Theos-Talk Archives (September 2001 Message tt00226)

<<BUDDHIST NEWS - Thich Nhat Hanh

September 20, 2001


Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh's formal response to the events last week.


CULTIVATING COMPASSION TO RESPOND TO VIOLENCE: THE WAY OF PEACE


All violence is injustice.


Responding to violence with violence is injustice, not only to the other

person but also to oneself. Responding to violence with violence resolves

nothing; it only escalates violence, anger and hatred. It is only with

compassion that we can embrace and disintegrate violence. This is true in

relationships between individuals as well as in relationships between

nations. Many people in America consider Jesus Christ as their Lord, their

spiritual ancestor and their teacher. We should heed His teachings
especially

during critical times like this. Jesus never encourages us to respond to
acts

of violence with violence. His teaching is, instead, to use compassion to

deal with violence. The teachings of Judaism go very much in the same

direction. Spiritual leaders of this country are invited to raise their

voices, to bring about the awareness of this teaching to the American nation

and people. What needs to be done right now is to recognize the suffering,
to

embrace it and to understand it. We need calmness and lucidity so that we
can

listen deeply to and understand our own suffering, the suffering of the

nation and the suffering of others. By understanding the nature and the

causes of the suffering, we will then know the right path to follow.


The violence and hatred we presently face has been created by

misunderstanding, injustice, discrimination and despair. We are all

co-responsible for the making of violence and despair in the world by our
way

of living, of consuming and of handling the problems of the world.

Understanding why this violence has been created, we will then know what to

do and what not to do in order to decrease the level of violence in
ourselves

and in the world, to create and foster understanding, reconciliation and

forgiveness. I have the conviction that America possesses enough wisdom and

courage to perform an act of forgiveness and compassion, and I know that
such

an act can bring great relief to America and to the world right away.


Thich Nhat Hanh

18 September, 2001


The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh will be fasting from the 21st-30th September
as

a way of prayer in action. He invites all of his friends and disciples to

join him in this prayer and meditation, wherever you may be and for however

long you wish, in order to embrace all those who have died and all who are

suffering from the recent tragedy. Those who plan to participate in this
act

of peace may like to e-mail us at mfmaster@vermontel.net, and to write a
letter

to the President and to their Congresspeople to inform them of your

intentions.




Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space

PO Box 90083

Gainesville, FL 32607

(352) 337-9274

http://www.space4peace.org

globalnet@mindspring.com>>
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