I first became intrigued with Buddhism in 1978 while living on Saipan.
Disillusioned by the church experiences of my childhood and adolescence, the teachings of a man who came to realize that to be alive entails suffering, that the cause of suffering is clinging to that which will pass away, that it is possible to liberate oneself from suffering and to even liberate other beings from suffering - was a message that resonated deeply within me.
30 years of practice has done little to diminish the anger I am feeling at what is happening in Tibet. Although it has put me more in touch with a compassion that can see that the oppressor too is a victim of oppression. I do my best not to turn the military, police and political figures who are trampling the rights of a people to live free into demons and monsters.
The recent crackdown on Tibet and the labeling of the Dali Lama as an architect of destruction is an outrage that causes me great suffering, but my suffering is nothing compared to that of the Tibetan People.
I believe that the Tibetan People, and in particular, the amazing High Culture that they have developed over more than a thousand years, are a precious treasure that is in danger of being lost to political maneuverings and economic expediency.
If we allow this to occur it will be a loss of incalculable magnitude.
In a globally interconnected world where the money we earn and spend supports both wholesome and destructive practices, to sit idly by while A People half way around the world are destroyed is not an option for a sustainable future - as we discovered, but apparently did not learn from WWII.
Please, if any of you reading this are even slightly moved or remotely concerned by what is happening, find some way to take action on that concern.
Pray or meditate.
Light a candle.
Talk with friends.
Talk with strangers.
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
Sign a petition - a good one can be found here.
Lend your support to a group devoted to human rights - even if it is only an hour a month.
Blog.
Do whatever feels right and appropriate to you.
Categories:
Tags: Buddhism, China, compassion, conflict, Dali Lama, danger, globally interconnected world, high culture, human rights, oppression, Saipan, suffering, sustainable future, Tibet, WWII
