Just Thinking

Late in 2007 the ruling military junta in Myanmar (Burma) put huge price increases on petrol and other commodities. This lead to widespread protests by the public and monks joined in that protest also. Now, with the devastating cyclone nature has inflicted massive damage and the government has been accused by almost everyone of not doing enough to help the people, and even of not allowing those that want to help to get into the country to help. Further protests by monks have been made.

This article is not aimed at describing the present crises as the news media can do that far better than I can. Rather, it is to look at the history of confrontation between those who try to rule the country (the Junta) and those who try to rule their own minds (the Monks). The history of such conflict goes back to the very early days of Buddhism, when Emperor Ashoka's soldiers first came across Buddhist Monks in Northern India. The Monks refused to obey the soldiers orders even after some were killed as an example to the others. Needless to say that requires very considerable fortitude of mind. Nothing less than such determination will take a person to full liberation, which is the aim of all Monks.

Every since the Junta seized power in the 1960s there have been such conflicts. In 1965 the government arrested over 700 Monks in Hmawbi near Rangoon for refusing to accept government rule.

In 1974, during demonstrations at U Thant's funeral, 600 Monks were arrested and several bayoneted by government forces. Further conflicts followed in 1976, 1978 and 1980.

In 1990, over 7000 Monks met in Mandalay to call a boycott on the military. The military government seized monasteries and again arrested hundreds of Monks, leading to long term imprisonment and torture for many.

So the events of the last year are nothing new, other than the catastrophe of having a terrible cyclone to deal with. This is a chance for the rest of the world to actually do something. Why do we have a United Nations? Is there seriously any nation that believes that the government of Myanmar have any interest in the welfare of their citizens? They keep an estimated 800,000 of them as slaves, being forced to work for no pay, with no rights. The world has passed judgment by awarding a Nobel Peace prize to Suu Kyi for her tireless peaceful efforts to have democracy restored.

Ultimately, those that learn to control their own minds and vow not to use violence will prevail. Those who cannot control their own minds cannot hope to control the bodies, let alone the minds, of others, and violence does not assist in any way.