Buddha taught that we "cannot be happy as long as others suffer..."

A rich family in Cambodia (L) and a poor beggar in Cambodia. Buddha taught that we "cannot be happy as long as others suffer..."

UN chief calls for global compassion, solidarity on Buddhist day of Vesak

UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (Xinhua) -- In a message commemorating the Vesak Day, which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called upon the world to learn from the spiritual leader's sense of compassion.

"The financial crisis, climate change, pandemics, terrorism and other international threats prove that the fates of all people are linked," the secretary-general wrote in his message.

He noted that a problem for one country can quickly turn into a global threat, saying that "I constantly remind leaders that we must act together or we will fail individually."

It is in the world's best interest to join forces in solidarity, as well as the right thing to do, Ban said. "More than 2,500 years ago Buddha taught that nothing exists in isolation."

Underscoring the idea, Ban noted that Buddha also taught that we "cannot be happy as long as others suffer, and that when we do reach out, we discover the best in ourselves."
"On this day of Vesak, let us resolve to help people who are suffering so that we may secure a better future for all," he said.

Vesak is an annual holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Nepal, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Pakistan and India.

Sometimes informally called "Buddha's birthday," it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.

The exact date of Vesak varies according to the various lunar calendars used in different traditions. In Theravada countries following the Buddhist calendar, it falls on the full moon Uposatha day (typically the 5th or 6th lunar month). While the Vesak Day in China, it is on the eighth of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar but falls in April or May.

Politiktoons No. 10: "The Seeds of Compassion"

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com and
http://politiktoons.blogspot.com)

In spite of China protests, US to award Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama

"World peace must develop from inner peace.
Peace is not the absence of violence.
Peace is the manifestation of human compassion."

The two sides of the Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal are seen in this combination handout image released on October 16, 2007. U.S. President George W. Bush will present the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and a Nobel Peace laureate whom China regards as a separatist and a traitor, with the medal on Wednesday, the first time a U.S. president will appear in public with the Dalai Lama. 'Tenzin Gyatso', written on one face of the medal, is the birth name of the Dalai Lama. (United States Mint/Handout/Reuters)

China protests U.S. award for Dalai Lama

Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
Agencies
The Hindu (India)

BEIJING: China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday voiced his government’s strong discontent of, and firm opposition to, the United States’ hospitality to the Dalai Lama, including the granting of a Congressional award and a planned meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.

Mr. Yang, a delegate to the ongoing 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, made the statement during a group discussion on President Hu Jintao’s report delivered to the Congress on Monday.

“Tibet is part of the Chinese territory, a fact that has been widely recognised by the international community, the U.S. government included,” he said at the open discussion. The planned U.S. Congressional award to the Dalai Lama on Wednesday and Mr. Bush’s meeting with him constitute severe violation of the norms of international relations, seriously hurting the feelings of the Chinese people and are a gross interference in China’s internal affairs, Mr. Yang said.

The Chinese government has urged the U.S. government on several occasions to cancel such “extremely erroneous” arrangements, he said.

Meanwhile, the White House said that Mr. Bush will go ahead with a meeting with the Dalai Lama but understands Chinese concerns.

“It’s a private meeting at the [White House] residence,” Mr. Bush spokesman Tony Fratto said. He added, “we understand the concerns of the Chinese” but denied that Washington was interfering in China’s affairs.

Mr. Fratto said the President would also take part in a Capitol Hill ceremony on Wednesday when the Dalai Lama is to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. legislature.

Dalai Lama: "...beating a monk is very bad"

Khmer Krom monk injured during a peaceful anti-Vietnamese demonstration in Phnom Penh

Tue Oct 16, 2007
Myanmar's beating of monks "very bad": Dalai Lama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama said on Tuesday the Myanmar junta's beating of protesting Buddhist monks was "very bad" and reminded him of China's treatment of Tibetans.

The exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader, in Washington to receive a Congressional award that has angered China, said he had expressed to U.S. President George W. Bush gratitude to First Lady Laura Bush for championing democracy in Myanmar.

"When I saw the picture of (a) Burmese monk, like the Tibetan monk, like myself," the Dalai Lama told reporters, pausing as he pointed to his maroon robes and shaved head.

"That reflects beating by Chinese (of) Tibetan monks -- very similar -- so therefore, naturally, I felt some very, very strong sort of feeling."

President Bush met with the Dalai Lama on Tuesday despite China's warning that U.S. plans to honor the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could damage relations between Beijing and Washington.

Long before protests in Myanmar first flared in August, Laura Bush made public calls for the release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and called on the United Nations to take up the Myanmar issue.

At least 10 people were killed and many more arrested during the suppression last month of the pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks. Myanmar police are still raiding homes and arresting activists.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, following a harsh Chinese crackdown in Tibet.

Suu Kyi received the Nobel prize in 1991 and fellow Nobel laureates have repeatedly urged the country's military rulers to release her from years of confinement.

The Dalai Lama said he had made an "expression of my solidarity with the demonstrators" and also told the Myanmar junta to tread lightly with fellow Buddhists.

"The junta, they are also Buddhists, so logically they should follow Buddhist teachings: non-violence or compassion -- and beating a monk is very bad," he said.