Post date: Oct 11, 2013 10:51:0 AM
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
VIOLENCE IN MYANMAR (BURMA)
Dear Friends,
Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple SINCERELY AND UTTERLY REJECTS AND DENOUNCES the inter-religious violence and repression taking place in Myanmar, particularly directed at the Moslem Rohingya people. We understand that, regrettably, the violence is being partly incited by Buddhist monks.
We want to make it clear that we, and the majority of Buddhists across the world, are against all violence and that we respect peoples’ rights to their own culture and freedom of religion.
We call on the Burmese Buddhist Monk Wirathu to stop encouraging the violence and to condemn it.
The Viniya, the source of the rules of Buddhist Monastic conduct states that those who advocate killing do not deserve to be regarded as Monks:
“Whatsoever Bhikkhu (monk) shall knowingly deprive of life a human being, or shall seek out an assassin against a human being… he too is fallen into defeat, he is no longer in communion”.
Our founder, Most Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii, said:
“Those with compassion prosper for eternity; those without will invariably fall”.
“What defines civilization in its entirety? It is not to kill; not to destroy; not to wage war. It is about people holding one another in mutual affection and respect”.
The respected Cambodian Buddhist teacher Maha Ghosananda always spoke of “Our human family”. This Temple respects all of the human family’s members, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
We have set up a memorial in the shrine room of the Temple to all those affected by inter-religious violence in Myanmar and neighbouring countries. All are welcome to offer prayers.
Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple, Brickhill Street, Willen, Milton Keynes MK15 0BG.