Buddhist Monks: Be on the Right Side of History
My interview with Ven Detta about the last, best hope for nonviolence was riveting. As his friends have gone into the street, organized CDM, or delivered food to poor areas, Ven has ensconced himself in a room, alone, reading up on everything he can find about the Russian Revolution, the American Civil War, and the years of battle in Afghanistan. The reason is that he is placing all his chips in the basket of defection. Even while knowing that the mere possession of literature or a home printer can mean instant execution, Ven is doing what he can to pursue this strategy. Below is an excerpt of his comments pertaining to the role of monks in a potential defection campaign.
“Monks need to stand up, and they need to be on the right side of history.”
“Without a doubt, monks can play a huge, tremendous role. Even though my beliefs and Buddhism have waned, I still give the courtesy and respect in deference to a monk whenever I meet him. So if I'm doing that, this will no doubt mean as a religious person, who which I think we all consider many people in the Myanmar to be, will no doubt listen to what a monk will have to say.
There are several dozens monks who have immense sway over public opinion. And I think they need to stand up. They need to stand up, they need to be on the right side of history. They need to speak from a religious perspective.
At the end of the day, even without all the doctrinal issues and theological challenges of whatever is it, they need to speak from their own conscience.
And I think we all can agree. I think we all human beings can agree that killing unarmed civilians, killing children, mutilating bodies, mutilating the dead, in any culture, any religion is wrong!
And you don't need to be a Buddhist monk to say that it is wrong. But if you are a Buddhist monk, you should have even more reason to say why it is wrong.”
