I am thinking about and chanting for the people of Burma. They are being gunned down now by the police/military. According to one report in response some of them are reciting verses from the Metta Sutta (the Discourse on Loving-Kindness):
Let everyone be free from danger
Let everyone be free from anger
Let everyone be free from hardship
I have to be honest and say that in the real world a velvet glove is not effective unless there is a steel fist inside it. In other words, for non-violence to work don't you need first to be appealing to people who actually have a conscience and/or are answerable to someone who can reign them in? In this case, the will of the international community must make itself felt. But the main power in a position to do so is China - the last country on earth that would wish to make it a general policy not to beat up on Buddhists monks and nuns and practitioners (they need to keep a free hand for their dealings in Tibet and with the nominally Buddhist Fa Lun Gong). Absent real pressure from the international community - can a non-violent movement succeed if there is not a threat by violent revolutionaries on the horizon who will be less reasonable? But this is not possible now either because there is no more Cold War and so no one who will wage a proxy war on behalf of the people of Burma. Since they are not Muslims (actually I just learned that there is a significant Muslim minority who are in fact being oppressed as well), the people of Burma have no recourse to arms, aid, or suicide bombers from that bloc either. So it seems that they have nothing with which to resist the oppression and violence of the military regime other than non-coorporation, general strikes, and the Metta Sutta. Will that be enough?
As anyone who has been following the notes from my D&D game with Julie, they will know that I keep fretting over violent solutions to evil, and I extol non-violence, compassion, and mercy. But even in the fantasy world of elves and wizards in D&D, non-violence only works when there are powerful warriors to back you up and a fireball waiting if just catching people in a web doesn't work. Even in my imagination non-violence is ineffectual by itself without other means of coercion. Then when it comes to the real world - I do not need to be told that all bets are always off when it comes to the rutheless who have guns and bombs and no concept of the sanctity of life.
What I am confessing here is that I am afraid as I read the news reports - afraid that in front of the world it will be shown that the Metta Sutta - the power of Loving-Kindness - is by itself no power at all and that in fact the real Law of reality is the Golden Rule of Real Politiks: that those with the Gold have the Guns, and those with the Guns make the Rules.
The counter to fear is faith - and the two can certainly coexist, just as fear and courage coexist. In fact, if there were no fearful situations there would be no reason for courage. I guess that means that this is a situation that demands our faith - and certainly the even greater faith of those in Burma. If they do resort to violence - WE WILL ALL LOSE AS A SPECIES. And if in the end it seems to the world that the military rulers succeed in squashing this revolution then WE WILL ALSO LOSE AS A SPECIES. The reason is that it will have shown that MIGHT MAKES RIGHT and that METTA (loving-kindness, agape) is as much a delusion and a fantasy as a 10 year old girls' elf wizard in a Dungeons and Dragons game.
I am chanting for the people of Burma. I am chanting that the aspect of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo that is loving-kindness will prove itself to the world. I am chanting that despair and violence do not overcome faith and non-violence. I am hoping that - without anyone having to resort to violence - the rulers of Burma somehow awaken to the error and self-destructiveness of their ways.
Otherwise - everyone will know - all bets are always off when the facade of civilization crumbles before the Golden Rule of Realpolitik.
Also, for those who want to read about an authentic Buddhist mentor and winner of a richly deserved Nobel Peace Prize:
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
The non-violent Civil Rights stand by Black American's comes to mind of non-violent protest done sucessfully, including the Jena 6.
Interesting, how you state in other places a mentor is not required and than you you recommend your own version of a 'REAL' mentor here.
Power resides in people not doctrine I believe, as Nichiren says, 'Common mortals are the TRUE BUDDHA's of the Latter day.'
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at September 28, 2007 08:29 AMSaying that mentors are not required and saying that mentoars or exemplars are never needed are two different things.
Whatever you want to call her, mentor or exemplar or good friend (Skt kalyanamitra or Jpn zenchishiki) Aung San Suu Kyi is the real deal.
And for all those who whine about how they are persecuted because they got sent a nasty email or perhaps because their institution of choice has a nasty article written about it - look at the monks and nuns in Burma. That is real persecution. And they are being persecuted not for sectarian or divisive beliefs but because they stood up for justice and human rights and did so in a peaceful fashion.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Metta can work only if they are able to change the hearts of the generals. There have been instances where the military refused to follow orders; such as in the Philippines when Marcos was ousted,
Posted by: robek at October 3, 2007 07:31 AM