http://www.sundriesshack.com/2007/10/03/they-come-at-night-and-murder-the-monks/ Delivering the Best of the New Media Since 2004. Tue, 22 May 2012 22:10:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundriesshack.com/2007/10/03/they-come-at-night-and-murder-the-monks/comment-page-1/#comment-559514 fostert Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:47:50 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=3389#comment-559514 Jimmie, I have to respect the fact that you actually care about this issue. We may disagree on how to stop the junta, but at least we're on the same side. Saving the monks is a good idea, but you must understand that they know what they face, and they do not fear death. It is the rest of the Burmese people that we must save. They are the true victims. The good news is that (from what I can find) the "turning of the alms bowl" protest continues. This may seem strange from a western point of view, but this is the most important aspect of the protest. What it means is that Burmese soldiers must face the bad Karma of not being able to give alms to the Sangha. This is a crucial part of the Theraveda Bhuddhist practice, and its absence will cause great consternation among the troops. You must understand that Buddhist fear being unprepared for death far more they they fear death itself. And having a Karmic unbalance is the very definition of being unprepared for death. The goal of the the monks is to give the lower soldiers a good reason to fear the monks more than their superiors. As strange as it may seem to us Westerners, this strategy may succeed. If they keep up the alms-denial, I think they will succeed in three years. Jimmie, I have to respect the fact that you actually care about this issue. We may disagree on how to stop the junta, but at least we’re on the same side. Saving the monks is a good idea, but you must understand that they know what they face, and they do not fear death. It is the rest of the Burmese people that we must save. They are the true victims. The good news is that (from what I can find) the “turning of the alms bowl” protest continues. This may seem strange from a western point of view, but this is the most important aspect of the protest. What it means is that Burmese soldiers must face the bad Karma of not being able to give alms to the Sangha. This is a crucial part of the Theraveda Bhuddhist practice, and its absence will cause great consternation among the troops. You must understand that Buddhist fear being unprepared for death far more they they fear death itself. And having a Karmic unbalance is the very definition of being unprepared for death. The goal of the the monks is to give the lower soldiers a good reason to fear the monks more than their superiors. As strange as it may seem to us Westerners, this strategy may succeed. If they keep up the alms-denial, I think they will succeed in three years.

]]> http://www.sundriesshack.com/2007/10/03/they-come-at-night-and-murder-the-monks/comment-page-1/#comment-552743 Jewells Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:58:51 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=3389#comment-552743 Thank you Joe! Thank you Joe!

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