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peace
Dear Friends, 19 March 2005 I hope this finds you well. I do not know if I represent any form of religious leadership, since I wander as a simple Buddhist monk, with no following, and no personal agenda of fame or gain which the concept of “leadership” represents, but if you and your friends/listeners/readers/ would like to know what I have to say then I invite them to pay attention to these words. We have a simple saying: “Hatreds never cease through hatred. Through love alone do hatreds cease.” We believe these words were spoken by the Buddha over 2500 years ago and echoed throughout countless ages and civilizations beyond reckoning, forming a basis of peaceful existence upheld by other enlightened beings and decent civilizations. We do not own this truth. We only find it to be true. One can test and prove it at any time or place. Other spiritual beings have shared this truth in their own way, some have even been “leaders”, others have taken it to their death or been sacrificed as testament, only later to be found as “leaders” of a spiritual movement. Sometimes the movement becomes co-opted as an excuse to defy the truth. But Truth stands the test of time and space. The petty words of our “leaders” and the war-mongers who would lead us to sacrifice our sons and daughters on the altar of democracy and freedom defile this Truth. They twist the Truth, taking it as their slogan, saying they will lead us to the Promised Land, proclaiming their mandate and heavenly right, taking away our voice, our choice, our rights, and our lives in one proclamation of war against the enemy called “Terrorist.” You might have pointed out that having not heard from the spiritual leaders we have no voice. The only voice we have is the inner voice; our own hearts calling to yours across the vast continuum of humanity. We have no real media outlet that has not already been corrupted by the call to war on all sides, theirs and ours. We have lost freedom of the press long ago because Greed owns the press. Greed (you like to make up new words, so have you used the word “greedia” yet?) knows the best marketing tool in the world is fear. The best way to keep people fearful is to keep them ignorant by pulling the net of delusion over their heads. And we have become vastly deluded. How and why this has come about should be a basis for inquiry if you wish to understand the true nature of existence. I shall give you a hint: what would happen if you suffered from a disease you did not even know you had? Put another way: what happens if you suffer ignorantly from a fatal disease? Should I get out the 2x4 and strike folks upside the head, friend? Not wishing to protract this, knowing time draws us soon to an awakening (oh, I hope we can make it that far, friend, without destroying this beautiful planet and the potential in us to each be our own spiritual leader) I leave you with the wish that you and all beings may have good health, happiness, and peace. Ven. Adhisila (aw-dee-see-luh) former Marine, wandering Buddhist monk, chief incumbent of Buddha Powers hermitage (living alone and guided by the Buddha’s wisdom), currently and temporarily living in Portland Oregon at an education center. www.buddhapowers.org return |