Praying for Libya

Posted: March 7, 2011 | Author: Doug 陀愚 | Filed under: Buddhism, Politics, Religion | Leave a comment »

Since the uprising in Libya began in February, I’ve been avidly watching the news day and night. I cheered when the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia succeeded in overthrowing dictators there, but I’ve been greatly worried about the situation in Libya, as the fighting has only worsened, not improved.

Frequently, I say a small Buddhist-style prayer that the violence will end sooner or later. Nothing exotic or anything, I just put my hands together and pray.

I don’t want to sound sanctimonious (that’s easy enough to do in public), but I am genuinely worried about the deteriorating situation there, and it’s easy to forget that a lot of people, parents like myself, are in great danger, or their lives are displaced. It’s also interesting to note that all these political uprisings and calls for democracy are happening all over the Arab world without any participation by Islamic fundamentalist groups like Al-Qaeda, as the New York times explains. I believe this is proof-positive that the silent majority of people in the Arab world are regular working-class people ignored by the media until now,¹ and that the dreaded “Clash of Civilizations” is a gross exaggeration.

I found a fitting passage from The Dhammapada on this subject (trans. by Ven. Acharya Buddharakkhita):

129. All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.

130. All tremble at violence; life is dear to all. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.

131. One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.

132. One who, while himself seeking happiness, does not oppress with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will find happiness hereafter.

People who fight in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Oman and other places in the Arab world are not the “Islamo-Fascists” feared by the media and conservatives; these are the silent majority that have suffered long under dictatorships and crooked monarchies that survived by the greed of oil. These are often working-class people with families, children and who simply want to have to the freedoms and opportunities that many Westerners take for granted. Thus the Buddha’s words are fitting: such people are human, and fear death like anyone else, but they’re standing up anyway to fight for a better cause.

Also, Muammar Qaddafi, in his efforts to effect a vision of pan-African, Islamic Socialist Republic (lit. “Jamahiriya”), has put his designs before his people. In so doing, he has cheapened human life, and now has sowed great unrest for himself, and his country. This is an important lesson for all rulers and leaders: people first, not policies or a political “master plan”. Too often, such plans fail miserably and in unexpected ways.

The Buddha taught a way out of violence through peace, and through seeing yourself in others:

Comparing oneself with others in such terms as “Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I”, one should neither kill nor cause others to kill.

–Snp. v. 705, quoted here

But the Buddha also taught it was reasonable to defend one’s livelihood against aggression. In the Buddha’s time, the kingdoms of Magadha and Kosala want to war. Magadha invaded Kosala, and the Buddha was sympathetic to King Pasenadi of Kosala in his efforts to defend his kingdom and protect his people. Of course, if Kosala had turned around and become and aggressor nation, then the Buddha would no longer have sympathized, but according to historical records that didn’t happen.

In any case, the greater Buddhist teaching is of the sanctity of life, but also people’s happiness, well-being and their right to a wholesome livelihood.²

As such, I pray that the conflict in Libya ends as soon as possible, and that the Libyan people do not overthrow one dictator only to setup another.³ Likewise, I pray that the turmoil in the other Arab states will have a positive result, and that people there can live contented and peaceful, and that their grandchildren can play with mine.

In Buddhism, we teach that all things exist solely in relation to one another. Thus, violence there degrades the quality of life for all beings, political oppression there becomes our burden too. Here’s to democracy, peace, and the well-being of all people on this tiny, blue planet of ours’.

Namo Shaka Nyorai

P.S. Double-post today… woke up too early, had some free time.

¹ Which only confirms my experiences years ago when I briefly explored the Islamic faith and actually got to know people who followed it. Most people who criticize another faith and/or ethnic group have probably never broken bread with them. Food for thought really.

² Likewise, those who defend our lives and our right to a wholesome livelihood deserve our thanks.

³ Quoting Andreas Katsulas’s character, G’kar in the TV show Babylon 5.

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