If you agree to these statements to support the peaceful actions by citizens and monks in Burma, please email to ayus office. (Please click here for Japanese version.)
DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY FOR THE BURMESE MONKS, CITIZENS
AND THEIR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS
AND THEIR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS
We, Japanese Buddhists, would like to express our solidarity, respect and strong support for the peaceful demonstrations of monks and citizens in all regions of Burma.
In Burma, this past August, the military government suddenly hiked prices for fuel. This was adding insult to injury to the impoverished lifestyles of the people of Burma who have lived under military dictatorship for the last 19 years. This became a trigger which spurred on anti-government activities by students and civilians. By the beginning of September, the Buddhist monastic sangha could no longer bear to see the suffering of the people, and they began to demonstrate as well. The monks and nuns wanted a tranquility in which all could live. They engaged in a practice based in a religious motive and used methods which were very peaceful. However, in order to block a peace march in the town of Pakokku in Central Burma on September 5th, the military regime used the national army violently in reacting to a group of monks. They arrested, detained and also forcibly disrobed monks.
Taking a firm stance against these violent actions of the military government, the monks urged the military leaders to reflect on their actions. They began a campaign called “overturning the bowl” (patta-nukkujjana kamma), based on a teaching the Buddha, and continued to show their intentions through protest. For us Buddhists, this nationwide movement of “overturning the bowl”, which denies the military leaders the opportunity to offer the monks alms and thus to practice as devout lay people, is a grave act. Since the beginning of the “overturning the bowl” movement on September 17th, it spread to the capital of Yangon and all regions of the country. Day after day, this movement grew as from hundreds to tens of thousands of monks participated in peaceful demonstrations. On September 22nd, they were able pass by the residence of Aung San Suu Kyi, still under house arrest, and receive her greeting. The monks as leaders of the protest movement have been strongly welcomed and received by the people of Burma. On September 24th, the movement swelled in Yangon to an anti-military government protest numbering 100,000 people.
Amidst increasing anxiety about the attitude of the military government, the Burmese monks’ activities have tried to persuade through example, and transform a politics of fear into a politics of compassion by facing the overwhelming violent power into order to remove the cause of the people’s suffering. While we cannot see what is Burma’s future, these activities are a large development for the future of Buddhism. The actions of the monks who respect the people have been regulated by the military government, and so the people have lost their spiritual bearings. When the monastic sangha cannot practice its activities for the many devout Buddhist followers in Burma, the people will surely endure great hardship.
In this way, we heartfeltly call upon the government of Myanmar to immediately cease from these oppressive measures, free the people from fear, restore social tranquility, and immediately begin to engage in national reconciliation. We, Japanese Buddhists, will continue to watch and support the monks’ non-violent and democratic movement for Burma.
In Burma, this past August, the military government suddenly hiked prices for fuel. This was adding insult to injury to the impoverished lifestyles of the people of Burma who have lived under military dictatorship for the last 19 years. This became a trigger which spurred on anti-government activities by students and civilians. By the beginning of September, the Buddhist monastic sangha could no longer bear to see the suffering of the people, and they began to demonstrate as well. The monks and nuns wanted a tranquility in which all could live. They engaged in a practice based in a religious motive and used methods which were very peaceful. However, in order to block a peace march in the town of Pakokku in Central Burma on September 5th, the military regime used the national army violently in reacting to a group of monks. They arrested, detained and also forcibly disrobed monks.
Taking a firm stance against these violent actions of the military government, the monks urged the military leaders to reflect on their actions. They began a campaign called “overturning the bowl” (patta-nukkujjana kamma), based on a teaching the Buddha, and continued to show their intentions through protest. For us Buddhists, this nationwide movement of “overturning the bowl”, which denies the military leaders the opportunity to offer the monks alms and thus to practice as devout lay people, is a grave act. Since the beginning of the “overturning the bowl” movement on September 17th, it spread to the capital of Yangon and all regions of the country. Day after day, this movement grew as from hundreds to tens of thousands of monks participated in peaceful demonstrations. On September 22nd, they were able pass by the residence of Aung San Suu Kyi, still under house arrest, and receive her greeting. The monks as leaders of the protest movement have been strongly welcomed and received by the people of Burma. On September 24th, the movement swelled in Yangon to an anti-military government protest numbering 100,000 people.
Amidst increasing anxiety about the attitude of the military government, the Burmese monks’ activities have tried to persuade through example, and transform a politics of fear into a politics of compassion by facing the overwhelming violent power into order to remove the cause of the people’s suffering. While we cannot see what is Burma’s future, these activities are a large development for the future of Buddhism. The actions of the monks who respect the people have been regulated by the military government, and so the people have lost their spiritual bearings. When the monastic sangha cannot practice its activities for the many devout Buddhist followers in Burma, the people will surely endure great hardship.
In this way, we heartfeltly call upon the government of Myanmar to immediately cease from these oppressive measures, free the people from fear, restore social tranquility, and immediately begin to engage in national reconciliation. We, Japanese Buddhists, will continue to watch and support the monks’ non-violent and democratic movement for Burma.
タン・シュエ上級大将 ミャンマー連邦国家平和開発評議会議長への要請文
私たち、日本の仏教者及び仏教団体は、現在のビルマ情勢、及び僧侶・市民の平和的な抗議行動が暴力によって弾圧を受けていることを危惧し、ミャンマー政府に以下のことを申し出致します。
今年の８月の政府による突然の燃料価格の大幅な引き上げによって、国民の生活はさらに困窮を極めることになり、この状況は多くのビルマ市民に政府に対する行動を引き起こすことになりました。９月に入ってからは、民衆の疲弊した生活をみるにみかねた僧侶たちもまた、抗議行動に立ち上がりました。それは生きとし生けるものの安寧を希求する僧侶たちの、宗教的動機に基づく実践であり、その方法も極めて平和的なものでありました。しかし、それに対して軍事政権は、ビルマ国軍を使って一部の僧侶らに暴行を加え逮捕拘束し、強制的に還俗させる行為を続けています。
こうした軍政の暴力を使った強硬姿勢に対して、僧侶たちは軍政指導者に反省を促すため、軍政指導者からのお布施を拒否し仏教儀式を執り行わないという覆鉢行を行うことで、抗議の意志を示し続けています。私たちは仏教者として、ビルマ全土で行われているこの覆鉢行を重く受け止めます。
今後の軍政の出方への懸念が強まる中、人々の苦しみの原因を取り除くために圧倒的な暴力に立ち向かい、恐怖の政治から慈悲の政治への転換を身をもって教え諭しているビルマの僧侶たちの行動は、ビルマの未来のみならず、仏教の未来をも大きく切り開くものであります。人々を導く僧侶たちの行いが政府によって規制されるということは、すなわち民衆が心の拠り所を失うことであります。熱心な仏教徒が多いビルマにおいて僧侶が仏教者としての行いを実践できないとなると、民衆はより多くの苦難を抱えることになるでしょう。
私たち日本の仏教者は、ビルマ政府が民衆や僧侶らの平和的行動を暴力によって抑圧しないこと、平和的な手段によって対応することを要求致します。
ビルマ僧侶の平和的民主化運動を支持する会2007 〒135-0024 東京都江東区清澄3-4-22 TEL 03-3820-5831 アーユス内
今年の８月の政府による突然の燃料価格の大幅な引き上げによって、国民の生活はさらに困窮を極めることになり、この状況は多くのビルマ市民に政府に対する行動を引き起こすことになりました。９月に入ってからは、民衆の疲弊した生活をみるにみかねた僧侶たちもまた、抗議行動に立ち上がりました。それは生きとし生けるものの安寧を希求する僧侶たちの、宗教的動機に基づく実践であり、その方法も極めて平和的なものでありました。しかし、それに対して軍事政権は、ビルマ国軍を使って一部の僧侶らに暴行を加え逮捕拘束し、強制的に還俗させる行為を続けています。
こうした軍政の暴力を使った強硬姿勢に対して、僧侶たちは軍政指導者に反省を促すため、軍政指導者からのお布施を拒否し仏教儀式を執り行わないという覆鉢行を行うことで、抗議の意志を示し続けています。私たちは仏教者として、ビルマ全土で行われているこの覆鉢行を重く受け止めます。
今後の軍政の出方への懸念が強まる中、人々の苦しみの原因を取り除くために圧倒的な暴力に立ち向かい、恐怖の政治から慈悲の政治への転換を身をもって教え諭しているビルマの僧侶たちの行動は、ビルマの未来のみならず、仏教の未来をも大きく切り開くものであります。人々を導く僧侶たちの行いが政府によって規制されるということは、すなわち民衆が心の拠り所を失うことであります。熱心な仏教徒が多いビルマにおいて僧侶が仏教者としての行いを実践できないとなると、民衆はより多くの苦難を抱えることになるでしょう。
私たち日本の仏教者は、ビルマ政府が民衆や僧侶らの平和的行動を暴力によって抑圧しないこと、平和的な手段によって対応することを要求致します。
ビルマ僧侶の平和的民主化運動を支持する会2007 〒135-0024 東京都江東区清澄3-4-22 TEL 03-3820-5831 アーユス内