Religious Freedom: A Plea from Influential Buddhist Monk

[DharmaDefender]

I saw the title for this article and got very excited...then realised itd nothing to do with us, but its still interesting nonetheless.

http://www.chakranews.com/influential-buddhist-pleads-for-religious-freedom-in-vietnam/34

Hanoi, Vietnam (CHAKRA) — Followers of an influential Buddhist Monk were forced from two temples causing French-based Zen master and peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh to make a plea for religious freedom.

Devotees of Nhat Hanh have gone underground since last month, after they were driven out of the Phuoc Hue temple, in Vietnam.  They had been seeking refuge at the temple after an earlier eviction.

Nhat Hanh said, “hired mobs” were employed to force hundreds of young nuns and monks out of Bat Nha monastery in central Vietnam, last September, where they had lived peacefully and meditated for many years.

In his eight page plea, written in the form of a koan (a type of Zen riddle), he pleaded, “All we want is to practice –why can’t we?”

“Why is it that in other countries people can practise this tradition freely, and we can’t?”

Based at the Plum Village monastery in France, Nhat Hanh is known for being a confidant of assassinated US civil rights leader, Martin Luther King.

“The people’s deep wish is for every citizen to be able to speak his or her mind without fear of denunciation or arrest,” he wrote. “The people’s deep wish is to separate religion from political affairs, and take the politics out of religion.”

The communist state continues to control all religious activity in Vietnam.  It claims to always respect the freedom of beliefs and religion.  The driving out of Plum Village devotees has been denied by state authorities; instead they have placed the blame for the rise of such issues, on internal disputes among Buddhist factions.

“Buddhism demands freedom. Freedom of thought is the basic condition for progress,” Nhat Hanh wrote.

“This is an ugly stain on the history of Buddhism in Vietnam,” he said, in reference to the expulsion.  He made clear that kings and politicians centuries ago, followed a virtuous Buddhist past in contrast to authorities and officials caught up in the middle of political corruption and other vices today.

Nhat Hanh asked if political communist officials were afraid of him having a mass following at their expense.

The US embassy and European parliament have both expressed concern over this matter.

So is the CTA just like the Communist government of Viet Nam, suppressing Dorje Shugden practitioners and the like? OH DEAR CTA, pot calling the kettle black, accusing the Chinese of suppressing religions when your doing the exact same thing yourself? OH DEAR CTA, pot calling the kettle black, saying your supporting religion when your suppressing sects you dont like? OH DEAR CTA!

I really dont understand how Tibetans can continue to follow the hypocrisy of the CTA. Anyone in any other culture wouldve long done something about a government who keeps promising them freedom, but never getting around to actually having freedom. Are Tibetans all just sheep?!

[samayakeeper]

Yes, DharmaDefender. Even though what you posted isn't pertaining to Dorje Shugden but it's about freedom of religious practice.

Nhat Hanh said, “Why is it that in other countries people can practise this tradition freely, and we can’t?”

If only he knew what Dorje Shugden practitioners are going through it might give him some solace.


“Buddhism demands freedom. Freedom of thought is the basic condition for progress,” Nhat Hanh wrote.

I like this. No wonder Tibet cannot gain autonomy with the mindset of the people in CTA.


Is China or the CTA governed by communists?

[WisdomBeing]

Although it is not very Buddhist perhaps to be so critical of the CTA but I am afraid that just this once I have to agree with the sentiment in this thread. Why is the CTA is contradictory? Why is HH the Dalai Lama so contradictory? The Dalai Lama has a worldwide reputation for being a champion of peace, and even has won the Nobel Peace prize, yet the prevalent policy against Dorje Shugden practitioners is overtly discriminatory, abusive, restrictive and an insult to religious freedom and democracy. The CTA, since Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay took over as the secular head, has done nothing to protect the rights of Dorje Shugden practitioners in Tibetan communities. What kind of leader allows the ostracisation of a group within its constituency?

Samayakeeper questions whether CTA or China is governed by communists. This recent article in Tricycle on the Dalai Lama’s Marxist leanings may shed some light. http://www.tricycle.com/web-exclusive/occupy-buddhism

[brian]

This article is definitely relevant, it is exactly the same what CTA is doing (supressing the civilians even to bar them from practicising Dorje Shugden. Not only the suppression creates chaos now, it also creates the confusion around the controversy issue. Many were doubting and or sitting on the fence regarding to this issue. Even there were killing cases reported in India. So I beg CTA to stop all the suppresion and harm to all of our fellow practitioners! They are humans too and are supposed to enjoy the freedom of religious practice!

[DSFriend]

The calendar year shows we are living in the 21st century but really, it's a shame that oppression under the name of religion is still being practiced. And we are not talking about a minority group but a government. Wouldnt CTA gain more support from the developed countries if they were to show democracy, supports human rights issues, fosters religious harmony.. to name a few?

Will the  US embassy and European parliament look this way too?

[brian]

I suppose it is because of these reasons that CTA is not getting any or enough support from other developed countries on the issue. This could be either CTA did not want anyone of them interfering into their internal matter or it might be other developed countries do not agree with CTA's ban on religious freedom and has too many human rights violation issues hence not getting any support from other countries. CTA have to practice what they were created for. to protect the Tibetans and not harm or suppress their own fellow civilians of their live or religious freedom.

[dsiluvu]

This is definitely very relevant to what's happening with Shugdenpas too. All we need to do is just change communist to CTA and here is how it would read...


“The people’s deep wish is for every Tibetan to be able to speak his or her mind without fear of denunciation or arrest,” he wrote. “The people’s deep wish is to separate religion from political affairs, and take the politics out of religion.”

The CTA continues to control all religious activity in Tibet in exile.  It claims to always respect the freedom of beliefs and religion.  The driving out of Shugden devotees has been denied by state authorities; instead they have placed the blame for the rise of such issues, on internal disputes among Buddhist factions.

“Buddhism demands freedom. Freedom of thought is the basic condition for progress,” Nhat Hanh wrote.  AMEN!!!

“This is an ugly stain on the history of Buddhism in Tibet” he said, in reference to the expulsion.  He made clear that kings and politicians centuries ago, followed a virtuous Buddhist past in contrast to authorities and officials caught up in the middle of political corruption and other vices today.

Sounds like a letter to the CTA already. Definitely CTA sounds like communist. Gosh isn't religion something personal. Isn't this why we seek spirituality because there is already so much drama out there?

[Positive Change]

Religious suppression and violation basic human rights has been very prevalent in the PAST as political leaders, dictators, etc used it as a tool to advance in their careers. It is very much still happening now in the PRESENT as the ongoing Dorje Shugden ban and article above suggests. I certainly hope we can rid of such prejudices in the FUTURE!

The stance CTA takes on freedom for Tibet should be the exact stance it should take on the Dorje Shugden ban. If this can be realized or that brave shift made, then perhaps, even without the geographical motherland, Tibet the country and its people will truly be FREE... for the physical acceptance of Tibet as a land mass is only that but in order to be truly free, the people need to be free too!

Why is Isreal or Occupied Palestine, depending on which side of the fence you are on, even though with a physical land mass has never been truly a free?

[Gabby Potter]

In order for the CTAs to govern their own nation, they should provide their people simple human rights like freedom of religion. It is against the law to discriminate people who practise Dorje Shugden, they might not agree to this, but their actions have clearly proved that there IS discrimination against these devoted practitioners.

[Dondrup Shugden]

Thich Nhat Hanh is a very influential Buddhist Monk with huge following internationally.  He is requesting for religious freedom for Buddhists in Vietnam against a repressive former communist regime.

Although not the same issue it is also about Shugdenpas requesting for religious freedom from CTA.  If only the Dalai Lama will plead for the same religious freedom, then the Shugdenpas will definitely have it. 

I am sure CTA will listen to the Dalai Lama, what do you think? 

[DharmaSpace]

Thich  Nach Hant is truly a Buddhist and Peace institution, having lived and being a positive on world history. 

It is sad that his monks and nuns are being  harassed  by Vietnam  government,  I think all Dorje Shugden practitioners do stand with them. No discrimination should be allowed  and permitted  in any human community and society.