol rotunda.
In remarks to hundreds of people assembled there, he thanked Americans for their unwavering support for the Tibetan people. He said the congressional award will send a powerful message to those promoting peace, understanding and harmony.
China condemned the ceremony as a farce. In protest, it pulled out of U.S.-sponsored international talks this week on Iran's nuclear program.
In his remarks, the Dalai Lama reiterated his desire for the Tibetan people to have meaningful autonomy within China. He said he hopes the relationship between Tibet and Beijing will move beyond mistrust to one based on trust and common interests.
Before the presentation, President Bush, congressional leaders and fellow Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel paid tribute to the Dalai Lama. Mr. Bush called him a man of peace and reconciliation [well, we can at least agree on one thing!], and urged Chinese leaders to welcome the Tibetan leader to Beijing.
The Dalai Lama met privately with President Bush at the White House Tuesday. In an interview with VOA Mandarin service, the Dalai Lama said he briefed the president about the situation in Tibet and thanked him for his concern and support.
Last month, Beijing canceled annual human rights talks with Germany that were to be held in December after German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the Dalai Lama.
Congress formally approved the Congressional Gold Medal for the Dalai Lama more a year ago, in recognition of what a resolution called his many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights and religious understanding.
Showing posts with label Buddhism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buddhism. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Amnesty Int'l: ask the UN Security Council to do everything they can to avert bloodshed in Burma
"May we be free of torture, may there be peace in hearts and minds as our kindness spreads around the world."
Dear Weiwen ,
Protect the protesters
"May we be free of torture." This was the chant of pro-democracy protesters in Burma (Myanmar) this past week. Yesterday, security forces began a violent crackdown on the protests, led by 30,000 red-robed monks.
The military government's forces clubbed and tear-gassed protesters, fired shots into the air, and arrested dozens if not hundreds of monks. Several people were reportedly shot to death.
You can take action now to prevent more violence by the military government. Send a message today asking the UN Security Council to oppose this violent crackdown and do everything in their power to prevent further bloodshed.
When the people of Burma last staged mass pro-democracy protests back in 1988, the military junta murdered thousands. But history does not have to repeat itself.
Please take action today -- and ask your friends and family to do the same. Together we can act now in solidarity with the brave people of Burma.
Dear Weiwen ,
Protect the protesters
"May we be free of torture." This was the chant of pro-democracy protesters in Burma (Myanmar) this past week. Yesterday, security forces began a violent crackdown on the protests, led by 30,000 red-robed monks.
The military government's forces clubbed and tear-gassed protesters, fired shots into the air, and arrested dozens if not hundreds of monks. Several people were reportedly shot to death.
You can take action now to prevent more violence by the military government. Send a message today asking the UN Security Council to oppose this violent crackdown and do everything in their power to prevent further bloodshed.
When the people of Burma last staged mass pro-democracy protests back in 1988, the military junta murdered thousands. But history does not have to repeat itself.
Please take action today -- and ask your friends and family to do the same. Together we can act now in solidarity with the brave people of Burma.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Pray for Burma's saffron army
Monks command such respect in Burma because some 80-90% of the country's population is Buddhist, and even those who do not choose to become a "career monk" usually enter the orders for short periods of their lives, giving the monasteries a prominent role in society.
There is a monastery in every village, according to Myint Swe of the BBC Burmese service, and monks act as the spiritual leaders of that community.
They give religious guidance and perform important duties at weddings and funerals.
An elder Buddhist monk is escorted on the side of the street by a protester in a street in downtown Yangon, 26 September 2007
Burma's monks have a history of poliltical activism
In return for these duties, they are given donations by laymen. As they are forbidden from handling cash, they are completely reliant on these handouts. Each full moon day, they are also given donations such as robes.
If they refuse these handouts, they are denying the donor the potential to earn spiritual "credit" - "the strongest possible penalty that can be expected from a Buddhist", said Myint Swe.
That is why the announcement by the monks currently protesting in Burma that they would refuse all donations from the ruling military - most of whom would be Buddhist themselves - was so powerful, he said.
"The government wants the image that they are pious and helping the monks," he said.
Monastery 'holidays'
There are 400,000-500,000 professional monks in a country of about 50 million people, but many more laymen worship alongside the monks for a few weeks at a time throughout their lives in order to earn spiritual credit.
Myint Swe said he had himself entered the monasteries three times in his adult life, on each occasion for just a few weeks.
"Buddhism is very individualistic - you have to work for your own liberation," said Aung Kin, a Burmese historian.
A monastery not only provides spiritual guidance, but also fulfils a practical role in Burmese society.
Entering a monastery as a child - or novice - is a cheap way of gaining an education. Although education is free in Burma, extras such as uniforms may still prove a struggle for impoverished families.
And some parents choose to send their children during the school holidays, while they are out at work, Myint Swe said.
Those who choose to adopt Buddhism as a career often do so for financial reasons, Mr Aung Kin said, with donations collected by the monks shared with family members.
In return, however, prospective monks have to pass religious exams and agree to adhere to more than 220 restrictions.
Burmese monks not only play a spiritual role, but also have a history of political activism. They have been at the forefront of protest against unpopular authorities, from British colonial power in the 1930s to the last pro-democracy campaign in 1988.
A Young Buddhist monk looks on following devotional Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, at the Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kaveinda orphanage on the outskirts of Rangoon
Many children are sent to monasteries for a cheap education
Their political role stems from the days of the Burmese monarchy, which operated until the late 19th century, under which monks worked as intermediaries between the monarch and the public, and lobbied the king over unpopular moves such as heavy taxation, said Mr Aung Kin.
They became more confrontational during colonial times, in protest at the failure of foreigners to remove their shoes in pagodas, he said.
But the historian stressed that only about 10% of Burma's monks are politicised, and many of the monasteries may be unaware of the scale of the agitation currently under way in the country.
If fully mobilised, however, the monks would pose a major challenge to the military, and their moral position in society could embolden many more people to join the protests.
There is a monastery in every village, according to Myint Swe of the BBC Burmese service, and monks act as the spiritual leaders of that community.
They give religious guidance and perform important duties at weddings and funerals.
An elder Buddhist monk is escorted on the side of the street by a protester in a street in downtown Yangon, 26 September 2007
Burma's monks have a history of poliltical activism
In return for these duties, they are given donations by laymen. As they are forbidden from handling cash, they are completely reliant on these handouts. Each full moon day, they are also given donations such as robes.
If they refuse these handouts, they are denying the donor the potential to earn spiritual "credit" - "the strongest possible penalty that can be expected from a Buddhist", said Myint Swe.
That is why the announcement by the monks currently protesting in Burma that they would refuse all donations from the ruling military - most of whom would be Buddhist themselves - was so powerful, he said.
"The government wants the image that they are pious and helping the monks," he said.
Monastery 'holidays'
There are 400,000-500,000 professional monks in a country of about 50 million people, but many more laymen worship alongside the monks for a few weeks at a time throughout their lives in order to earn spiritual credit.
Myint Swe said he had himself entered the monasteries three times in his adult life, on each occasion for just a few weeks.
"Buddhism is very individualistic - you have to work for your own liberation," said Aung Kin, a Burmese historian.
A monastery not only provides spiritual guidance, but also fulfils a practical role in Burmese society.
Entering a monastery as a child - or novice - is a cheap way of gaining an education. Although education is free in Burma, extras such as uniforms may still prove a struggle for impoverished families.
And some parents choose to send their children during the school holidays, while they are out at work, Myint Swe said.
Those who choose to adopt Buddhism as a career often do so for financial reasons, Mr Aung Kin said, with donations collected by the monks shared with family members.
In return, however, prospective monks have to pass religious exams and agree to adhere to more than 220 restrictions.
Burmese monks not only play a spiritual role, but also have a history of political activism. They have been at the forefront of protest against unpopular authorities, from British colonial power in the 1930s to the last pro-democracy campaign in 1988.
A Young Buddhist monk looks on following devotional Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, at the Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kaveinda orphanage on the outskirts of Rangoon
Many children are sent to monasteries for a cheap education
Their political role stems from the days of the Burmese monarchy, which operated until the late 19th century, under which monks worked as intermediaries between the monarch and the public, and lobbied the king over unpopular moves such as heavy taxation, said Mr Aung Kin.
They became more confrontational during colonial times, in protest at the failure of foreigners to remove their shoes in pagodas, he said.
But the historian stressed that only about 10% of Burma's monks are politicised, and many of the monasteries may be unaware of the scale of the agitation currently under way in the country.
If fully mobilised, however, the monks would pose a major challenge to the military, and their moral position in society could embolden many more people to join the protests.
BUDDHISM
Buddhism is non-violent, non-dogmatic and meditative
Not centred on a god
Aimed at gaining insight into life's true nature
There are two schools. One of them, Theravada (S, SE Asia), focuses on freedom from craving and suffering
The other, Mahayana (NE Asia), emphasises helping others achieve that freedom
Burmese observe the Theravada school
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