The nasty side of Buddhism?

[Stramash]

[h=1]Burma's monks call for Muslim community to be shunned[/h]

[h=3]The Buddhists have reportedly tried to block humanitarian aid getting to ethnic group

Monks who played a vital role in Burma's recent struggle for democracy have been accused of fuelling ethnic tensions in the country by calling on people to shun a Muslim community that has suffered decades of abuse.

In a move that has shocked many observers, some monks' organisations have issued pamphlets telling people not to associate with the Rohingya community, and have blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching them. One leaflet described the Rohingya as "cruel by nature" and claimed it had "plans to exterminate" other ethnic groups.

The outburst against the Rohingya, often described as one of the world's most oppressed groups, comes after weeks of ethnic violence in the Rakhine state in the west of Burma that has left more than 80 dead and up to 100,000 people living in a situation described as "desperate" by humanitarian organisations. As state-sanctioned abuses against the Muslim community continue, Burma's president Thein Sein – credited by the international community for ushering in a series of democratic reforms in the country and releasing political prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi – has urged neighbouring Bangladesh to take in the Rohingya.

"In recent days, monks have emerged in a leading role to enforce denial of humanitarian assistance to Muslims, in support of policy statements by politicians," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan project, a regional NGO. "A member of a humanitarian agency in Sittwe told me that some monks were posted near Muslim displacement camps, checking on and turning away people they suspected would visit for assistance."

The Young Monks' Association of Sittwe and Mrauk Oo Monks' Association have both released statements in recent days urging locals not to associate with the group. Displaced Rohingya have been housed in over-crowded camps away from the Rakhine population – where a health and malnutrition crisis is said to be escalating – as political leaders move to segregate and expel the 800,000-strong minority from Burma. Earlier this month, Thein Sein attempted to hand over the group to the UN refugee agency.

Aid workers report ongoing threats and interference by local nationalist and religious groups. Some monasteries in Maungdaw and Sittwe sheltering displaced Rakhine people have openly refused to accept international aid, alleging that it is "biased" in favour of the Rohingya. Monks have traditionally played a critical role in helping vulnerable citizens, stepping in to care for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in 2008 after the military junta rejected international assistance.

Many have been shocked by the response of the monks and members of the democracy movement to the recent violence, which erupted after the rape and murder of a Buddhist woman, allegedly by three Muslims, unleashed long-standing ethnic tensions.

Monks' leader Ashin Htawara recently encouraged the government to send the group "back to their native land" at an event in London hosted by the anti-Rohingya Burma Democratic Concern. Ko Ko Gyi, a democracy activist with the 88 Generation Students group and a former political prisoner, said: "The Rohingya are not a Burmese ethnic group. The root cause of the violence… comes from across the border." Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said: "We were shocked to have [Ashin Htawara] propose to us that there should be what amounts to concentration camps for the Rohingya."

Ms Suu Kyi has also been criticised for failing to speak out. Amal de Chickera of the London-based Equal Rights Trust, said: "You have these moral figures, whose voices do matter. It's extremely disappointing and in the end it can be very damaging."

The Rohingya have lived in Burma for centuries, but in 1982, the then military ruler Ne Win stripped them of their citizenship. Thousands fled to Bangladesh where they live in pitiful camps. Foreign media are still denied access to the conflict region, where a state of emergency was declared last month, and ten aid workers were arrested without explanation.

[/h]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/burmas-monks-call-for-muslim-community-to-be-shunned-7973317.html?origin=internalSearch

[Chatty]

After I read, IMO., it's about racist more than religion.

[FarangFarang]

It's a strange thing to say but monks, priests, imams, etc are always the best examples to follow in a religion. Yes, they may have devoted their life to their religion but it doesn't necessarily make them good at what they do. When religions become too organized they have the same problem as do governments. They seem to forget that they derive their power or authority from the people under them. It's their job to address the religious needs of the flock. It's not to make rules and policies based on their own political, racial, or other beliefs.

In the book Phra Farang the British monk living in Thailand went to the abbot at his temple and said he had a problem going to people's homes and blessing cars and washing machines and other material goods. He said the Buddha never gave monks power to cast out spirits or ghosts or to grant good luck on anybody.

The senior monk responded that the monk's chief priority was to attend to the religious needs of the lay people. If believing that the monk can give them good luck helps their faith then so be it.

[CiaranM]

It's a strange thing to say but monks, priests, imams, etc are always the best examples to follow in a religion. Yes, they may have devoted their life to their religion but it doesn't necessarily make them good at what they do.

is there a "NOT" missing there !!!

[FarangFarang]

is there a "NOT" missing there !!!

Indeed, it is missing. Sorry.

[olympos]

Welcome, spam bot

is there a "NOT" missing there ???

(Note from mods/admin: Please don't quote spammers as you're basically just helping to promote their spam. Thanks)

Edited August 19, 2012 by Japamerican
Removed quoted spam

[Admin_2]

I'm huntin spammers.

[olympos]

I'm huntin spammers.

I'm promotin spam

[Stramash]

I'm munching spam

[Mister Moobs]

Perhaps, that is not the nasty side of Buddhism but simply the nasty side of certain people who happen to be Buddhist.

[beej]

Just humans being total ***** under the lose guise of religion.

[Mister Moobs]

YEAH! HUMANS SUCK!!!

[Admin_2]

YEAH! HUMANS SUCK!!!

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!!

[Mister Moobs]

..........

[kaunitz]

It's a strange thing to say but monks, priests, imams, etc are always the best examples to follow in a religion. Yes, they may have devoted their life to their religion but it doesn't necessarily make them good at what they do. When religions become too organized they have the same problem as do governments. They seem to forget that they derive their power or authority from the people under them. It's their job to address the religious needs of the flock. It's not to make rules and policies based on their own political, racial, or other beliefs.

In the book Phra Farang the British monk living in Thailand went to the abbot at his temple and said he had a problem going to people's homes and blessing cars and washing machines and other material goods. He said the Buddha never gave monks power to cast out spirits or ghosts or to grant good luck on anybody.

The senior monk responded that the monk's chief priority was to attend to the religious needs of the lay people. If believing that the monk can give them good luck helps their faith then so be it.

I once have been told a story from a guy who is quite credible. A guy, married with a couple of children, found out that he didn't like his miserable life anymore, struggling to feed his family from a small family business that was everything else than good. So he left his family, became a monk and never ever cared about his people who, of course, sunk down in complete poverty. But he had a nice life with people giving alms to him and the monastery he was living.

Thus said, I for sure do not say that every monk is someone you should mistrust but not everyone who is wearing the orange toga necessarily is a good guy........ Edited February 17, 2014 by FarangFarang

[Mister Moobs]

especially the ones wearing sneakers and fake rolex watches on sukhumvit