Buddha vs the barrel of a gun

[bemildred]

Somewhere in imponderable nirvana, the Buddha may be exhibiting the faintest of smiles. Or is he? What a heavenly sight - the discreet, barefooted, crimson- and maroon-clad Buddhist monks of Myanmar, formerly Burma, able to affirm publicly their supreme moral authority and righteousness, supported by an exhausted, abused population, against the ravages of a pitiless, pitiful, 45-year-old military junta.

But the Buddha, whose infinite wisdom also includes knowledge about energy wars, would say that as everything is impermanent, the crackdown will come. The question is how.

Few can fail to be intensely moved by the exhilarating images of the "crimson revolution" - thousands of monks chanting "democracy, democracy" or reciting the Metta Sutta - the Buddha sermon on loving kindness, while civilian demonstrators, on a practical level, also call for the release of hundreds of political prisoners and a reduction in the price of fuel (raised 500% last month, the root cause of the protests).

The Asian Human Rights Commission has reported how the monks, in a pre-rally ceremony on Monday, have solemnly refused to accept donations from anyone junta-connected, people they have dubbed "pitiless soldier kings". This very serious act amounts to nothing less than a Buddhist form of excommunication.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/II27Ae01.html

[bemildred]

1. Moment of truth for Myanmar's military

SANGKLABURI, Thailand - Myanmar's military has made good on its threat to use force against mounting demonstrations that have now involved more than 100,000 people in the old capital Yangon, increasingly resembling the mass pro-democracy movement on which soldiers tragically opened fire in 1988.

Troops outside Sule Pagoda opened fire at 2pm on Wednesday on Buddhist monks marching to the shrine. Reports conflict, but at least one monk was killed and another two either injured or killed. Other preliminary reports say that another three monks were shot and killed in Ahlone, a suburb of Yangon.

Riot police also beat monks and protesters with batons, fired tear gas into crowds and let off warning shots over the heads of protesters, symbolically in front of Yangon's famed Shwedagon Pagoda. Dozens of protesters were reportedly arrested and dragged away into military trucks.

Should the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) call on the army for further deadly action against protesters, the moment of truth will have come. Only with a split and revolt in the army will the monks and their swelling civilian supporters achieve their apparent goal of unseating the military dictatorship.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/II27Ae05.html

[tekisui]

2. The monks will always win.

They believe in something that transcends time, space and brutality. That they are leading this revolt shows the seriousness of the injustice.

These monks are without egos. Their "souls" have no ego. They don't cling to this life anymore than one clings to an empty bottle. It is not about them. They are there to help end the suffering of a people.

It is the most beautiful and humbling action I've seen. I find inspiration in their strength.