I was once a Buddhist monk in Burma. That was in 1995-1996.
It was an amazing experience to be taken into such an ancient culture and to be offered such old and wise teachings. I have an old karmic link with this amazing land and the people there.
I was most fortunate to be able to meet Aung San Su Kui in her home during a brief period of time when she was released from her house arrest. She is a brave and humble woman who is among many other things a symbol of hope for the Burmese people. She is affectionately referred to as, "the Lady."
When I met with her I asked her what was one thing that anybody, from anywhere, could do to support the people in this troubled time.
Her response was clear and simple. She asked us, the people of the world, to send Meta to the people of Burma. Meta is most closely translated to mean, loving kindness.
This is the place for us all to begin in working to free Burma from one of the cruelest and greediest military juntas on the planet.
The Power of Prayer
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of the power of prayer. The affect we have when we call in help from the other side. Many traditions have different ideas on what prayer looks like and of course there are as many different views of who or what we are praying to as there are gathering places for people.
The one common theme amongst them all is that prayer works.
So please join us now according to the wisdom of your tradition.
I ask you now to send out a prayer, or a cry, for the people of Burma.
Pray for a peaceful solution - now.
Pray for wisdom to somehow cause the military to lay down their guns and to resist the greedy generals that are using force and brutality and intimidation to keep the soldiers in line.
Pray to have the monks freed from their capture.
Pray that the generals in charge realize that the course of violence, slavery and greed is ultimately doomed to fail.
And, as well as pray add your voice to the global protest that is rising now.
Avaaz.org has a petition going that will reach people that can make a difference.
Please do sign it:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?cl_tf_sign=1
From the AVAAZ.ORG website:
Burma: From the Avaaz.org website
Stand with the Burmese Protesters
After decades of military dictatorship, the people of Burma are rising – and they need our help. Marches begun by monks and nuns snowballed, bringing hundreds of thousands to the streets. Now the crackdown has begun, but the protests are spreading...
When the Burmese last marched in 1988, the military massacred thousands. If the world stands up and supports their struggle, this time they could win. We're in a race against time-- targeting the dictatorship's main backer China in a global advertising campaign, delivering the petition to the UN secretary-general and sending the Burmese our support via radio--
To Chinese President Hu Jintao and the UN Security Council:
We stand alongside the citizens of Burma in their peaceful protests. We urge you to oppose a violent crackdown on the demonstrators, and to support genuine reconciliation and democracy in Burma. We pledge to hold you accountable for any further bloodshed.
Sign the petition here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?cl_tf_sign=1
Journey Happily
Patrick Ryan
www.AwakenedWisdom.com
4 comments:
Dear Patrick
I believe in the power of prayer and
I pray everyday for the people of Burma. Last friday I wore red clothing to support them and it was powerful to se how many "we" are. Thank you for this blog.
Love Jewels
I am sourcing peace and democratic reforms for the people of Burma. And, I have signed the petition.
On Friday, we formed CALL Norway. Of the 15 participants, 11 were clad in red in support of the Burmese people.
Love,
Pagan
Dear friends ;
I send prayers for the hearts of the oppressors to open, making it impossible to continue the horific brutality upon the men, women , children and Monks of Burma.
I have signed petions and I am holding space for the peace, liberation and highest outcome of the Burmese people.
Today this was sent to me and I want to share it with you all.
My wife Miemie, who is Burmese, asked me to
forward the following
> message to the largest audience possible.
>
> Thanks for you attention.
>
> Warm regards,
>
> Claude Brina
>
> > *Subject:* bludgeoning monks by the
'lone-tein'
>
> We just got phone call with our sister living in
Yangon about a
> few hours ago.
>
> We saw on BBC world, saying that 200 monks were
arrested. The true
> picture is far worse!!!!!!!!!
>
> For one instance, the monastery at an obscure
neighborhood of
> Yangon, called Ngwe Kyar Yan (on Wei-za-yan-tar
Road, Yangon) had
> been raided early this morning.
>
> A troop of lone-tein (riot police comprised of
paid thugs) protected
> by the military trucks, raided the monastery with
200 studying
> monks. They systematically ordered all the monks
to line up and
> banged and crushed each one's head against the
brick wall of the
> monastery. One by one, the peaceful, non
resisting monks, fell to
> the ground, screaming in pain. Then, they tore
off the red robes
> and threw them all in the military trucks (like
rice bags) and took
> the bodies away.
>
> The head monk of the monastery, was tied up in
the middle of the
> monastery, tortured , bludgeoned, and later died
the same day,
> today. Tens of thousands of people gathered
outside the monastery,
> warded off by troops with bayoneted rifles,
unable to help their
> helpless monks being slaughtered inside the
monastery. Their every
> try to forge ahead was met with the bayonets.
>
> When all is done, only 10 out of 200 remained
alive, hiding in the
> monastery. Blood stained everywhere on the walls
and floors of the
> monastery.
>
> Please tell your audience of the full extent of
the fate of the
> monks please please !!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> 'Arrested' is not enough expression. They have
been bludgeoned to
> death !!!!!!
>
> Aye Aye
Buddhist Peace Fellowship - petition and further
information: http://www.bpf.org/html/whats_now/2007/burma_peace.html
Hello All,
This is a challenging time because the news coming out of Burma is drying up and so the media then backs off as well.
We all must do everything we can to maintain the consciousness of the Burmese situation.
I have just heard about a program (thank you Penelope) that is raising money for cameras and training on how to use them. Essentially what they do is give the cameras to Burmese people and train them on how to record and transmit the pictures out by satellite phone.
Here is a letter from Stonehouse.org:
Saturday October 6, 2007
STONE CIRCLES COMMUNICATION
Friends,
If you haven't heard much about Burma in the news
during the past few days,
it's because the Burmese military junta has
successfully managed to cut most
lines of popular communication with the outside
world. This has enabled the
regime to crack down on democracy activists under a
veil of near darkness.
Reports of horrendous violence on lay people and on
the monastic community
have confirmed the fears of the continued
willingness of the regime to
degrade brutalize and murder their own citizens.
Making sure that the world can witness what is going
on within Burma is one
of the only means we have of keeping the activities
of the government under
check and bring power back into the hands of the
Burmese people. There is a
dire need to get video equipment and transmission
equipment back into the
country and into the hands of democracy activists so
that the world can once
again bring its attention to the needs of the people
of Burma.
We are now in the process of purchasing a large
number of "flip video"
cameras which are very discrete, AA battery
operated, tape-less cameras who
data can be uploaded directly to a computer and then
sent by satellite phone
out to the world. The cameras are only about $100 a
piece and we need your
help to purchase them and the more expensive
transmission equipment needed
to get the video out of the country.
Many people have already pledged their resources
toward this endeavor.
Please join them quickly so that we can open the
widow back to Burma and
hold the regime accountable for its actions.
The easiest and quickest way to support is to make
an online contribution on
our website http://www.stonecircles.org
Click on the "donate now" button and then be sure to
check "yes" where it
asks if this donation is designated for Burmese
video equipment.
Checks can be made payable to "stone circles" with
"Burmese video project"
in the memo line. Send them to:
The Stone House
stone circles/attn: Burma
6602 Nick's Rd.
Mebane, NC 27302
Thanks for your support
In peace and solidarity
Jesse
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