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Burma Protests a 'Success,' Says Buddhist Leader

Famed anti-Vietnam agitator supports monks on US tour

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2007 7:07 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Revered Buddhist spokesman Thich Nhat Hanh, famed for enlisting Martin Luther King's help against the Vietnam War, is supporting his spiritual brethren in Burma on a US tour. The monks' struggle against Burma is "already a success," he told Time, "because if monks are imprisoned or have died, they have offered their spiritual leadership."

Their greatest strike against Burma was to turn over their begging bowls, Hanh says, because giving food to monks is considered a moral act. Without it, “you are somehow left in the realm of darkness." Hanh also champions meditation as a way to access “the kind of insight you need to take action. To think that it is just to sit down and enjoy the calm and peace, is wrong."

Protestors hold Free Burma signs and newspaper articles during a peaceful rally in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Myanmar security forces opened fire on Buddhist monks and other pro-democracy demonstrators for the first time Wednesday in a month of protests, killing at least one man and wounding others in...
Protestors hold "Free Burma" signs and newspaper articles during a peaceful rally in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. Myanmar security forces opened fire on Buddhist monks and other pro-democracy...   (Associated Press)
Thich Nhat Hanh, a 80-year-old Vietnamese monk who lives in exile in France, front right, is greeted by Phra Alongkot a senior Thai Buddhist monk, front left, upon Thich's arrival at Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, May 20, 2007. Thich, also the master of Zen, is in Thailand...
Thich Nhat Hanh, a 80-year-old Vietnamese monk who lives in exile in France, front right, is greeted by Phra Alongkot a senior Thai Buddhist monk, front left, upon Thich's arrival at Suvarnabhumi international...   (Associated Press)
U Uttara, right, Britain's leading Burmese monk, and senior monk U Visuta, leave 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday Oct. 6, 2007, before Uttara led a march for a Global Day Of Action for Burma. They two monks had met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who pledged extra funding for emergency...
U Uttara, right, Britain's leading Burmese monk, and senior monk U Visuta, leave 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday Oct. 6, 2007, before Uttara led a march for a Global Day Of Action for Burma. They...   (Associated Press)
In this image released by the Democratic Voice of Burma, Buddhist monks defied orders to stay off the streets and marched against the military government. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, in downtown Yangon, Myanmar. It was the eight day of street demonstrations against the government in Myanmar. (AP Photo/Democratic Voice of...
In this image released by the Democratic Voice of Burma, Buddhist monks defied orders to stay off the streets and marched against the military government. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, in downtown Yangon,...   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
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Where have all the monks gone?
Time

Human rights activists pressure UN, Thailand to step up efforts
Bangkok Post (Thailand)

Diplomat: Regime's "appaling" treatment of monks forced me to resign
BBC

 
Vietnam • Dalai Lama • Myanmar • Burma • Buddhism • monks • military junta • Thich Nhat Hanh • meditation • Zen • Theravada • Mahayana • Vajrayana

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