In the words of the Maha

Maha Ghosananda is the father of nonviolence in Cambodia, sometimes referred to as the Gandhi of Cambodia. His book Step by Step is filled with his reflections on peace, war, violence, nonviolence and spirituality. I will post some of these each week.






The Gifts of Cambodians

Cambodians have a precious heritage. The richness of Cambodian culture includes many gifts:


Cambodians are fearless because they can overcome greed, anger, and delusion.

Cambodians are humble, courteous, and noble.

Cambodians are grateful to their mothers and fathers, to their leaders, to their land, and to the whole world.

Cambodians keep the five moral precepts, the constitution of humanity, and the Dharma of goodness.

Cambodians have mindfulness and clear comprehension as their protectors.

Cambodians practice loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.

Cambodians have patience. They can bear great difficulties, suffering, and hardships.

Cambodians forgive and forget the wrongs of other people. They learn from the lessons of the past. They use the present to build the future.

Cambodians are truthful and well-behaved. They follow the middle path.

Cambodians are soft and smiling. Their speech is truthful, loving, and practical, clear, vibrant, and sweet. Their speech ahas the power to free the mind from anxiety, to purify the mind from delusion, and to make the mind strong. Cambodians have the tradition of solidarity, united by Buddhism and their love of Dharma.

Maha Ghosananda, Step by Step

The Banner

From left to right, top to bottom

M.K. Gandhi, "Father" of modern nonviolence. Coined the term 'satyagrahi' variously translated as soul force, or truth force and is a way of applying ahimsa (sanskrit for nonviolence) to an individual and her attempt to engage with her context

Maha Ghosananda, the "Gandhi of Cambodia" inaugaurated the dhammayietras in Cambodia. These peace walks initially went through the most violent parts of Khmer Rouge controlled Cambodia as a statement that Cambodia was no longer under the control of violence and fear.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese democratic champion, leader of the National League for Democracy, and nonviolent proponent. Her father led the nation to indepence but the country fell into the hands of the military. In 1988 a nonviolent student 'uprising' led to a nation-wide strike and led to the agreement to hold elections. In 1990, those elections were resoundingly won by the NLD, but the military reneged on it's promise to hand over power if they lost. Burma continue to struggle for a nonviolent society where peace and justice reign.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the spiritual leader of South Africa through decades of apartheid oppression. He was devoted to seeing practical and political peace, and equal race relations a reality in his country.

Marching Monks of Myanmar, the Saffron Revolution. This abortive movement rose over the increasing costs of living such as fuel in Myanmar in 2007. Thousands took to the streets. Tragically, the military junta used brutality to quash this people movement. Many monks were tortured and killed.

Martin Luther King, Jr, recognised as the spokesperson for the American Civil Rights Movement. Dr King and thousands of black and white Americans used nonviolent means to bring equality amongst the two races. Well known tactics of the Civil Rights Movement included the Freedom Rides and Lunch Room Sit-ins.

Obviously these are just the highlights, people who are symbols of a far greater movement that cannot be simply reduced to the greatness of any one person. But their stories, and the stories behind them inspire us to a beautiful world where nonviolence is the norm, peace our expectation and justice a reality.

Nonviolence: Australia-style

Here's a great piece on nonviolence in Australia. It helps us realise that nonviolence is NOT mainstream and requires a lot of thought and energy to translate our words and actions for the wider community. Cambodia is no different.

Bryan Law: Was it all worth it?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The young reporters at the Cairns Post call him a serial pest. A serial protester. A serial stirrer. A serial activist. They've almost run out of ideas. When you can't debate and analyse a complex issue, it's much easier to call someone names. Stick and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me, so goes the age old saying.

read it all at:
http://www.cairnsblog.net/2009/10/was-bryan-law-was-iit-all-worth-it.html