Dear friends,
I appeal to you with an
invitation. Many of you are asking me about my opinion towards refugee
situation in Europe, therefore I would like to present it to you in my appeal
to help. For several days, I have been intensively thinking about how we,
a Buddhist society in the Czech Republic and Europe, can contribute in
helping the “pilgrims,” who are enduring many hardships on their journey to a
better life in Europe. I do not want to write about political issues
and attitudes and also ask you to refrain from polemics around them. Thank
you. I respect every opinion and difference, if it honors human rights and
observes principles of ethics. Thus, my intention is not to dispute, what
and how things should be or will be.
However, I would like to reflect on what WE, as individuals, can do now? The question that concerns me, a Buddhist nun, is the issue of humanitarian aid. Therefore I take this opportunity to invite you to contribute. Now I am feeling a strong moral need to help people who are suffering and are in need. Without you, I will hardly be able to make it happen.
During my monastic life,
I have seen a few similar situations, because I lived in the war in Sri Lanka
for many years. I can, therefore, assure you, that the most pieces of
information that you receive through mass media, are very biased, have
their own coherent strategy and a much deeper politics behind. Unfortunately,
things are always different, than how we are being informed of them. But
what the reality is, that there are people out there, who are really going
through severe suffering and need any support. So let's think about:
“What can we do for these people?” They are already very tired, exhausted,
suffer from hunger, cold and extreme lack of basic human needs. I
think that, without help, their children soon won’t be able to survive this
journey. The need to act and help these people, it is more than certain. Soon,
the winter comes, the overall situation does not yet have a solution, and
these pilgrims are in a serious life crisis. How we, as people that are
cultivating embracing loving kindness and compassion, can contribute to those,
who need it?
I am currently, due to
monastery renovation and my health condition, forced to cancel autumn mettā
meditation course in Prague. On that occasion I wonder - how
else should we cultivate mettā (loving kindness) than right here and right now? What
are hours spent in meditation, when in reality, we are not able to take
the right attitude and act? From my own experience, I know that one would
like to help, but one does not know how. I would therefore like us as Buddhists
and non-Buddhists to join in this matter and support each other. Regardless of
your religion or type of practice. All world religions have one thing in
common, and that is helping others and those, who are suffering. These noble
qualities of the mind are, what unites us.
I received many phone
calls from people, who would like to participate and help. I am very happy
and it just confirms that there is not such huge xenophobia in the Czech
Republic and Europe as the media are spreading. Please, do not believe
everything you hear, what you cannot see with your own eyes and have not direct
experience with. Indeed, the truth is always different. Fear of the unknown is
a natural, but it is paralyzing us to act and take the right stand.
It is not in my abilities
and I do not have the resources to organize this process, but I feel an
obligation to try to unite you and take a stand in the whole situation, which
would lead to the benefit of other sentient beings. Therefore I
address you, my friends, representatives of Buddhist groups, other religions
and foundations. I leave it up to you, whether you share this letter and
what attitude you assume. But I believe in your qualities of heart and
good intention and I believe that together, we can find a solution to help
the pilgrims. Thank you!
“Right action also means abstaining from using our bodies unwholesomely and inappropriately. Everyone has the right to live freely; everyone has the right to live peacefully. As human beings, we are entitled to live anywhere in this world. In the early days of civilization, people just freely travelled from one country to another country. In those days, there were no visas and no one to issue them. People simply travelled to a country and settled down. I too can go to any country and say that I am entitled to live in that country, but they will definitely chase me out. They will say: “You have the right to live in Sri Lanka. Not here.” Basically speaking, though impractical these days, as human beings we have the right to live in any country, anywhere in this world. We have the right to a free way of living. We are entitled to live peacefully.
There is nothing wrong in
settling down and living in some country. What is wrong though is that after
settling down, we declare: “This is my country. This is my place.” What is
wrong is the taking on of possession. Thus, Canadians possess their own country,
Germans possess their own country, Americans possess their own country, and the
English possess their own country. Everyone possesses his or her own country.
We are also doing the same thing here in Sri Lanka and fighting. Possessing is
unnecessary; possessing is the hindrance. Possessing leads to all the troubles.
Everything arises out of possession.”
Bhante Pemasiri Thera
I wish
you all the best.
May you be happy. May the Triple Gem bless you.
With mettā bhikkhunī Visuddhi
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